16 Most Common Cancer Symptoms in Men and Women

Cancer may present with any one or more of the following symptoms. Sometimes there may be no symptoms, and sometimes other disease conditions may cause similar symptoms. Therefore, further investigations may be required to confirm the diagnosis.

Most common cancer symptoms in men and women 

Changes in Urine

Urinary hesitancy, nocturia, diminished urine stream and incomplete emptying of the bladder may be due to prostate cancer. 

Other conditions like benign hypertrophy of prostate, chronic prostatitis, etc should be ruled out. 
Investigations that will help in confirming the diagnosis are prostatic biopsy, serum PSA, pelvic MRI, PSMA PET CT scan, etc.

Chronic cough 

Cough that is present for a long time and accompanied with chest pain or discomfort and/or blood tinged sputum or breathlessness may be a sign of lung cancer.

Other conditions like tuberculosis, fungal infections, abscesses, sarcoidosis, etc should be ruled out. 
Investigations that will help in confirming the diagnosis are lung biopsy with immunohistochemistry, CT scan, etc.

Lump in breast

Lump or thickening in breast and/or change in shape or size of breast, dimpling or puckering of skin, nipple retraction or discharge may be a sign of breast cancer.

Other benign lesions, breast abscess, phylloides tumor, etc should be ruled out.
Investigations that may help in disease confirmation are breast biopsy, mammography, etc.

Non Healing oral ulcers

Growth or non-healing ulcers in mouth and/or difficulty in degluttition, nasal stuffiness, throat pain, change in voice etc may be signs of head and neck cancer.

Benign lesions, apthous ulcers, neuromuscular disorders, etc should be ruled out in such cases.
Investigations such as biopsy, laryngoscopy, nasopharyngoscopy, CT scan, etc help in confirming the diagnosis.

Change in bowel habits

Any change in bowel habits present for a long time or worsening gradually like constipation, diarrhoea, blood in stools, abdominal discomfort or pain may indicate colorectal cancer.

Other conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, ischemic bowel disease, inflammatory bowel disease, etc should be ruled out. Investigations to confirm the diagnosis are colonoscopy with biopsy, serum CEA, CT scan, etc.

Change in Urination

Any recent or prolonged painful or frequent urination and/or presence of blood in urine may be a sign of bladder cancer.

Other conditions like cystitis, kidney stones, urinary infections, etc should be ruled out.  Investigations to confirm the diagnosis are cystoscopy, urine tumor markers, MRI pelvis, etc.

Changes in skin

Itching, tenderness or pigmentation on the skin, or redness, swelling or bleeding from an existing mole may be a sign of melanoma.

Other skin lesions should be ruled out like Nevus Verrucae seborrhoicae with secondary inflammation reaction, Pyogenic granulomas, Pigmented basal cell carcinoma, Hemorrages in regular verruca, etc
Skin biopsy may help in confirming the diagnosis.

Abdominal and urinary complaints

Abdominal mass and/or pain and/or blood in urine may be a sign of kidney cancer.
Other conditions like cystitis, kidney stones, urinary infections, etc should be ruled out.  Investigations to confirm the diagnosis are biopsy from mass, MRI, PET CT scan, etc.

Swellings in the neck, armpits and/or groin

Progressively growing swellings in these areas and/or night sweats, weight loss or fever may indicate lymphoma.

Other conditions like infections, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, etc should be ruled out. Further investigations that may help in confirming the disease are lymph node biopsy, PET CT scan, etc.

Unexplained bleeding from one or more sites

Unexplained bleeding and/or fever, infections, fatigue may be indicative of leukemia. Other conditions like bleeding diathesis, other causes of anemia, immune disorders, etc should be ruled out.

Investigations that may help in confirming the diagnosis are complete blood count, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, flow cytometry, etc.

Pain in upper abdomen, jaundice, vomiting

These symptoms and/or decreased appetite, vomiting or abdominal distension may be due to pancreatic cancer.

Other conditions that should be ruled out are cholecystitis, biliary obstruction, stomach or gall bladder cancer, etc. Investigations that may help in disease confirmation are biopsy, CT scan, etc.

Lump or swelling in neck

Other conditions that should be ruled out are goitre, brachial or thyroglossal cyst, lymphoma, etc Investigations that may help in disease confirmation are biopsy, CT scan, etc.

Painless testicular lump or swelling

Testicular lump that is not painful, change in testicular sensation, dull pain in abdomen or groin, etc may be signs of testicular cancer.

Other conditions like hematoma, infection, epidermoid cyst, etc should be ruled out in such cases Investigations such as tumor markers (AFP, beta HCG, LDH), testicular ultrasound, CT abdomen, etc help in confirmation of diagnosis.

Difficulty in swallowing 

Painful or difficult swallowing and/or weight loss, pain in chest, cough, vomiting etc may be caused by esophageal cancer. 

Benign lesions like strictures, webs, rings, achalasia, ulcers, etc may cause similar symptoms and should be ruled out. Investigations that help in confirmation of diagnosis are upper GI endoscopy, biopsy, CT scan, etc.

Prolonged lower abdominal discomfort

Females with prolonged complaints of lower abdominal discomfort and/or bloating, distention, early satiety, urinary symptoms, etc may have ovarian cancer.

Other conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, tuberculosis and other abdominal malignancies may cause similar symptoms. Investigations like CT scan of abdomen, biopsy, etc help in confirmation of diagnosis.

Abnormal uterine bleeding

Bleeding after menopause, between menstrual periods, or spotting between menstrual cycle and/or unusual vaginal discharge, pain in lower abdomen, etc may be indicative of uterine cancer. 

Other conditions like endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial polyp, cervical cancer, etc may cause similar symptoms and should be ruled out. Investigations to confirm the diagnosis are TVUS, endometrial biopsy, CT scan, etc.

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