BREAST CANCER

A lump in the breast or armpit

Skin changes on breast: redness, thickening, rash, scaliness or dimpling

Nipple changes: nipple turning inward; a nipple discharge other than breast milk

CERVICAL CANCER

Foul-smelling vaginal discharge

Irregular vaginal bleeding

Lower abdominal Pain

LIVER CANCER

Pain in the right upper abdomen

Mass in the right upper abdomen and/or general abdominal swelling

Yellowness of the eye & skin (jaundice)

PROSTATE CANCER

Difficult, painful, frequent or bloody urination

Difficulty in having an erection / impotence

Pain: pain or stiffness in lower back or hips

COLON AND RECTAL CANCER

Blood stool or black stools

Constipation or alternating constipation/diarrhoea

Very thin stool (“pencil stools”)   

STOMACH CANCER

Pain in upper tummy when hungry or after eating

Dyspepsia (heartburn, indigestion)

Vomiting, with or without blood

LUNG CANCER

Coughing that doesn’t go away / coughing up blood

Chest pain

Shortness of breath with or without noisy breathing

BLADDER CANCER

Blood in the urine

Cannot hold urine

Lower tummy pain  

OVARIAN CANCER

Increased abdominal size/clothes that fit tighter around your waist

Persistent pain/discomfort in the lower abdomen

Feeling full quickly during or after a meal/ abdominal bloating

TESTICULAR CANCER

Mass in the testia

Pain in the testes

Swelling of the scrotum

SKIN CANCER /ORAL CANCER

A skin ulcer or wound that never heals

A ‘birth mark’ on the skin getting bigger or painful

Any new dark spot on the skin

NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMA

Painless small lumps under the skin at the armpit, groin, collar bone or the sides of the neck

Night fever & sweating

Extreme tiredness & unexplained weight loss

CAUTION:

If you notice any of these, do not panic because most times they are not related to cancer. However, you must report promptly to your doctor or visit the NCPP Centre at 31 Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos, so that you can be examined.

An early diagnosis is key to surviving cancer.

2 Thoughts to “Three cardinal symptoms of the most common cancers in Nigeria”

  1. Uchenna

    Dear pinkcruise, thanks for doing a nice job promotion of health and life. May i use this opportunity to invite you in my own locality. Anambra state; Njikoka Lga,Nimo.

  2. Bayo

    Good day, It’s hepatitis B curable or not, if yes it will upto how many months before it will convert to zero.

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