Several Cancers Present Sneaky or Non-Specific Symptoms
- There are several different types of cancer that don’t present symptoms until they are in later stages.
- Lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and lymphoma can all present non-specific symptoms that might not indicate anything is wrong with a particular area in the body.
- It’s important to stay aware of your own body and report any changes to your doctor, so steps can be taken if needed.
Unfortunately, not all cancers come with obvious symptoms that would indicate a person needs to see a doctor immediately. In fact, several different types of cancer — like lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and lymphoma — are known for presenting very little to no symptoms until the disease has progressed to very advanced stages. These cancers can also sometimes present non-specific symptoms, which wouldn’t necessarily indicate that there is an issue with any one part of the body.
Below, we take a look at some cancers that are known for having sneaky or non-specific symptoms and what minor signs might indicate that something is off.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, is one that often creeps in silently, without symptoms. Even when symptoms do present early on, they don’t typically indicate cancer. For example, swollen glands are much more likely to be from an upper respiratory infection than lymphoma — so a person may not seek medical attention.
If you are at risk for this cancer because you had cancer or an organ transplant in the past, you have an autoimmune disease, or you have an infection such as HIV or Epstein-Barr, it may be worth watching out for symptoms like these:
- Swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpits, or groin
- Weight loss
- Tiredness
- Fevers
- Swollen belly
But keep in mind that these are more likely to be symptoms of something far less serious, such as a run-of-the-mill infection. There are also a group of symptoms doctors refer to as “B symptoms.” Those include a fever, night sweats, or weight loss.
“If people are having any of these symptoms, it’s really important that they tell their physician early so that the proper testing can be done,” Dr. Elise Chong, medical oncologist at Penn Medicine, previously told SurvivorNet.
Dr. Elise Chong explains how to stop lymphoma symptoms
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is often referred to as the “cancer that whispers,” according to Dr. Beth Karlan, Director of the Women’s Cancer Program at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. It has symptoms that are very vague and are often similar to the symptoms many women experience every month with their menstrual cycle.
However, women who experience any of the following symptoms and notice they appear to be getting worse should mention this to a doctor so next steps can be taken if they are needed.
Symptoms to be aware of include:
- Feeling full earlier/decrease in appetite
- Feeling bloated
- Changes in bowel habits
- Pain in the pelvis
- Urinary symptoms, such as an urgent need to go
- Extreme fatigue
- Abdominal swelling
- Pain during sex
It’s hard to connect these symptoms specifically with the ovaries because they could be caused by a whole host of other issues. That’s why Dr. Karlan, as well as many other top gynecologic oncologists in the U.S., urge women to be vigilant about getting tested if they feel that something is amiss with their bodies.
Dr. Beth Karlan explains why it is often difficult to detect ovarian cancer symptoms
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is notoriously difficult to catch in the early stages and is often diagnosed when it has progressed to an advanced cancer and spread to other parts of the body. Your doctor may suspect lung cancer after seeing a shadow on a routine chest X-ray that requires further evaluation. In some instances, vague symptoms may be present, such as:
- A cough that doesn’t go away, that gets worse, or that brings up bloody phlegm
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Hoarse voice
- Appetite loss
- Weight loss
Any of these symptoms may indicate lung cancer and should be mentioned to your doctor, particularly if you are at risk for the disease. While lung cancer screening isn’t recommended widely for the general population like mammograms or skin cancer evaluations, there are specific groups of people who should be screened, according to experts. This includes people who are or were heavy smokers (smoked the equivalent of a pack a day for 20 years or more), currently smoke now or quit within the last 15 years, and are between the ages of 55 and 80.
Dr. Joseph Friedberg explains how doctors diagnose lung cancer
The main takeaway here is that there are several different types of cancer that don’t present symptoms until later stages. This is why it’s so important to be aware of your body and inform doctors about any changes, however minor they may seem, so that you can consider next steps together.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Several Cancers Present Sneaky or Non-Specific Symptoms
- There are several different types of cancer that don’t present symptoms until they are in later stages.
- Lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and lymphoma can all present non-specific symptoms that might not indicate anything is wrong with a particular area in the body.
- It’s important to stay aware of your own body and report any changes to your doctor, so steps can be taken if needed.
Unfortunately, not all cancers come with obvious symptoms that would indicate a person needs to see a doctor immediately. In fact, several different types of cancer — like lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and lymphoma — are known for presenting very little to no symptoms until the disease has progressed to very advanced stages. These cancers can also sometimes present non-specific symptoms, which wouldn’t necessarily indicate that there is an issue with any one part of the body.
Below, we take a look at some cancers that are known for having sneaky or non-specific symptoms and what minor signs might indicate that something is off.
Lymphoma
Read More Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, is one that often creeps in silently, without symptoms. Even when
symptoms do present early on, they don’t typically indicate cancer. For example, swollen glands are much more likely to be from an upper respiratory infection than lymphoma — so a person may not seek medical attention.
If you are at risk for this cancer because you had cancer or an organ transplant in the past, you have an autoimmune disease, or you have an infection such as HIV or Epstein-Barr, it may be worth watching out for symptoms like these:
- Swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpits, or groin
- Weight loss
- Tiredness
- Fevers
- Swollen belly
But keep in mind that these are more likely to be symptoms of something far less serious, such as a run-of-the-mill infection. There are also a group of symptoms doctors refer to as “B symptoms.” Those include a fever, night sweats, or weight loss.
“If people are having any of these symptoms, it’s really important that they tell their physician early so that the proper testing can be done,” Dr. Elise Chong, medical oncologist at Penn Medicine, previously told SurvivorNet.
Dr. Elise Chong explains how to stop lymphoma symptoms
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is often referred to as the “cancer that whispers,” according to Dr. Beth Karlan, Director of the Women’s Cancer Program at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. It has symptoms that are very vague and are often similar to the symptoms many women experience every month with their menstrual cycle.
However, women who experience any of the following symptoms and notice they appear to be getting worse should mention this to a doctor so next steps can be taken if they are needed.
Symptoms to be aware of include:
- Feeling full earlier/decrease in appetite
- Feeling bloated
- Changes in bowel habits
- Pain in the pelvis
- Urinary symptoms, such as an urgent need to go
- Extreme fatigue
- Abdominal swelling
- Pain during sex
It’s hard to connect these symptoms specifically with the ovaries because they could be caused by a whole host of other issues. That’s why Dr. Karlan, as well as many other top gynecologic oncologists in the U.S., urge women to be vigilant about getting tested if they feel that something is amiss with their bodies.
Dr. Beth Karlan explains why it is often difficult to detect ovarian cancer symptoms
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is notoriously difficult to catch in the early stages and is often diagnosed when it has progressed to an advanced cancer and spread to other parts of the body. Your doctor may suspect lung cancer after seeing a shadow on a routine chest X-ray that requires further evaluation. In some instances, vague symptoms may be present, such as:
- A cough that doesn’t go away, that gets worse, or that brings up bloody phlegm
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Hoarse voice
- Appetite loss
- Weight loss
Any of these symptoms may indicate lung cancer and should be mentioned to your doctor, particularly if you are at risk for the disease. While lung cancer screening isn’t recommended widely for the general population like mammograms or skin cancer evaluations, there are specific groups of people who should be screened, according to experts. This includes people who are or were heavy smokers (smoked the equivalent of a pack a day for 20 years or more), currently smoke now or quit within the last 15 years, and are between the ages of 55 and 80.
Dr. Joseph Friedberg explains how doctors diagnose lung cancer
The main takeaway here is that there are several different types of cancer that don’t present symptoms until later stages. This is why it’s so important to be aware of your body and inform doctors about any changes, however minor they may seem, so that you can consider next steps together.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
