🧠 Not normal aging — investigate if new or severe.
4. Pain That Persists
- Constant back pain (possible pancreatic, ovarian, or colon cancer)
- Bone pain (could signal spread)
- Headaches that worsen (brain tumor concern)
❗ Pain is rarely an early sign — but when it lasts, it needs answers.
5. Skin Changes
Watch for:
-
-
- New moles or changes in existing ones (asymmetry, border, color, diameter, evolving) → melanoma risk
- Yellowish skin (jaundice) → liver or pancreatic issues
-
- Dark patches (acanthosis nigricans) → insulin resistance or internal cancer
🧴 Use the ABCDE rule for moles — see a dermatologist annually.
6. Sores That Don’t Heal
- Mouth ulcers lasting more than 2 weeks
- Skin sores that scab, bleed, and reopen
🩺 Could indicate oral, skin, or other cancers.
7. White Patches Inside the Mouth (Leukoplakia)
- Thick, white patches on tongue or cheeks
- Often caused by tobacco use — can be precancerous
🦷 Dentists check for this during cleanings.
8. Change in Bowel Habits
- Diarrhea, constipation, or stool shape changes that last > a few days
- Blood in stool (bright red or dark)
🚽 Possible sign of colorectal cancer — don’t assume it’s hemorrhoids.
9. Difficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia)
- Feels like food “sticks” in throat or chest
- May be linked to esophageal or throat cancer
⚠️ Especially if worsening over time.
