If you mean subtle or easily overlooked symptoms that can sometimes be associated with cancer in women, here are 14 important warning signs. Most of these symptoms are much more often caused by non-cancerous conditions, but persistent, unexplained, or worsening changes deserve medical evaluation.
14 cancer warning signs women shouldn’t ignore
- Unexplained weight loss
Losing 10 pounds (about 4.5 kg) or more without changing your diet or exercise can be a warning sign. It can occur with several cancers, including pancreatic, stomach, esophageal, lung, and some blood cancers. Other causes—such as thyroid disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, stress, or depression—are also common.
- Unusual or persistent fatigue
Cancer-related fatigue can feel different from ordinary tiredness: adequate sleep doesn’t restore your energy, and routine activities become unusually difficult. Anemia, infections, thyroid problems, sleep disorders, medications, and many other conditions can cause the same symptom.
- Unexplained bleeding
Bleeding that isn’t normal for you deserves attention. Examples include:
- Bleeding between periods
- Very heavy or unusually long periods
- Bleeding after sex
- Vaginal bleeding after menopause
- Blood in the urine or stool
- Coughing or vomiting blood
Abnormal vaginal bleeding can occur with cervical, uterine, or vaginal cancers, although benign causes are much more common.
- A new breast lump or breast change
A new lump, thickening, swelling, or change in the breast or underarm should be evaluated. Other potentially concerning changes include:
- Skin dimpling or puckering
- Persistent redness or scaling
- A newly inverted nipple
- Nipple discharge, particularly bloody discharge
- A change in breast size or shape
Importantly, most breast lumps aren’t cancer, but you can’t reliably determine the cause by feel alone.
- Persistent bloating or abdominal swelling
Occasional bloating after eating is common. Persistent or progressively worsening bloating—particularly when accompanied by pelvic/abdominal pain, feeling full unusually quickly, or changes in urination or bowel habits—can sometimes occur with ovarian or other abdominal cancers.
- Persistent pelvic or abdominal pain
Ongoing pelvic pressure, abdominal discomfort, cramping, or pain that doesn’t have an obvious explanation should be assessed, especially if it is new or progressively worsening.
- Changes in bowel habits
A persistent change in your usual bowel pattern can include:
- New constipation or diarrhea
- Narrower-than-usual stools
- Feeling that you haven’t completely emptied your bowel
- Persistent abdominal discomfort
- Blood in the stool
These symptoms can occur with colorectal cancer, but hemorrhoids, infections, inflammatory bowel disease, dietary changes, and medications are also common causes.
- Persistent changes in urination
Watch for blood in the urine, persistent urgency, needing to urinate much more frequently, pain with urination, or unexplained changes in bladder function. Urinary symptoms are often caused by infections or other non-cancerous conditions, but persistent or unexplained symptoms should be checked.
- Skin changes or a changing mole
Pay attention to a mole or skin lesion that changes in:
- Asymmetry
- Border
- Color
- Diameter
- Evolving appearance
Also seek evaluation for a sore that doesn’t heal, a repeatedly bleeding/crusting lesion, or a new unusual skin growth.
- Persistent cough, hoarseness, or shortness of breath
A cough that doesn’t go away, unexplained hoarseness, coughing up blood, or persistent breathlessness can have many causes, including asthma, reflux, allergies, infection, and heart disease. But persistent respiratory symptoms can also occur with lung or other cancers.
- Difficulty swallowing or persistent indigestion
Repeated difficulty swallowing, a sensation that food is getting stuck, persistent heartburn, unexplained indigestion, or ongoing upper-abdominal discomfort warrants medical attention—particularly if it is new, progressive, or accompanied by weight loss.
- A sore that doesn’t heal
A skin wound or lesion that repeatedly crusts, bleeds, heals incompletely, and returns can be a sign of skin cancer. Don’t assume a persistent lesion is simply a stubborn “sore.”
- Persistent swollen lymph nodes or a new lump
Lymph nodes commonly become enlarged during infections and usually settle afterward. A lump that persists for several weeks, continues to enlarge, feels unusually hard/fixed, or appears without an obvious infection should be examined.
- Persistent unexplained pain
Pain that is new, unexplained, persistent, or progressively worsening—especially when accompanied by another symptom such as weight loss, bleeding, a lump, or changes in bowel/bladder function—shouldn’t simply be ignored. The location and characteristics of the pain help determine what needs to be investigated.
When should you see a doctor?
A useful rule is don’t wait for symptoms to become severe. Make an appointment if a new symptom:
- Persists for several weeks
- Keeps returning without an obvious explanation
- Is progressively getting worse
- Is accompanied by unexplained weight loss, bleeding, a lump, or significant fatigue
- Is unusual for you, particularly after menopause
Some symptoms require prompt or emergency attention. For example, coughing or vomiting a significant amount of blood, severe breathing difficulty, fainting, severe abdominal pain, or heavy uncontrolled bleeding should be treated urgently rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
One important point
There is no single set of “silent cancer symptoms.” Some cancers cause few or no symptoms in their early stages, which is why recommended screening is so important. Depending on age, risk factors, and personal/family history, screening can include mammography for breast cancer, cervical cancer screening, and colorectal cancer screening.
And having one of these symptoms does not mean you have cancer. The goal is simply to recognize persistent changes early enough to have them appropriately evaluated.