The most common symptoms associated with a cancer diagnosis reflect the incidence rates of the most common cancers in the world.
Examples include a feeling of a lump in the breast, pain in the urinary tract, a change in bowel habits, or a chronic cough. Symptoms that could indicate, respectively, breast, prostate, colon, rectal or lung cancer.
But there are lesser-known symptoms that can also indicate cancer. They are rare and uncommon, and do not always constitute the disease. So, if any of these symptoms appear, it is best to visit a doctor to make sure it is something to worry about.
Lymph node pain after drinking alcohol
Many people experience pain or irritation in the lower chest or abdomen after drinking alcohol. This occurs due to inflammation in these areas.
I cared for a patient years ago who told me she had chest pain for a day or two after drinking a glass of wine. A CT scan of his chest revealed a large mass in his lungs, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma was diagnosed through a biopsy.
It is common for people to experience stomach pain or irritation after drinking alcohol. These discomforts can often be resolved using antacids, for example. However, pain in a separate area of the body may be a sign of this cancer.
In one study, this phenomenon was found in at least 5% of people diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. The pain is thought to be due to dilation of blood vessels in the lymph node as a result of drinking alcohol or the release of inflammatory chemicals.
Lymph nodes are distributed throughout the body, and are mainly concentrated just below the skin of the neck, in the armpit and groin areas.
I’ve broken several bones throughout my life, for example from falling off a bicycle at high speed.
Although bone density and strength can decline with age, resulting in approximately 2 million osteoporosis-related fractures annually in the United States, unprovoked fractures are rare, especially in young adults. These types of fractures can, in some cases, indicate cancer.
Cancer that starts or spreads to the bones can weaken bone strength, leading to pathological fractures. About 5% of cancer cases affect the bones. Among people with this condition, approximately 8% experience a pathologic fracture.
These types of fractures are 500 times more likely to occur due to cancer spreading to the bone than cancer that originates in the bone itself.
Cancer in the bones can be identified using X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, or bone scans.
Very high levels of calcium
Many conditions can lead to this condition, such as a parathyroid gland dysfunction, hyperthyroidism, or even taking certain medications. However, in a study of more than 50,000 people in a primary care practice, those with high calcium levels were more than twice as likely to develop cancer in the following year than those with normal levels.
According to the study, the risk of diagnosis increases as calcium levels also rise.
People with high calcium levels due to cancer often experience symptoms such as pain from kidney stones and skeletal bones, nausea or constipation, and behavioral disturbances, including mood changes or altered cognitive function.
The most common cancers that cause high calcium levels include lung, breast, kidney, bladder, ovarian, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. This occurs due to the release of a hormone, or the destruction of bones and the release of calcium into the bloodstream.
Sore and swollen breasts or nipple discharge
A benign condition called mastitis can cause pain, swelling, or itching in the breast, and is more common in women who are breastfeeding. It is a painful inflammatory process that may require medical attention, but it is not cancer.
However, if you are not breastfeeding and are experiencing these symptoms, it may be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer, which accounts for 2 to 4% of cases in the United States.
The onset can be rapid and is characterized by skin changes called “peau d’orange,” where the breast skin changes and resembles the slightly bumpy surface of an orange peel. If this happens, consult a doctor. If treatments such as cold compresses, nonsteroidal medications, or antibiotics (which often work to treat mastitis) do not work, a breast biopsy may be necessary.
Most episodes of nipple discharge are also benign: Among people who have surgery for the condition, only 2 to 15 percent are diagnosed with primary breast cancer.
The discharge is most likely caused by cancer, but when it occurs in only one breast, it is intermittent and persists over time.
Remember, we all worry about new pain or an unusual blood test. In general, such symptoms indicate relatively harmless diagnoses, however, contacting your doctor to rule out something more serious is helpful in these cases.
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