12. Persistent Pain
If pain is ongoing and isn’t going away with medication, exercise, or other pain relief techniques, something might not be working right in the body. Frequent or persistent headaches can be a rare sign of a brain tumor, while abdominal or pelvic pain can signal colon, rectal, or ovarian cancer.
Bone pain is often attributed to arthritis or injury, yet it can signal bone cancer or metastasis. Mid-back pain can be a symptom of pancreatic cancer, caused by a tumor invading nerves or organs near the pancreas. Pain that is new, unexplained, persistent, and doesn’t respond to typical treatments is worth reporting to a doctor — especially when combined with other warning signs on this list.