3. Extreme or Persistent Fatigue
Everyone gets tired. But cancer-related fatigue is a different category altogether. The fatigue linked to cancer is a deep exhaustion that a good night’s sleep or a relaxing weekend can’t fix — a profound weariness that affects every part of life.
This type of fatigue can be an early sign of cancers like leukemia and colon cancer. With leukemia, fatigue is often caused by anemia because the bone marrow can’t make enough healthy red blood cells. With colon cancer, fatigue can come from blood loss from the tumor, leading to iron-deficiency anemia. The American Cancer Society lists extreme tiredness as one of its core cancer warning signs, noting it can stem from cancer cells releasing substances that change the way the body makes energy. If fatigue is severe, constant, and interfering with daily life, it’s worth investigating.