Cancer affects everyone: Women, men, children, the elderly, teenagers – it is a disease that can be brutally indiscriminatory. For women, there are certain cancers that we need to be aware of, as they only affect the organs of the female reproductive system. Many of these cancers have signs and symptoms, we just either ignore them or don’t take them seriously enough. These can be specific types of pain or other symptoms that we wave off as not a big deal or just another facet of our busy lives. The message here is clear and simple: Don’t ignore these cancer symptoms in women that your body is trying to get you to notice. If you do, it could be too late by the time you’re finally forced to pay attention.
10 Pains and Other Cancer Symptoms in Women
There are certain cancers that are specific to women, mainly because of our reproductive system that differs from men. Cancers such as uterine, ovarian, cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and the incredibly rare fallopian tube cancer. Even breast cancer, though it is possible in men, is primarily a female problem. All of these cancers, however, have symptoms associated with them that, if we are informed of them, we can get help before things get out of control. The problem is that these symptoms can sometimes be hard to distinguish because of our menstrual cycles and our busy, stressful lives. On top of that, some doctors have a habit of waving off our concerns as ‘just being part of the female experience’. With that, the following pains and cancer symptoms in women are ones that you should never ignore.
1. Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
One of the most common symptoms of gynecologic cancers is abnormal vaginal bleeding. More than 90% of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer experience irregular bleeding. The biggest reason why this symptom goes ignored for so long? Because it is a common misconception that experiencing irregular bleeding is just a normal part of women’s menstrual cycles. While yes, many women experience irregular cycles for various reasons, that does not mean this should be ignored. It is also important for all women to accurately and in detail track their periods. Doing this will allow you to more quickly note when something changes or seems out of your personal usual. It is essential to consult a healthcare provider if you notice any unusual bleeding, especially after menopause or between periods, as it could be a sign of endometrial or cervical cancer. Regardless, if you have very unpredictable and irregular periods, consult a gynecologist. Whether it is a grave reason or not, there is usually a reason for this that can be addressed.
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2. Unexplained Weight Loss
Women have been socialized into believing that our value and our body weight are deeply intertwined. For this reason, when a woman suddenly experiences weight loss without actually trying to, we often think wow, what luck! The thing is, weightloss with no external explanation as to how that could’ve happened is not good. While intentional weight loss through diet and exercise is beneficial for overall health, unexplained weight loss exceeding 10 pounds without changes in lifestyle habits should not be ignored. Sudden and unintentional weight loss could be a symptom of various cancers, prompting the need for medical evaluation. No matter how many people ‘compliment’ you on how ‘good’ you are looking, it doesn’t mean that you should ignore the fact that this weight loss was unintentional and has seemingly come out of nowhere.
3. Vaginal Discharge Colored with Blood
Bloody, dark, or foul-smelling vaginal discharge can sometimes indicate an infection. However, in some cases, it might be a warning sign of cervical, vaginal, or endometrial cancer. Again, this one can be confusing, depending on how your periods are. For example, some women experience a bit of spotting in between periods or will experience spotting even as they go through menopause. This can make it difficult to decipher if this spotting is normal or not. Again, tracking your personal normal can be very helpful in identifying abnormalities. If you observe abnormal vaginal discharge, or you are at all unsure if something is normal or not, it is essential to consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation.
4. Constant Fatigue
Fatigue, unfortunately, tends to be a part of adult life. Whether it’s a stressful job, running a family, or a combination of the two, we all have stresses, responsabilities, and habits that cause us to feel tired. Persistent fatigue that interferes with daily activities and does not improve with rest, however, can be a concerning symptom. While fatigue can be caused by various factors, including lifestyle and stress, it is advisable to seek medical advice if unexplained tiredness persists. While this symptom may not necessarily indicate cancer, you are still best off getting it checked out. Best case scenario, it’s not cancer and your doctor helps you figure out what else is causing your persistent fatigue. Worst case, it is cancer, but you catch it early and get started on a treatment plan before it becomes advanced.
5. Loss of Appetite or Feeling Full
Appetite is connected to many factors. An increase or decrease in regular physical activity can change how hungry you feel and how much you can eat. For some of us, stress makes us want to eat more. For others, it completely squelches our appetite. Even things like climate can affect how much you can eat, for example extreme heat or extreme cold. Changes in appetite, such as loss of hunger or feeling full despite eating little, can be symptoms of ovarian cancer or unrelated cancers affecting the digestive system. If appetite changes are persistent, consulting a healthcare provider is recommended for further assessment.
6. Pelvic or Abdominal Pain
Pain is never a good thing and should not be ignored. Remember, our bodies can’t talk to us, so pain is one of the only ways they can let us know that something is wrong. Chronic pelvic or abdominal pain accompanied by symptoms like bloating, gas, indigestion, or cramps should not be ignored, as they could be indicative of ovarian or endometrial cancer. If you experience ongoing discomfort in the pelvic or abdominal region, particularly outside of your normal period symptoms, seeking medical advice is essential.
7. Changes in Bathroom Habits
It seems weird or even gross, but writing a bathroom journal, or using an app for this purpose, can be a real life-saver. This is because both your urine and your bowel movements can tell you a lot about your health. Frequent urination, persistent pressure on the bladder, or changes in bowel habits unrelated to dietary factors could be signs of underlying health issues, including gynecologic cancers. Any and all changes in your bathroom habits should be reported to your doctor or gynecologist immediately. Again, when you go to discuss this with your health care provider, you can show them your health journals, be it a bathroom journal, period tracker, or both. This will help them better evaluate what you normally experience versus your current experience and will also force them to take your symptoms more seriously. Rather than saying ‘go home and track your symptoms over the next couple of weeks and let me know if there are any changes’, they will see that you have already done this and already noted the changes. This can help you to get the care you need, faster.
8. Persistent Indigestion or Nausea
There are so many reasons why you could be experiencing indigestion and/or nausea. Cancer is just one of them. Persistent indigestion or nausea, especially if it occurs frequently, can be a symptom of gynecologic cancers. It is important not to dismiss these symptoms as mere discomfort and to discuss them with a healthcare professional for proper evaluation. Before going into see your doctor, trying and take a journal to track when you are feeling nauseous or struggling to digest, what you were eating, activities you were doing, things like that. This way, you can better explain what has been going on, allowing your health care provider to better evaluate what the next steps should be.
9. Changes in Bowel Habits
This time we are specifically talking about your poops. Unexplained changes in bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea, could indicate underlying health concerns, including gynecologic cancers pressing externally on the colon. If you can’t seem to figure out why you are having these problems, and most importantly these symptoms are not going away, there could be something serious going on. If you notice persistent alterations in bowel movements, seeking medical advice promptly is crucial.
10. Changes in Breasts
Being vigilant about changes in breast health is crucial for early detection of breast cancer. Women should be alert to any lumps in the breast or armpit, alterations in breast skin texture, changes in breast appearance, or abnormalities in nipple shape or discharge. Pain in the breast area – anywhere from the armpit to the nipple – could also signify something going on. Regular self-examinations and prompt medical consultations for any concerning changes are recommended. As always, if you are a woman cominng to see your doctor about breast lumps or pain, do not walk out of that office without at least a referral for a mammogram. No matter whether you are young, old, healthy, have underlying conditions, are pregnant or breast feeding, lumps and bumps in breasts require mammograms, no matter what anyone says.
The Bottom Line
All of these cancer symptoms in women are not necessarily 100% specific symptoms. That is to say, experiencing one or more of these symptoms does not definitively indicate cancer. Persistent symptoms lasting two weeks or longer, however, warrant medical evaluation. Seeking timely medical attention and discussing any concerns with a healthcare provider can facilitate prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment if needed. Keeping track over your personal health markers, such as urination, bowel movements, periods, energy levels, appetite, and more can help you to notice changes more quickly and get to the bottom of health concerns faster. While it is important not to obsess over these things, being aware of your normal is key.
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