Understanding cancer is no easy feat.
Even to this day, there seem to be more mysteries than ever imagined, with every new discovery leading to new questions and concerns. That’s not to say there aren’t innovative treatments and prevention strategies. It simply means that cancer, in all its forms and presentations, will continue to challenge.
Fortunately, doctors and patients are rising to that challenge.
In Black patients especially, cancer is becoming better understood and treated. Given that cancers such as colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer are more common in Black patients, many specialists are now targeting these diseases like never before.
The first step in that process is identification.
So let’s dive right in. Here are four early signs of potential cancer that all Black patients can look out for…
1. Unexplained Weight Loss
Just because Black cancer patients face healthcare disparities doesn’t mean they need to be left out in the cold. If you’re worried that your health issues or changes may be something more than a passing problem, check the mirror.
Are you experiencing effortless weight loss? While this may be a nice thing for people struggling to shed pounds, continued weight loss of 10 or more lbs (over a short period) is nothing to be happy about. Especially if it comes without any diet or exercise changes.
The reason unexplained weight loss may be from cancer is due to the development of tumors, or oncogenesis. When tumors develop, they often increase your metabolism which means that your body is burning more calories, even when you’re doing nothing.
In the case of colorectal and pancreatic cancers, these diseases can interfere with your body’s ability to absorb nutrients, which may also lead to unexplained weight loss. Even your immune system can lead to weight loss, contributing to the breakdown of muscle and fat.
So keep an eye out. Note any unexplained weight loss over weeks and months, and especially monitor your appetite. If your appetite has drastically changed or you feel full rapidly, it may be a sign of something more.
Finally, look out for trouble swallowing or constant nausea. When this happens, it may lead to cancers of the stomach and esophagus – so contact your doctor immediately if this persists.
If your bathroom habits change and are accompanied by ongoing fatigue, you should contact a healthcare provider for early screening. Many Black adults are diagnosed at later stages, so it’s best to get to the doctor earlier just to be safe.
RELATED: 13 Signs You May Be Living with Cancer
2. Chronic Fatigue
There’s fatigue, then there is cancer fatigue.
Unlike transient fatigue that we all experience, cancer-related fatigue is significantly more severe, even debilitating. It lasts for days, weeks, and months, and usually won’t improve even if you rest or sleep better.
The reason cancer leads to fatigue is that cancer cells like to fight your normal, healthy cells for nutrients. If the cancer cells start to win that battle, you’ll start to lose energy and notice fatigue.
Another reason is the development of tumors, which can reduce the number of red blood cells in your blood. This lack of red blood cells (anemia) may then cause problems with your bone marrow, which can limit the oxygen supply throughout your body.
And finally, there’s the inflammatory response. When the body has cancer, inflammation can drain your energy rather quickly. This is because your body is dedicating resources to trying to reduce inflammation, leaving little for important daily activities.
If you’re perpetually tired despite improved sleep, have trouble concentrating and performing normal tasks, and find that you’re struggling to breathe (with pale skin), seek medical guidance right away.
3. Changes in Skin
Skin is your largest organ, and what it tells us about human health is vital.
Although skin cancers such as melanoma occur in Black folks far less frequently than in white folks, that simply means that they can catch you off guard. Because of this, many skin cancers in Black patients are diagnosed at a later stage when it may already be too late.
In other words, early detection and screening are crucial. And even if there isn’t a skin cancer present, changes in your skin may indicate that there is something else going on, inside your body.
When checking for melanoma, look in areas you wouldn’t expect, such as those that don’t see much sunlight. The palms, soles, and fingernails are all spots where malignant moles and growths can fester. Even itchy or scaly patches may indicate some type of blood cancer (though in most cases, they don’t).
If your skin turns yellow, or your eyes turn yellow, that too can indicate a problem such as jaundice, which may be a sign of liver or pancreatic cancer.
Overall, it’s important to examine your skin daily for any abnormalities. Dark spots, mole changes, or bleeding growths that won’t heal are all possible signs of cancer. So too is persistent itching leading to redness and rashes with no known cause.
For Black individuals, the smartest thing you can do is go to a doctor routinely. Make sure to have ‘hidden’ areas of your body checked thoroughly and don’t shy away from a good dermatologist. You’ll be happy you didn’t!
RELATED: 4 Early Signs That Cancer Is Spreading
4. Bowel/Urinary Changes
Sometimes, you eat the wrong thing and you know it.
But occasional gastrointestinal issues aside, lasting changes in your bowel and urinary habits may indicate something far beyond what you ate or didn’t.
For Black patients, changes in gastrointestinal patterns may be a sign of colorectal or prostate cancers, both of which affect the Black community at disproportionately high rates.
If cancer is the cause, it’s usually due to three reasons.
These include:
- Issues such as digestive tract tumors, which lead to irritation and altered bowel movements.
- Pressure on the urethra due to prostate cancer, which causes urinary changes.
- Bloody stool or urine due to damage of blood vessels or tumors breaking off.
When determining whether your bowel and urinary changes are due to cancer, it’s important that you look at your habits. Are you having constant diarrhea, constipation, or the sense that your bowels are never completely emptying?
Does your stool have a noticeable change in appearance? Notable patterns include dark and tarry stools, and thin almost ribbon-like stools.
Your urine will also undergo unique changes. Is it persistently discolored and do you have difficulty starting or stopping? Is it hard to get a ‘strong’ stream? Do you constantly have to go, especially during the night?
Given that Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as white men, it’s always important to get screened. Regular visits for PSA tests are the best way to detect early problems before they become something severe.
Overall, don’t hesitate to visit a healthcare provider if you have any concerns. Even if everything feels fine, you should make a habit of having routine examinations once you reach a certain age. Discuss with your doctor any issues, craft a personalized treatment plan, and never hesitate to ask questions.
Being aware and informed – as simple as that may sound – can have a profound effect on your health and future health outcomes.
Life’s a lesson. Never stop learning!