38 Folks Facing Cancer Share The Symptoms That Made Them Finally Visit A Doctor

There are many different types of cancer, and each has its own symptoms. There might be some overlap in what people experience, which can indicate that their body is dealing with a disease. As you might have noticed from this list, many patients were incredibly fatigued and tired, no matter what they were doing.

This sudden exhaustion is a clear sign that the body’s energy supply is being used up too quickly. Another thing that cancer cells do is attack the body’s immune system. That’s why people’s lymph nodes might swell up, some big enough that people can even feel them protruding from the skin. 

Sometimes people don't actually believe that they can get a serious illness, which is why folks often disregard their symptoms until things get very bad. It’s important to understand that cancer is the leading cause of death globally, and nearly 10 million people lose their lives due to it. This shows that the disease is more common than folks would expect and that people should be more vigilant about their health.

The most common type is lung cancer, which claims around 1.80 million lives annually. The good news is that if people seek help early on, their treatment might put them into remission faster. That’s exactly why nobody should ignore random symptoms or pass them off as harmless problems.

Learning about a cancer diagnosis can be extremely difficult and scary, but there are a few things folks can do to cope. The first would be to maintain a healthy lifestyle so that one’s energy levels can improve and so that they can also deal with the stress and exhaustion of the illness and its treatment.

Getting enough time for rest and maintaining a daily routine can also help a person feel a sense of stability during such a tumultuous time. Experts say that it is important to spend time with family and friends, which can help one take their mind off heavier topics, and enjoy each moment.

To understand more about this, Bored Panda reached out to Dr. Jennifer Griggs, MD, MPH. She is a medical oncologist and health services researcher with a program focused on healthcare equity and patient-clinician communication. 

She is also the medical director for Yerbba, which provides high-quality information for patients and their loved ones, and the program director of the Michigan Oncology Quality Consortium. Dr. Jennifer explained that “when going through cancer and its treatment, people need to have multiple ‘circles of support.’ A support system can help smooth the bumps that inevitably arise during cancer.”

“Creating an expanded circle of acquaintances who care and even volunteers through community groups will increase the likelihood that their various needs will be met. There are role shifts that can be hard for people to face. Asking for help is a sign of strength. When asking for help, be as specific as possible,” she added.

This disease doesn’t just affect a person’s body, but it also puts a lot of pressure on their mental health. That’s why cancer patients are urged to seek therapy to help them voice all of their difficult emotions and also have a support system. Many people also opt for group therapy so that they can listen to other people who are dealing with a similar situation.

These talking therapies are quite effective ways of treating the anxiety and panic that comes with such a diagnosis. Some people might prefer alternative therapy methods, which is why it’s also important to talk to a mental health professional and develop a customized plan that suits an individual's particular needs.

Dr. Jennifer also shared that a patient’s “outer circle is the medical care team, ideally a team they can trust. Everyone in their doctors’ offices is skilled and caring. If a patient calls to speak to a doctor and receives a phone call from a nurse, this is good care. Nurses stay in close touch with their physician colleagues and are often more experienced in symptom management.” 

“Experts in healthcare don’t need to be liked, but they do need to feel they are trusted. If they feel they aren’t, they spend their energy not on caring for the patient, but on proving themselves. If a patient cannot trust a physician or other member of their team, figuring out why trust is not present and identifying ways that the team can earn their trust is essential,” she added.

It’s not easy to suddenly have one’s life turned upside down by a diagnosis like this. That’s why people need to take stock of what is important and give themselves grace. Dr. Jennifer shared that “there are many things that people can do to care for themselves, not only mentally and physically but also psychologically and spiritually.”

“An honest appraisal of what is most important, is sacred, will help serve as a north star for patients as they navigate the myriad decisions they have to make on a daily basis. [Thinking of what] they are able to do and what is sacred to them can help them devote their energy to those things that matter, not the things that other people think should matter.”

She also added that other things like “practicing compassionate self-talk is essential. Getting sufficient natural light and movement every day, getting sufficient sleep, eating colorful foods, and staying connected with others, laughing whenever possible, and connecting with who they are outside of their cancer diagnosis and treatment.”

We should be grateful that all the folks on this list are brave enough to share their stories so that they can help other people recognize the warning signs. It’s important to pay attention to any weird symptoms you might be experiencing and go for a check-up early on rather than wait for things to get worse.

If you have any similar stories, please share your experience. Who knows, it might help someone else.