Prevention is always better than cure, particularly with potentially life-threatening diseases. But when dealing with an illness as tricky to spot as cancer is, early detection may be a challenge.
Apparently, symptoms may manifest in the oddest ways, some of which can be easily dismissed as nothing serious. However, as these people would attest, listening to their gut or someone else’s may have saved their lives, or at the very least, prevented them from years of suffering.
A few Reddit users shared the unusual cancer symptoms they experienced and fortunately caught early on. Hopefully, none of you will ever need to refer back to this list, but it's worth knowing these valuable pieces of information.
#1
Work buddy suddenly said “yo man, your neck looks fat”
Me going wth man that’s so rude
Him going no really it looks fatter than before
Me going wth man that’s like a double edged insult
Him going no really bro maybe you should see a doc or something
So i did.
Thyroid cancer
Work bro caught it at stage ZERO
Didnt even need chemo. Docs just removed the gland. On lifelong thyroxine but that’s the best outcome really
Work bro and I still keep in contact 15 years later.
Me going wth man that’s so rude
Him going no really it looks fatter than before
Me going wth man that’s like a double edged insult
Him going no really bro maybe you should see a doc or something
So i did.
Thyroid cancer
Work bro caught it at stage ZERO
Didnt even need chemo. Docs just removed the gland. On lifelong thyroxine but that’s the best outcome really
Work bro and I still keep in contact 15 years later.
69points
#2
My symptoms were a feeling of fullness in my bottom when sitting down and bright red blood in my stool when wiping. I was 40 years old at the time and visited my doctor right away. She dismissed it as hemorrhoids.
Within 2 months, my stools had changed shape and I started to lose weight. I reached back out to my doctor who referred me to a gastroenterologist. From onset of my symptoms to when I was able to finally see a specialist was 6 months.
They ordered a colonoscopy but it was initially denied by my health insurer. My GI doctor appealed and had to move the procedure to a hospital before it was approved. The day of my colonoscopy I had lost 45 lbs since first seeing my doctor 6 months before.
When I woke up from the colonoscopy, my gastroenterologist told me they found a 7cm mass that was likely cancer. They took biopsies, and a couple of days later those were confirmed as malignant. I had blood work and a series of imaging over the next month and was eventually diagnosed with stage 4 rectal cancer with metastasis to the pelvic organs, lungs, and one adrenal gland.
This was in May 2025. I'm almost through with my first phase of treatment, 8 rounds of FOLFOXIRI chemotherapy. I start round 7 tomorrow and should finish round 8 the first week of November. My following treatment after that will be 25-35 rounds of chemoradiation.
As of today, no cancer DNA can be detected in my blood, my primary tumor is now undetectable through imaging, and all my metastisized nodes have shrunk by more than 50%.
Within 2 months, my stools had changed shape and I started to lose weight. I reached back out to my doctor who referred me to a gastroenterologist. From onset of my symptoms to when I was able to finally see a specialist was 6 months.
They ordered a colonoscopy but it was initially denied by my health insurer. My GI doctor appealed and had to move the procedure to a hospital before it was approved. The day of my colonoscopy I had lost 45 lbs since first seeing my doctor 6 months before.
When I woke up from the colonoscopy, my gastroenterologist told me they found a 7cm mass that was likely cancer. They took biopsies, and a couple of days later those were confirmed as malignant. I had blood work and a series of imaging over the next month and was eventually diagnosed with stage 4 rectal cancer with metastasis to the pelvic organs, lungs, and one adrenal gland.
This was in May 2025. I'm almost through with my first phase of treatment, 8 rounds of FOLFOXIRI chemotherapy. I start round 7 tomorrow and should finish round 8 the first week of November. My following treatment after that will be 25-35 rounds of chemoradiation.
As of today, no cancer DNA can be detected in my blood, my primary tumor is now undetectable through imaging, and all my metastisized nodes have shrunk by more than 50%.
49points
#3
I was a lot more tired than usual and assumed my depression had returned, so I scheduled a visit. No other symptoms.
Before the scheduled visit happened, I'd donated blood. I received a call from the Red Cross physician, who told me I needed labs done again ASAP. (As a medical transcriptionist at the time, once he mentioned blast cells, I knew what those labs would be looking to confirm.)
Sure enough, after the requested lab results came back and I'd gotten a bone marrow biopsy via oncology, I was diagnosed with CML (leukemia).
Since I'd donated blood only two months prior without incident, the leukemia was caught really early. (I'm now a 12-year survivor.).
Before the scheduled visit happened, I'd donated blood. I received a call from the Red Cross physician, who told me I needed labs done again ASAP. (As a medical transcriptionist at the time, once he mentioned blast cells, I knew what those labs would be looking to confirm.)
Sure enough, after the requested lab results came back and I'd gotten a bone marrow biopsy via oncology, I was diagnosed with CML (leukemia).
Since I'd donated blood only two months prior without incident, the leukemia was caught really early. (I'm now a 12-year survivor.).
45points
We spoke with a couple of professionals who shared valuable insights into this dreaded disease, which claims nearly 10 million lives worldwide each year. For one, it’s always been challenging to detect.
“Cancer has always been difficult to recognize early since early symptoms usually appear only when cellular damage has already progressed far,” preventive and endocrine medicine expert Dr. Med. Andreas Bernhardt told Bored Panda.
#4
My 16 year old son showed me his bleeding gums one morning. I thought it was weird and got him a dental appointment the next day. At lunch he showed me purple freckle-like spots that showed up on his feet. I called the triage nurse at our family clinic to see if this was a dental thing or a doctor thing. She told me to take him to the ER immediately.
I did, and he was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia and transferred by ambulance to the Children’s hospital an hour away.
They slammed chemo in him immediately because he was high risk with a wildly high white blood cell count and had disseminating intravascular coagulation, meaning he was internally bleeding out, because he didn’t have any platelets. He was in in-patient for 17 days and got 50 blood product transfusions. Most of them platelets.
After 9 months with 4 cycles of 30 days of arsenic IV chemo that took 2 hours Monday-Friday, and paired with trentinoin chemo pills, he was in molecular remission and beat it. He’s been off therapy since the middle of June. He spent his summer hiking, fishing, and camping, like nothing ever happened. He’s back in school with straight As and aiming for college scholarships to pursue wildlife conservation.
I did, and he was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia and transferred by ambulance to the Children’s hospital an hour away.
They slammed chemo in him immediately because he was high risk with a wildly high white blood cell count and had disseminating intravascular coagulation, meaning he was internally bleeding out, because he didn’t have any platelets. He was in in-patient for 17 days and got 50 blood product transfusions. Most of them platelets.
After 9 months with 4 cycles of 30 days of arsenic IV chemo that took 2 hours Monday-Friday, and paired with trentinoin chemo pills, he was in molecular remission and beat it. He’s been off therapy since the middle of June. He spent his summer hiking, fishing, and camping, like nothing ever happened. He’s back in school with straight As and aiming for college scholarships to pursue wildlife conservation.
44points
#5
My husband started having neck pain which he attributed to the heavy bullet-proof vest they had just added to his required uniform at work. Got significantly worse over a few weeks and his hands started shaking so he had to take a leave from work (can’t handle weapons with shaking hands). Doctor kept dismissing his pain as arthritis and said physical therapy and ibuprofen were the cure. After 3 months of this I finally refused to leave the doctor’s office until an MRI was ordered. It showed a large tumor at the base of his skull that had fractured his neck at C2 and C3. Only the tumor was holding his neck together. Biopsy showed high grade metastatic sarcomatoid carcinoma with unknown primary site. Two chemo treatments and 10 radiation treatments later they scanned him again and found the primary site - large tumor in his brain. Only then did we learn they had never scanned his head before. The chemo was not one that could cross the blood-brain barrier so it never would have helped. He passed away 2 months later.
Always advocate for yourself and your loved ones. No one else is watching out for us.
Always advocate for yourself and your loved ones. No one else is watching out for us.
37points
#6
I am a 42 woman and was completely pain free and feeling incredibly healthy up to 4 months ago when I started getting intense back pain that I couldn’t isolate (very nervy feeling), and then my whole stomach started bloating and I had intense stabbing pain throughout my stomach 24/7. Initially they thought I had Gastritis but we ended up doing an ultrasound as it wouldn’t go away.
They found 7 tumours on my liver, which lead to 2 months of every scan and test under the sun. I’ve been in intense, unrelenting pain for 4+ months and they still can’t find the primary cancer, but I’m left with metastatic tumours on the outside of my stomach, one on my hepatic portal, and my liver.
I’ve got “cancer unknown primary” and I am about to hit my second round of chemo tomorrow. I can’t wait to shrink these bloody tumours so the pain stops. I’m going to smash it!
They found 7 tumours on my liver, which lead to 2 months of every scan and test under the sun. I’ve been in intense, unrelenting pain for 4+ months and they still can’t find the primary cancer, but I’m left with metastatic tumours on the outside of my stomach, one on my hepatic portal, and my liver.
I’ve got “cancer unknown primary” and I am about to hit my second round of chemo tomorrow. I can’t wait to shrink these bloody tumours so the pain stops. I’m going to smash it!
37points
Dr. Bernhardt pointed out that while diagnostic methods have improved early detection, the numerous types of environmental toxins, preservatives, and microplastics present in today’s world can obscure early warning signs. However, detection was much more difficult decades ago.
According to OB/GYN Dr. David Ghozland, medical professionals used to miss 80% of early cancers in the 70s because of what he described as the “primitive nature” of their equipment.
“Today, I can identify precancerous cells before they become malignant with the help of molecular testing that was not available when I began my practice,” Dr. Ghozland said, adding that AI-enhanced diagnostics and genetic testing can detect cancers decades before they manifest.
#7
My daughter was diagnosed at 3 years old. She started complaining of a sore head and sore nose, and over the course of 10 days she got really unwell, just really lethargic and started vomiting, but oddly no fever. The no fever thing with all the other symptoms started to really worry me and I took her to hospital. Thankfully they took me seriously and she had a CT scan. They found a tumour in her sphenoid sinus. Five days after going to hospital we had a diagnosis (during that week she had an MRI scan and biopsy via her nose).
She had chemo for 8 months and she is now a healthy 14 year old. And because we’re in Australia her treatment cost is nothing apart from paying for hospital parking.
She had chemo for 8 months and she is now a healthy 14 year old. And because we’re in Australia her treatment cost is nothing apart from paying for hospital parking.
34points
#8
I posted this on a similar thread recently:
I thought I was going through menopause.
My period had always been irregular - I had PID when I was younger - but it was getting more irregular than usual.
I went to see the doctor - he ran a few blood tests, sent me for an ultrasound, said I was too young to be going through menopause and it must be because of my weight.
He never sent me to a gynaecologist - he told me I needed to “say no to the cake and biscuits” and go for a walk in the evening.
Fast forward a year. I start bleeding, and I don’t stop for a month. I go back to the doctor, he again tells me it’s my weight and complications from the PID.
Five months later, I’m still bleeding lightly, on and off. But every day there’s blood.
Then I’m getting groceries out of the car, and I bang my stomach on the tailgate. It hurts a lot.
I take some paracetamol and go to bed. Wake up the next morning, and I’m covered in blood. It’s on the sheets, the doona cover, it’s gone through the underlay to the mattress.
I panic, go to the hospital, and within four hours I’m having an emergency D&C and a blood transfusion.
The biological material from the D&C is sent away to be tested.
Turns out I had endometrial cancer, and it was very likely present 18 months earlier when I first went to see the doctor who told me I needed to lay off the cake and biscuits.
I thought I was going through menopause.
My period had always been irregular - I had PID when I was younger - but it was getting more irregular than usual.
I went to see the doctor - he ran a few blood tests, sent me for an ultrasound, said I was too young to be going through menopause and it must be because of my weight.
He never sent me to a gynaecologist - he told me I needed to “say no to the cake and biscuits” and go for a walk in the evening.
Fast forward a year. I start bleeding, and I don’t stop for a month. I go back to the doctor, he again tells me it’s my weight and complications from the PID.
Five months later, I’m still bleeding lightly, on and off. But every day there’s blood.
Then I’m getting groceries out of the car, and I bang my stomach on the tailgate. It hurts a lot.
I take some paracetamol and go to bed. Wake up the next morning, and I’m covered in blood. It’s on the sheets, the doona cover, it’s gone through the underlay to the mattress.
I panic, go to the hospital, and within four hours I’m having an emergency D&C and a blood transfusion.
The biological material from the D&C is sent away to be tested.
Turns out I had endometrial cancer, and it was very likely present 18 months earlier when I first went to see the doctor who told me I needed to lay off the cake and biscuits.
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33points
#9
About a year before I was diagnosed, I had a sharp pain in my hip so bad it left me doubled over. It only lasted a couple seconds, and only lasted once, so I didn’t follow up.
During a pre op for an unrelated surgery, my doctor found a lump in my breast. She sent me for a mammogram, they kept me for a biopsy, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
And the hip pain? That was a tumor setting up shop in my hip. My cancer is metastatic.
I’m No Evidence of Disease as of June, and I’m enjoying it as much as I can.
During a pre op for an unrelated surgery, my doctor found a lump in my breast. She sent me for a mammogram, they kept me for a biopsy, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
And the hip pain? That was a tumor setting up shop in my hip. My cancer is metastatic.
I’m No Evidence of Disease as of June, and I’m enjoying it as much as I can.
32points
Cancer is a treacherous disease that attacks in full force when the person least expects it. Unfortunately, in most cases, detection is a little too late, which is why knowing the symptoms is a critical step.
According to Dr. Bernhardt, some of the most overlooked signs are persistent fatigue, abnormal weight changes, and slight indigestion that may be attributed to aging or stress.
#10
Don’t have cancer myself, but my little brother had. He was 15 and started having these grow spurt pains… It’s when we were at a celebratory event of our favourite sports club, and he asked if he could sit down in the middle of 10k jumping and celebrating people, that we knew something was wrong. He was in so much pain he couldn’t stand in that moment.
Next day went to the fysio who then send him to the hospital with our dad. Turned out he had some sort of bone tumor in his upper leg.
It was a rough year for him and the family, but he had a healing miracle- one the doctors couldn’t even explain- and now we celebrated his 22nd birthday last summer 🌟 He’s been cancer free for 5 years 🌟.
Next day went to the fysio who then send him to the hospital with our dad. Turned out he had some sort of bone tumor in his upper leg.
It was a rough year for him and the family, but he had a healing miracle- one the doctors couldn’t even explain- and now we celebrated his 22nd birthday last summer 🌟 He’s been cancer free for 5 years 🌟.
27points
#11
I had pain in my bones for about four months and I didn’t do anything about it. Then I noticed my posture was changing. Still did nothing bc my life was busy with work, commuting, kids in high school, and wife who was growing more distant. One day at work I sneezed and broke a rib. The next day I went to the urgent care center. I was there for several hours while they did blood tests. The docs came in and said I need to go to the hospital and start chemo IMMEDIATELY. No going home first for toothbrush and pjs. They said I had about 2 weeks before extreme and fataorgan failure. Chance of surviving a few more months less than 1%. Multiple myeloma - bone marrow cancer. Basically bones dissolve, which causes them to weaken and break. The calcium from bones harms the kidneys and other organs. That was 14 years ago this thanksgiving. I did a bunch of chemo and had a stem cell transplant. I still take expensive medicine each day but am in good shape. Div, I sold everything I had, got kids through college, and now live a simple minimalist lifestyle. I’m content.
24points
#12
Nose wouldn’t stop dripping, even while I slept. I’d wake up to a pillow covered in yellow dots. First doctor said it was a polyp and booked a procedure to have it removed. Went for a second opinion who did an x-ray and discovered a very rare 3cm sarcoma on my septum that had grown through a bunch of bone. 5 weeks of radiation followed by surgery and I’m now coming up on 10 years. Can no longer smell and my taste is very limited, but grateful to be alive.
24points
Meanwhile, Dr. Ghozland revealed that many of his patients disregard discharge changes due to embarrassment. He noted that one woman recently canceled an appointment because she was experiencing a “funny odor down there,” which is a sign of cervical cancer stage one.
“Most women dismiss these changes as 'it is likely to be nothing at all. That metal odor that has been over two weeks long? What sweet smell had nothing to do with your cycle? These are not hygienic issues—it is just your body crying out in pain,” Dr. Ghozland explained.
#13
I got SUPER lucky.
I was laying on the couch, 17 years old, and realized I was rubbing a lump on my back. I went and showed my dad. He and my mother were divorced, and by chance he was renting the master bedroom out to a nurse. He walked me down the hall, knocked on her door and had her feel it.
She said it felt hard and I should get it checked out.
The next week I was in a doctor’s office. Less than a week after that I was getting it removed.
Two weeks later, they removed the stitches and at that point they still didn’t know what it was. 3 labs failed to determine it. It had to be sent out of state where finally it was identified as a very rare and aggressive Soft Tissue Sarcoma.
They don’t even try Chemo, they go straight to surgery and amputations. I had a second wide excision surgery up my spine (over 2 dozen stickers all for an original 2cm ball) to remove the surrounding area.
Everything came up clear and we basically caught it before it spread because we rented a room to a nurse. If my parents weren’t divorced, I would probably be dead.
I was laying on the couch, 17 years old, and realized I was rubbing a lump on my back. I went and showed my dad. He and my mother were divorced, and by chance he was renting the master bedroom out to a nurse. He walked me down the hall, knocked on her door and had her feel it.
She said it felt hard and I should get it checked out.
The next week I was in a doctor’s office. Less than a week after that I was getting it removed.
Two weeks later, they removed the stitches and at that point they still didn’t know what it was. 3 labs failed to determine it. It had to be sent out of state where finally it was identified as a very rare and aggressive Soft Tissue Sarcoma.
They don’t even try Chemo, they go straight to surgery and amputations. I had a second wide excision surgery up my spine (over 2 dozen stickers all for an original 2cm ball) to remove the surrounding area.
Everything came up clear and we basically caught it before it spread because we rented a room to a nurse. If my parents weren’t divorced, I would probably be dead.
23points
#14
I'm going to speak on behalf of my sister who is no longer here. My middle sister Connie, was a non smoker, married, had just bought her first home, and waited tables at a restaurant chain . She had two children. She had a dry, nagging cough, went to the doctor, got a chest x-ray and was told everything looked good. Cough continued so 3 months later, she went back. This time, she was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer. She had a lobectomy, such heavy doses of chemo I thought she'd die from it. Proceeded to have scans every couple of months, holding our breath in between results. One year later - metastasized to her brain. Surgery to remove what they could of a tumor in her frontal lobe, followed by radiation. 6 weeks later - tumor is back and bigger than before. My sister says "no more" She passed away at home at age 42. Her little girl was only 5.
22points
#15
My first cancer, I turned yellow. Turned out I had type 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, squeezing the duct from my pancreas and gall bladder (my gall bladder was bad also.) They put stents in the duct, and after chemo I was all better.
6 years later, my neck started swelling, and it was determined I had the same lymphoma problem next to my thyroid (which had also gone bad). They removed one side of the thyroid, but then the other side grew out of control and caused my throat to constrict so much that I couldn't talk or eat. So they removed the other side too. Another round of chemo and I am all better again.
I have since been diagnosed with Follicular Lymphoma, which basically means my lymph nodes can randomly go cancerous if they get stressed. I am waiting for my appendix or spleen or something else to go bad for that to happen.
Wee.
6 years later, my neck started swelling, and it was determined I had the same lymphoma problem next to my thyroid (which had also gone bad). They removed one side of the thyroid, but then the other side grew out of control and caused my throat to constrict so much that I couldn't talk or eat. So they removed the other side too. Another round of chemo and I am all better again.
I have since been diagnosed with Follicular Lymphoma, which basically means my lymph nodes can randomly go cancerous if they get stressed. I am waiting for my appendix or spleen or something else to go bad for that to happen.
Wee.
22points
For the common folk with very little to zero medical knowledge, detecting these signs would be challenging. Dr. Bernhardt advises performing basic blood screening, including inflammatory and hormonal markers. But if you’re too anxious to visit a doctor right away, here is his tip:
“One can keep track of subtle changes such as new spots on the skin, changes in bowel movement patterns, or long-lasting inflammations. This self-awareness acts as a first layer of screening before laboratory confirmation.”
#16
I usually eat a piece of chocolate at night, like a dessert. When I went to the bathroom that night to shower I noticed my white shirt had brown spots. I thought I dropped chocolate pieces on myself and it melted 🤷🏽 it happens.
Happened a month later, but I hadn’t had chocolate. Wife has a chemistry degree and sprayed hydrogen peroxide on it. It bubbled indicating blood. Rang the hospital and they ran blood tests. Told me it could be a breast tumor or a brain tumor and suggested I get MRIs. I got both MRIs done with contrast in the same week.
Turns out I had both a breast and brain tumor
Happened a month later, but I hadn’t had chocolate. Wife has a chemistry degree and sprayed hydrogen peroxide on it. It bubbled indicating blood. Rang the hospital and they ran blood tests. Told me it could be a breast tumor or a brain tumor and suggested I get MRIs. I got both MRIs done with contrast in the same week.
Turns out I had both a breast and brain tumor
22points
#17
I had a migraine, and then suddenly half of my body went numb and I had bad aphasia. I kept trying to talk but gibberish was coming out of my mouth. The dr in the ER said it was probably just a bad migraine and it was in all likelihood not a big deal. Turns out I have brain, neck, and spine cancer. My meninges are carrying cancer through my CNS :) still here after 4 years.
22points
#18
Red dot on my arm that never healed. I read on Reddit that someone had a red dot that turned out to be cancer. Scheduled visit to dermatologist and sure enough it was a rooted melanoma. Over 30 stitches later, I’m ok.
21points
Prevention will always be better than cure, and simple practice can significantly reduce one’s cancer risk. Dr. Bernhardt’s advice is straightforward: keep your sugar levels in check while maintaining a balanced diet.
“The body can maintain its architectural integrity by stabilizing insulin levels, as the long-term elevation of blood glucose allows abnormal cell growth and impairs immunosurveillance,” he said, adding that steady metabolism and hormonal equilibrium allow cells to “perform their repair duties” and resist mutation.
#19
Great health but weak pee stream, had to get up multiple times at night to pee. PSA was within normal range but doctor sent me for a MRI. It showed large lesion popped out of prostate. It turned out to be rare aggressive type prostate cancer, Gleason 9 Stage 3a. (found this all out after surgery) Local urologist said I could only have radiation. Went for a second opinion at UC San Diego. Got connected with best urological surgeon in the US. It's now been four years, this month, with undetectable PSA. Not a day of incontinence. Other started working within a year with blue pill. At my house the surgeon ranks somewhere between Jesus and God.
21points
#20
Shortness of breath and low energy. I thought that it was a resurgence of asthma that I had as a child.
Turns out that I felt that way because my body was severely low on hemoglobin. Pesky leukemia had replaced 92% of my bone marrow with cancer.
That was 18 months ago. Been in full remission since January. Don’t recommend.
Turns out that I felt that way because my body was severely low on hemoglobin. Pesky leukemia had replaced 92% of my bone marrow with cancer.
That was 18 months ago. Been in full remission since January. Don’t recommend.
19points