There are more than 200 types of cancer that have been known. Among these, the form of cancer that has been diagnosed the highest number of times in the country is breast cancer. With over 40,000 cases being diagnosed each year, lung and prostate cancer are the next most commonly detected cancers.

To expand your knowledge, here are the three most common types of cancer and their early signs and symptoms.

1. Breast cancer
It is estimated that the country recorded over 0.2 million cases of breast cancer in 2020. Breast cancer causes various symptoms. However, these signs do not always mean that a person has breast cancer. Therefore, it is important to see a doctor and get all the necessary tests done if you notice symptoms, such as a mass or a lump growing in the breast, in the collarbone area, or your armpit, swelling of the breast, and irritation that is dimpling, which can make the skin appear like orange peel. Furthermore, changes on breast skin such as redness, thickening, or appearance of scales, breast or nipple pain, discharge from the nipple, and retraction of the nipple.

2. Lung cancer
One of the most common types of cancer, it is estimated that there were more than 1.8 million new cases of lung cancer recorded in the country in 2020. This type of cancer also causes multiple symptoms that include incurable aggravating cough, blood in cough, breathlessness or wheezing, chest pain, changes in the voice or hoarseness, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, recurrent lung infection such as bronchitis, blood clotting, and headache.

What’s important to know about lung cancer is that it does not cause any signs until it has reached an advanced stage. This is because there are fewer nerve endings in the lungs. Therefore, the growth of the tumor takes place without any pain.

3. Prostate cancer
0.19 million cases of prostate cancer were recorded in the country in 2020. The various signs of prostate cancer include problems while urinating, leaking, an interrupted flow of urine, problems holding back urine, a problem with starting urination, and an uncontrollable urge to urinate. In addition to these, feeling a burning sensation while urination, frequent urination, especially at night, problems with erection, problems with ejaculation such as pain or ejaculating lesser fluid, discharge of blood with urine or ejaculated fluid, experiencing pain in various areas such as hips, back, pelvis, and thighs, and feeling pain or pressure in the rectum are all symptoms of prostate cancer.

Just like lung cancer, prostate cancer also does not cause any symptoms in the initial stages. Therefore, men over the age of 55 must consult their doctors and get tests done even if they do not experience any symptoms.