Cancer affects millions of people each year, with the National Cancer Institute1 reporting as many as 1.7 million cases each year. Cancer can affect anyone, and can appear at any age – which is exactly why it shouldn’t be ignored.
Most importantly, many types of cancer aren’t easy to detect early on. If cancer isn’t caught early, the prognosis is often dismal. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to your health and stay informed about these common types of cancer.
1. Myeloma
Blood cancer may not be incredibly common, but this type of cancer is a serious concern. Each year, over 30,000 new myeloma diagnoses occur and nearly 13,000 people die from this type of cancer according to the National Cancer Institute2. And myeloma is incredibly dangerous because it’s hard to diagnose.
Though it isn’t well-known, myeloma directly affects many people. In order to catch this difficult-to-detect cancer, you need to know the signs, symptoms, and treatment options well ahead of time. Make sure you know the information on this deadly disease before it’s too late.
2. Lung Cancer
Are you finding it difficult to catch your breath? Are the simplest tasks, like walking or getting dressed, becoming too challenging? You might be experiencing the symptoms and early signs of lung cancer. If not caught early, lung cancer is a very deadly cancer. It’s the second most common cancer contracted by men and women in the U.S. according to the American Cancer Society3, and those older than age 65 are the most at risk.
Even if you haven’t been a smoker, you could have been exposed to cancer-causing chemicals like asbestos and secondhand smoke throughout your lifetime. If you think you might be experiencing the symptoms of lung cancer, it’s important to know what risks lie ahead.
3. Leukemia
Some cancers are seemingly silent; they present no symptoms, making it incredibly difficult to catch these cancers in their earliest stages. Blood cancers like leukemia can strike at any time, any age, and often are only officially diagnosed when they’re reached late stages. Yet they’re more common than many expect.
According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society4, leukemia strikes more than 60,000 new individuals every year. If you’re starting to see changes in your health, such as frequent fatigue, weakness throughout the body, unexplained weight loss, or easy bruising and bleeding, you could have the symptoms of leukemia. Don’t wait until your symptoms become worse to see a doctor.
4. Prostate Cancer
One cancer in particular affects men as they age, striking even in those who least expect it: prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society5 reports that one in every nine men will suffer from prostate cancer, and it’s the second most deadly type of cancer.
Even more frightening, prostate cancer is hard to detect. Those with this type of cancer tend to exhibit very few symptoms in the early stages – it isn’t until this cancer becomes more advanced that signs including difficulty urinating, pelvic discomfort, and erectile dysfunction begin to appear. Keep yourself ahead of prostate cancer with regular screenings and the latest knowledge on its symptoms.
5. Pancreatic Cancer
Although it’s a less common cancer, pancreatic cancer is a frightening diagnosis to receive. With low survival rates, this cancer is a serious killer. The American Cancer Society reports that the five-year survival rate for those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is just 12 percent in its earliest stage, while those with later stages have just a 1 to 5 percent survival rate6.
Small, subtle signs like abdomen pain, surprising weight loss, fatigue, and even the onset of diabetes can all signal pancreatic cancer. Know the signs, symptoms, and potential treatment options for pancreatic cancer to improve your prognosis as much as possible.
