This section describes the common symptoms which could be caused by cancer or its treatments. These can be categorized in four main ways depending on whether they relate to the cancer or it treatment and whether affecting a specific part of thge body (local) or the whole body (general). This links below  provide self help and lifestyle strategies to help you cope with these complaints:

• Local symptoms of cancer
• General symptoms of cancer
• Local treatment side effects
• General treatment side effects

Local symptoms of cancer (more details)

• An abnormal lump anywhere in the body
• Coughing up blood
• Hoarse voice
• Unexplained pain
• Unexplained change in bowel habit
• Unexplained breathlessness
• Abnormal bleeding
• A fit, loss of sensation, power or co-ordination.
• Blood in the urine
• Change in waterworks

General symptoms which may be caused by the cancer

• Nausea
• Weight loss
• Symptoms of a high calcium - dehydration, nausea, depression, confusion.
• Symptoms of anaemia - fatigue, breathlessness, ankle swelling
• Symptoms of liver damage- itching, juandice, dark urine, pale stool

Local side effects of treatments

• Hair loss
• Sore mouth
• Dry mouth
• Pain
• Vaginal pain & dryness
• Cardiac damage
• Rectal damage
• Breast pain
• Secondary cancers

General side effects of the treatments

These side effects can apply to most of the common treatments to a greater of lesser degree depending on the specific regimen, site of body treated, the combination with other therapies and the individual makeup of the patient. The headings below links to self help coping tips written with the help of numerous patients and experienced health care workers:

• Fatigue
• Hot flushes
• Menopause
• Nausea and sickness
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Indigestion
• Sleeplessness
• Joint/muscle pain
• Pins and needles
• Hand foot syndrome

Further information