Oncology masks itself: 5 symptoms behind which cancer may be hiding

An oncologist from the US listed five symptoms that may indicate cancer but are often ignored by patients: persistent fatigue, unexplained weight loss, changes in digestion and urination, and prolonged pain. The doctor urges not to dismiss persistent changes as age or stress and to seek medical help in a timely manner.

An oncologist and director of innovation at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, Jad Chahoud, named five symptoms that often go unnoticed but may signal cancer. In an interview with The New York Post, he noted that patients often delay visiting a doctor, attributing fatigue to work, pain to old injuries, and changes in well-being to stress or hormones. Key signs include: persistent fatigue not relieved by rest; unexplained weight loss (from 5% over several months); persistent digestive changes (constipation, diarrhea, changes in stool shape); urinary disturbances (frequent urges, especially at night, blood in urine); and prolonged or worsening pain. The doctor emphasizes that one symptom does not mean cancer, but their persistence and combination require examination. The article also cites the case of actor James Van Der Beek, who attributed digestive problems to coffee and cream and later died of colorectal cancer.