Home > About cancer > Cancer warnings and risk reduction
Cancer warnings and risk reduction
- Behaviors that reduce the risk of cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Melanoma cancer
- Oral cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Testicular cancer
A listing of the warning signs for the most common kinds of cancer, along with the screening recommendations of the National Cancer Institute, appears below. Contact your doctor to ask about cancer screenings that may be appropriate for you and your family.
Behaviors that reduce the risk of cancer
- Stop smoking.
- Eat a high-fiber, low-fat diet.
- Drink alcohol in moderation (beer, wine and liquor).
- Use sunscreen on your skin when you are outside.
- Have regular cancer-screening check ups as recommended by the National Cancer Institute.
Choose from the following list of some of the more common types of cancers for warning signs and recommendations:
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Melanoma cancer
- Oral cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Testicular cancer
More information
You can get more information about cancer prevention guidelines from the Massey Cancer Center Patient Resource Library at (804) 828-8709.
Bladder cancer
Smokers are twice as likely as nonsmokers to have bladder cancer. If you have any of the warning signs listed below, you should see your doctor.
Warning signs
The most common sign of bladder cancer is blood in the urine. Urine may turn faintly rusty to deep red in color. Pain during urination, a need to urinate more often or urgently also may be warning signs. Often, bladder cancer has no symptoms.
Breast cancer
All women should practice monthly breast self-exams and have a yearly breast exam performed by a qualified doctor. For instructions on how to do a breast self-examination, call the Patient Resource Library at (804) 828-8341. At the age of 35, women should have a baseline mammogram. Between the ages of 40 and 49, they should discuss with a health professional the advisability of screening with mammography taking into account family history of breast cancer and other risk factors. After the age of 50 women should have a mammogram every one to two years.
If a woman has a history of breast cancer or breast cancer in her family (particularly a mother, sister or daughter), her doctor may want to examine her more often. If you feel that you are at greater risk for getting breast cancer because of your family history, call the VCU Massey Cancer Center at (804) 828-0450. We can refer you to the appropriate resources.
Warning signs
- A lump or thickening in the breast or under the arm.
- A change in the size or shape of the breast.
- Discharge from the nipple.
- A change in the color or feel of the skin of the breast or nipple (such as dimpling, puckering or scaling).
Cervical cancer
All women who are or have been sexually active or who are 18 years of age or older should have a pelvic exam and a Pap test every year. This exam and test helps to prevent most cases of cervical cancer.
Warning signs
There may not be any early signs of cervical cancer. The most important prevention is to have a yearly Pap smear. The most common symptom of cancer of the cervix is unusual bleeding. It may start and stop between your regular periods, start after having sex, douching or after a pelvic exam. Your period may last longer and be heavier than usual. Changes in vaginal discharge also may be a warning sign. Pain is not an early warning sign of cervical cancer.
Colorectal cancer
Everyone should have a rectal exam as part of a periodic health examination. At age 50, everyone should have yearly fecal occult blood tests (to determine if there is blood in the feces) and a sigmoidoscopy every three to five years. Your doctor may want to examine you more often if you have a family history of colon polyps, colon cancer, adenomas, inflammatory bowel disease or a personal history of ovarian, endometrial or breast cancer. Discuss these risk factors with your doctor.
Warning signs
- A change in the nature or frequency of bowel movements.
- Blood in the feces (either bright red or very dark red in color).
- Persistent stomach discomfort or gas pains.
- A feeling that the bowel does not empty completely.
- Constant tiredness.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Smoking cigarettes, pipes and cigars are the greatest risk factors for getting lung cancer. Exposure to secondary cigarette smoke and to certain industrial substances, especially asbestos and radiation also are risk factors.
Warning signs
There may be no early signs of lung cancer. The most common symptoms are a nagging cough and spitting up blood. Then the person may experience pneumonia, fever, weight loss and chest pain.
Melanoma cancer
Excessive exposure to the sun, having fair skin and being exposed to coal tar, pitch, creosote and arsenic compounds or radium are risk factors for melanoma. Children who have had severe sunburns are at much greater risk of later developing melanoma. Avoid the sun during the hours when its rays are brightest: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunscreens and protective clothing should be worn when in the sun. Sunscreens are rated in strength according to an SPF (sun protection factor), which ranges from two to 15 or higher. The higher the number on the label, the greater the protection a sunscreen provides, meaning more of the sun’s harmful rays will be blocked out. Avoid tanning parlors. The rays that tanning machines use can be dangerous to your skin.
Using a full-length mirror, you should examine your skin from head to toe every month looking for changes, particularly a new growth, a mole that changes or a sore that does not heal.
Warning signs
Melanomas often start as small, mole-like growths that increase in size, change colors, become ulcer-like and bleed easily from slight injury. You can remember the warning signs by remembering your ABCs:
- Asymmetry. Part of a mole does not match the other part.
- Border irregularity. The edges of the mole are ragged, notched or blurred.
- Color. The mole’s color is not even.
- Diameter. A mole greater than six millimeters in size or any sudden or progressive increase in size is of concern.
Oral cancer
If you use tobacco products or drink alcohol, you are at greater risk of getting oral cancer. You can reduce this risk by stopping smoking and using alcohol only in moderation.
Contact your local health department, the American Lung Association or the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service at (800) 4-CANCER for information on how to stop smoking.
Perform a monthly self-exam of your gums, tongue and mouth area to look for the warning signs listed below. As part of your regular dental exam, your dentist should check for oral cancer. Your doctor also should check for oral cancer during your regular health exam.
Warning signs
- A sore in the mouth that bleeds easily and does not heal.
- A lump or thickening in the cheek.
- A white or red patch on the gums, tongue or lining of the mouth.
- Soreness or a feeling that something is caught in the throat.
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing or moving the jaw or tongue.
- Numbness of the tongue or other areas of the mouth.
- Swelling of the jaw (which, if you wear false teeth, causes them to fit poorly or hurt your gums).
Prostate cancer
All men after the age of 50 should have a yearly digital rectal exam of the prostate to check for cancer during their overall health examination.
Warning signs
- The need to urinate frequently, especially at night.
- Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine; inability to urinate.
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine.
- Painful or burning urination.
- Blood in the urine.
- Painful ejaculation.
- Continuing pain in the lower back, hips or upper thighs.
Testicular cancer
All men should practice monthly testicular self-examinations starting at age 18 and have a yearly testicular exam performed by a qualified doctor to check for cancer. For instructions on how to do a testicular self-examination, call the Patient Resource Library at (804) 828-8341 and ask for a pamphlet on TSE.
Warning signs
- A lump in or enlargement of either testicle.
- A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.
- A dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin.
- A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum.
- Enlargement or tenderness of the breast.
