Cancer is one disease that springs up as one of the most unwelcomed surprises in one’s life. From unexpected symptoms to unending treatment, the disease wreaks a whole lot of havoc on a person’s life and makes the day-to-day routine entirely tiring. Take a lookAccording to the National Cancer Institute, in 2025 an estimated 2,041,910 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the US. While cancers do have certain early symptoms, depending on their type and location there can be some surprising symptoms as well. In a conversation with The Washington Post, Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD, chief of the division of haematology and professor of medicine at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, shared four symptoms that are mostly unknown to people.
Pain after drinking alcohol
Many people experience pain in the lower chest or abdomen after drinking alcohol. This can be due to inflammation of the oesophagus or stomach, conditions such as esophagitis or gastritis which can be relieved through antacids or proton pump inhibitors. However, consistent pain in a particular area of the body such as a lymph node or lower back, after ingesting alcohol can be a sign of cancer. The doctor shared the case of a patient who experienced chest pain for a day or two every time she drank a glass of wine. A CT scan of her chest revealed a large mass in her lungs and she was later diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. A study published in the American Cancer Society Journal, found that at least 5 % people experiencing the symptom were diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.
Broken bone with little trauma
Bone density and strength decline with age. This is why there are approximately 2 million osteoporosis-related fractures every year in the US. However, a broken bone with little trauma is rare, especially in young adults. Such fractures in some cases can indicate underlying cancer. It begins in the bones and can weaken the bone’s strength, leading to “pathologic” fractures. About 8% of people with cancer in the bone sustain a pathologic fracture. These types of broken bones are 500 times more likely to occur due to cancer spreading to the bone. These might have originated in the breast, lung, thyroid, kidney and prostate.
Extremely high calcium levels
Numerous conditions can cause high calcium levels, such as abnormalities in the parathyroid gland, hyperthyroidism or even some medications. However, in a 2014 study published in the British Journal of Cancer, over 50,000 people with elevated calcium levels had more than twice the risk of being diagnosed with cancer the following year. In this case, people can experience normal symptoms that arrive with high calcium levels such as pain from kidney stones and in skeletal bones, nausea, constipation, mood changes, and changed cognitive function. The most common cancers caused by high calcium are certain types of lung cancer, breast, kidney, bladder, ovarian, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, as per the doctor.
Painful, swollen breasts or nipple discharge
Mastitis is a benign condition that can cause painful, swollen or itchy breasts and it’s most common in people who are breastfeeding. However, for those who are not breastfeeding, this can be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer, which accounts for 2-4% of the cases in the US. The breast skin changes and resembles the pitted surface of an orange peel. This is when visiting a doctor is a must. Most cases of nipple discharge are also benign and only 2-15% were found to have an underlying breast cancer. The discharge is more likely to be caused by cancer when it occurs in only one breast, is intermittent and persists over time. Keep in mind that these symptoms are not extremely common but are signs of cancer in rare cases. Thus, visiting a professional if you experience them is a must. Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new medication or treatment and before changing your diet or supplement regimen.
