Surgeon reveals surprising sensation which could be a sign of deadly cancer
William Morgan
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Kelvin Murray
The most impactful way to lower your risk of developing cancer is by detecting the disease at the earliest possible stage of its development and seeking medical treatment immediately.
However, this is easier said than done, with each form of cancer bringing with it a ton of potential symptoms that can be easily overlooked or mistaken for a different condition entirely.
One such health symptom that is often dismissed by patients as just another part of life has been highlighted by a urological surgeon, Dr Mark Laniardo, as a particular cause of concern.
'Feeling tired' all of the time is, perhaps, an integral part of modern working life, but for two-thirds of all cancer sufferers, it is a direct sign that a tumorous growth is taking hold somewhere in their body and something Dr Laniardo wants to highlight.
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While a sense of continuous exhaustion is a widespread complaint of people with cancer, the consultant urological surgeon told The Mirror that it can be of particular concern in men, where one of their deadliest cancers is often missed in its earliest and most treatable stages.
Prostate cancer is the third biggest killer of men after cardiovascular disease and lung cancer, but has a near 100 percent 10-year survival rate if detected at Stage One, making catching it early all the more important.
Modelling carried out by Cancer Research UK predicts that the number of people dying from prostate cancer is likely to rise by a third over the next decade. This is in part due to population increases, as well as a much slower decline in mortality when compared to other common cancers.
Dr Laniardo explained: "Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate gland begin to grow uncontrollably. Some prostate cancers grow slowly and may never cause harm, but others are aggressive and can spread quickly.
"That’s why understanding what prostate cancer is and getting checked early can make all the difference."
Cancer charities state that extreme fatigue is 'very common' among men living with prostate cancer, with the symptom often causing insomnia and making it difficult to focus or make decisions.
Now, it is important to remember that everyone experiences tiredness on a regular occasion, without it being an indicator that cancer is forming in your body. But if you are experiencing an exhaustion that resting does nothing to fix, this could be a sign that something is going wrong.
Dr Laniardo continued: "Most men with early-stage prostate cancer won’t notice any symptoms. As it develops, signs can include needing to pee more often, feeling tired, back pain, and leg weakness, experiencing erectile dysfunction, or blood in the urine or semen."
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should speak to your physician immediately to get checked out, as they could also indicate other problems with your plumbing.
But if you are concerned about the infamous prostate exam, the urological surgeon had a positive note: "There’s still a common misconception that prostate testing always involves a digital rectal exam. While a digital rectal exam can be part of a prostate check, it’s not always necessary, especially in the early stages."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.