Oncologist Warns 5 Cancer Symptoms People Blame on Aging
Getting older brings aches and pains, but not every change should be blamed on age. An oncologist warns that five common symptoms often dismissed as aging or stress could actually signal cancer.
"Older adults take longer to recognize that a symptom might be serious, in part because they attribute changes to aging rather than disease," Dr. Jad Chahoud, oncologist and chief scientific officer at Orlando Health Cancer Institute, told the New York Post.
Dr. Chahoud estimates many patients can look back and identify symptoms present for weeks or months before diagnosis that were blamed on aging, stress, work, injury or menopause, according to New York Post.
He urges people not to panic over every symptom, but not to ignore persistent changes either. "If something is new, unexplained and lasting more than a few weeks, it's worth discussing with your doctor."
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5 cancer symptoms often dismissed
#1: Fatigue - Feeling exhausted is easy to blame on a busy schedule, but persistent, unexplained fatigue can be associated with colon, kidney, leukemia and lymphoma cancers. The red flag is fatigue disproportionate to activity, progressive, and not relieved by rest.
#2: Unintentional weight loss - Dropping weight without trying can signal pancreatic, lung, stomach and colorectal cancers. A loss of 5% or more body weight over six to 12 months without reason should be evaluated.
#3: Changes in bowel habits - Constipation, diarrhea, or pencil-thin stool could indicate colorectal cancer. "Dawson's Creek" star James Van Der Beek initially brushed off bowel changes before his diagnosis, thinking it was coffee-related.
#4: Urinary symptoms - Frequent urination, waking at night, or blood in urine are often blamed on enlarged prostate and age, but could indicate bladder, kidney or prostate cancer.
#5: Persistent aches or back pain - While most pain isn't cancer, persistent or progressive pain can occasionally involve bones, kidneys, pancreas or other organs.
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Fear delays diagnosis
Dr. Chahoud said fear is the biggest reason people delay care — fear of embarrassment, fear of what doctors might find, or concern about wasting a physician's time.
But waiting comes at a cost. Early detection is key because many cancers are far more treatable when caught early.
"The goal isn't to make people anxious," he explained. "It's to make them aware that 'getting older' should not automatically be used to explain away changes in your health."
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When to call your doctor
"Aging itself should not cause a rapid decline in how you feel or function," Chahoud stressed. One symptom alone rarely means cancer, but physicians worry about symptoms that don't go away, are getting worse, or are accompanied by other warnings like bleeding or declining function.
"Most cancers are more treatable when caught early, and no symptom is too 'trivial' to mention to a doctor."
Key Takeaways
- Fatigue that doesn't improve with rest could signal colon, kidney, leukemia or lymphoma
- Unintentional weight loss of 5%+ in 6-12 months needs evaluation
- Bowel changes including pencil-thin stool may indicate colorectal cancer
- Urinary frequency or blood could point to bladder, kidney or prostate cancer
- Persistent progressive pain warrants discussion, especially with other symptoms
