What is Malignancy?
Malignancy comes from the Latin male meaning 'badly' and -gnus meaning 'born' and is the characterization of a medical condition that becomes progressively worse.
Malignancy is most generally associated with Cancer, a malignant tumor being contrasting to a non-cancerous benign tumor in that the malignant tumor is not limited to growth within itself, it can invade neighboring tissues, thus possibly spreading to further tissues.
Make sure to watch out for these signs of possible cancer:
Lumps in the breast or anywhere else
If you're female you should check your breasts for lumps at least once a month and become familiar with your breasts so that you can notice change, here's some tips:
Feel the breast, upper chest and armpits for lumps
Feel for a lumpy area or unusual thickening of the breast tissue
Is there any pain when touching or without touching the breast, again in the breast or armpit.
What to look for
- Change in size or shape
- Change in skin texture
- Change in colour
- The appearance or direction of the nipple (The nipple might have become inverted)
- Unusual discharge from either or both nipples
- Rash or crusting of the nipple or area surrounding
If you notice any of these symptoms consult your doctor immediately
If you're male you should do the same, check your testicles at least once a month and become familiar with them so that you can notice change, here's some tips:
The best time to examine your testicles is after a bath or shower when the scrotum is soft and relaxed, you'll be able to feel around it easier.
Hold your scrotum in the palms of your hands so the thumbs and fingers of both hands can freely feel your testicles.
Don't worry if one testicle is larger or hangs slightly lower, this is common.
Examine your testicles on at a time, using pressure gently
Examine the epididymis first, the structure on top and behind the testicles, it should feel tender to touch as this part stores sperm and can be sensitive.
Find the spermatic cord, this comes out the top of the epididymis and and behind the testicle, it should feel firm and smooth, a tube shape.
Then feel the testicle.
What to look out for:
- A hard lump on the front or side of the testicle
- Swelling or enlarged testicles
- Pain or discomfort in the scrotum or testicles
- Unusual differences between the testicles
- A full ache in the lower stomach, groin or scrotum
If you notice any of these symptoms consult your doctor immediately
Coughing
If you have a Cough that persists more than 3 weeks you should go and visit your General Practitioner (GP), If you have shortness of breath or pain in your chest this may be an indicator of pneumonia, a lung infection. This is very serious and you should go to your GP as soon as you notice any of these symptoms.
Bowel Habit ChangesLook out for some of these symptoms:
- Blood in your stools (In your poo)
- Diarrhoea or Constipation for no reason
- Feeling like you haven't emptied your bowl after a bowl movement
- Pain in you abdomen (stomach) or anus
- Persistent bloating
Bleeding
Watch out for any blood that shouldn't be there! Even if its a one off, look out for:
- Blood in your urine
- Bleeding when its not your period
- Blood from your anus
- Blood when you cough
- Blood in your vomit
Go to your Doctor immediately if you notice any of these symptoms!
Moles
Make sure you're familiar with your moles so you can notice if there are any changes to them at all, if you notice any of these symptoms go to a doctor:
- Irregular/Asymmetrical shaped moles
- Moles with a jagged edged border
- Moles with more than one colour in it
- A mole bigger than 7mm in diameter
- Itchy, crusty or bleeding moles.
These may be an indicator of skin cancer, go to your doctor if you notice any of these!
Random/Unexplained weight loss
Please go and see your GP if you have lost weight over a couple of months that cannot be explained by changes in your diet or levels of exercise.
If you're interested in the biology of cancer please watch this:
