Cancer is a very fatal disease that kills millions each year not only in the United States but aroud the globe. It is essential to know the different clinical manifestations of cancer to seek for prompt medical help. The triad consists of pain, fatigue and cachexia.
Usually little or no pain occurs in patients with the early stages of cancer. However, for terminally ill patients, pain is the most common symptom they experience. Pain occurs to about 60% to 80% of patients with late stage cancer.
Pain is caused by the invasion of sensitive structures, pressure or obstruction, stretching of visceral surfaces, tissue destruction and inflammation. Usually the compression of nerve cells around the area where the tumor resides could lead to pain.
Another clinical manifestation is fatigue or extreme weakness. The exact mechanism linking pain to cancer is still unclear. However, there are some suggested causes including sleep disturbance, biochemical changes brought about by the disease or treatment, level of activity, nutritional status and other factors.
Lastly, cachexia includes a wide array of symptoms ranging from anorexia or loss of appetite, weight loss, anemia asthenia or marked weakness, taste alteration, and altered protein, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.
Loss of appetite is common among cancer patients. Meanwhile, progressive weight loss is also common among cancer patients. The American Cancer Society added symptoms to watch out for like fatigue, weight loss and fever because cancer cells use up much of the body's energy supply, or they may release substances that change the way the body makes energy from food.
Other symptoms may indicate other conditions but it is best to consult a health care professional in case these signs appear.