You should have known this sooner.

Cancer is often referred to as a “silent disease” because many of its early warning signs can be subtle or mistaken for everyday health issues. Women, especially, may overlook or normalize symptoms due to busy lifestyles or hormonal fluctuations. However, listening to your body and identifying unusual changes early can make a life-saving difference.

Here are 20 symptoms that women often ignore – and why #8 is especially critical:

1. Unexplained Weight Loss

Losing more than 5% of your body weight within a few months without changing your diet or exercise habits could be a red flag, especially for gastrointestinal or pancreatic cancer.

2. Constant Fatigue

Feeling tired is normal occasionally, but persistent, unexplained exhaustion may point to leukemia or colon cancer.

3. Fever Without Infection

Recurring or persistent low-grade fevers with no clear cause may be an early symptom of blood cancers like lymphoma.

4. Persistent Pain

Pain that doesn’t go away, especially if localized (e.g., back, pelvis, abdomen), may be an early warning sign depending on its location.

5. Skin and Nail Changes

Dark spots, unusual moles, yellowing skin, or dark lines under fingernails/toenails may indicate skin cancer or even lung cancer in rare cases.

6. Bowel Changes

Persistent constipation, diarrhea, or changes in stool shape or color may suggest colorectal cancer.

7. Difficulty Urinating or Defecating

Straining during bowel movements or experiencing pelvic pressure could signal ovarian or colon cancer.

8. Persistent Cough or Hoarseness (Key Warning Sign!)

A dry cough lasting more than three weeks or a raspy voice can be a symptom of lung, throat, or thyroid cancer. This sign is often dismissed as a common cold or allergies, but if persistent, it warrants immediate medical attention.

9. Bloating

Feeling bloated for more than two weeks, especially when paired with abdominal discomfort, could indicate ovarian or gastrointestinal cancer.

10. Breast Changes

Unusual lumps, nipple discharge, skin dimpling, or changes in breast size or texture can all signal breast cancer.

11. Abnormal Menstrual Bleeding

Heavy bleeding, bleeding between periods, or after menopause can be symptoms of uterine or cervical cancer.

12. Blood in Stool or Urine

Any visible blood in waste is abnormal and can signal colon, bladder, or kidney cancer.

13. Nail Changes (e.g., toenails)

Thickening, discoloration, or detachment of toenails may be more than just a fungal infection. In rare cases, they reflect internal cancer-related circulation issues.

14. Night Sweats

Excessive sweating, especially during sleep, may be linked to lymphoma or hormonal cancers.

15. Chronic Indigestion or Nausea

Feeling constantly queasy, bloated, or unable to digest food properly can be a warning sign of stomach or esophageal cancer.

16. Pelvic or Lower Abdominal Pain

Persistent pelvic discomfort that’s not tied to menstruation can signal ovarian or uterine cancer.

17. Mouth Sores or White Patches

Unhealed sores or patches in the mouth could indicate oral cancer, especially in tobacco users.

18. Lumps or Swelling Anywhere

Any unexplained lump or swelling—whether on the neck, underarms, or groin—deserves medical evaluation.

19. Persistent Itching

Itching without a rash or allergic cause, especially if on the lower body, may be linked to liver or blood cancers.

20. Back Pain That Doesn’t Go Away

Chronic back pain, especially in women, can sometimes be a symptom of ovarian, pancreatic, or spinal cancers.

Most of these signs don’t automatically mean you have cancer. However, when they persist beyond 2–3 weeks or worsen over time, it’s important to seek medical advice. Early detection can significantly improve the outcome of treatment.

If you experience several of these symptoms at once—or if something simply doesn’t feel right—listen to your body and talk to a healthcare professional.