Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are malignant tumours and neoplasms. One defining feature of cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, and which can then invade adjoining parts of the body and spread to other organs. Your eating habits can hold a lot of clues relating to your risk to the disease.
Cancer is known to affect a person’s eating habits due to the change of metabolism and the way the body turns food into energy.
Stomach, pancreatic, colon, and ovarian cancers also can put pressure on your stomach and make you feel too full to eat.
Appetite loss or poor appetite are common early warning signs of cancer.
A person means may eat less than usual, not feel hungry at all, or feel full after eating only a small amount.
Ongoing appetite loss may lead to serious complications including weight loss, not getting the nutrients that the body needs, and fatigue and weakness from muscle loss, which is called cachexia.
“If possible, the first step in treating appetite loss is to address the cause,” said Cancer.Net.
“Therefore, your cancer treatment is a key part of improving your loss of appetite.
“Treatment for conditions such as nausea, pain, mouth sores, dry mouth, pain, or depression may help improve appetite.”
Other major early warning symptoms of cancer not to ignore include:
- Change in bowel or bladder habits
- A sore that does not heal
- Unusual bleeding or discharge
- Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere
- Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
- Obvious change in a wart or mole
- Nagging cough or hoarseness.