Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.
Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.
Cancer gives most people no symptoms or signs that exclusively indicate the disease. Unfortunately, every complaint or symptom of cancer can be explained by a harmless condition as well. If certain symptoms occur, however, a doctor should be seen for further evaluation. Some common symptoms that may occur with cancer are as follows:
These symptoms usually represent simple infections such as bronchitis or sinusitis.
They could be symptoms of cancer of the lung,
head, and neck. Anyone with a cough that lasts more than a month or with
blood in the mucus that is coughed up should see a doctor.
A change in bowel habits
Most changes in bowel habits are related to your diet and fluid intake.
Doctors sometimes see pencil-thin stools with colon cancer.
Occasionally, cancer exhibits continuous diarrhea.
Some people with cancer feel as if they need to
have a bowel movement and still feel that way after they have had a bowel
movement. If any of these abnormal bowel complaints last more than a few days, they require evaluation.
A doctor always should investigate blood in your stool.
Hemorrhoids
frequently cause rectal bleeding, but because hemorrhoids are so common, they may exist with cancer. Therefore, even when you have hemorrhoids, you should have a doctor examine your entire intestinal tract when you have blood in your bowel movements.
With some individuals, X-ray studies may be enough to clarify a diagnosis.
Anemia is a condition in which people have fewer than the expected number of red blood cells in
their blood. Anemia should be investigated.
There are many kinds of anemia, but blood loss almost always causes iron deficiency anemia. Unless there is an obvious source of ongoing blood loss, this anemia needs to be explained.
Many cancers can cause anemia, but bowel cancers most commonly cause iron deficiency anemia. Evaluation should include endoscopy or
X-ray studies of your upper and lower intestinal tracts.
Most breast lumps are noncancerous tumors such as fibroadenomas or cysts. But all breast lumps need to be thoroughly investigated.
A negative mammogram result is not usually sufficient to evaluate a breast lump. Your doctor needs to determine the appropriate X-ray study which might include an MRI or an ultrasound of the breast.
Generally, diagnosis requires a needle aspiration
or biopsy (a small tissue sample).
Discharge from a breast is common, but some forms of discharge may be signs of cancer. If discharge is bloody or from only
one nipple, further evaluation is recommended.
Multicolored moles that have irregular edges or bleed may be cancerous.
Larger moles are more worrisome and need to be evaluated, especially if they seem to be enlarging.
Removing a mole is usually simple. You should have your doctor evaluate any suspicious mole for removal. The doctor will send it for examination under a microscope for skin cancer.
Unusual vaginal bleeding or bloody discharge may be
an early sign of cancer of the uterus. Women should be evaluated when they have bleeding after intercourse or bleeding between periods.
Bleeding that comes back, that lasts two or more days longer than expected, or that is heavier than usual also merits medical examination.
Several infections or skin conditions (for example, fungal infections or psoriasis) also can
cause these symptoms. If itching does not stop with over-the-counter topical
medications, your doctor should inspect the area.
Nonhealing sores
Sores generally heal quickly. If an area fails to heal, you may have cancer and should see a doctor.
Nonhealing sores in your mouth or persistent white
or red patches on your gums, tongue, or tonsils are also should raise concerns.
Some nonhealing sores may be due to poor circulation (for example, diabetic foot ulcers).
Headaches
Headaches have many causes (for example, migraines, aneurysms) but cancer is not a common one.
A severe unrelenting headache that feels different from usual can be a sign of cancer, but
aneurysms may present in the same way.
If your headache fails to improve with over-the-counter medications, see a doctor promptly.
These are common symptoms of daily life, often related to food intake, muscle spasms or strains, but they also can be seen in ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer is particularly difficult to treat, because it is frequently diagnosed late in the course of the disease.
The American Cancer Society and other organizations have been trying to make both patients and physicians more aware and consider this diagnosis if the classic symptoms are present.
