Published on 01/10/2011

Some women are as skilled as men at switching to denial mode and deliberately ignoring warning symptoms, writes Dr Marga Boyani

Women tend to be more vigilant than men about getting recommended health checkups and screenings, as well as getting potentially worrisome symptoms checked out.

However, younger women tend to ignore symptoms that could point to cancer because they have the notion that cancer is a problem for older people. for others yet, there is a belief that cancer is incurable, so why go there.

Here are some symptoms that may not immediately make a woman worry about cancer, but that should be checked out:

This is so common that many women just live with it yet it could point to ovarian cancer. Other symptoms of this deadly disease include abdominal pain, pain in the pelvis, feeling full quickly even when you have not eaten much, having an urgent need to go to the bathroom all the time and changes in your stool habits.

2. Unexplained and excessive weight loss

Many women would be delighted to lose weight without trying but unexplained and exccessive weight loss in a couple of months without an increase in exercise or a decrease in food intake should set the alarm bells ringing. it could be due to cancer but could also turn out to be another condition, such as an overactive thyroid gland.

3. Breast changes

Lumps are not the only breast symptoms that could point to cancer. Redness and thickening of the skin on the breast could indicate a rare but aggressive form of breast cancer. if you have a rash that persists over weeks, see a doctor. if the nipple changes or if you notice a discharge and are not breastfeeding, see a doctor, too.

4. Between-period bleeding

Premenopausal women tend to ignore between-period bleeding. But if a woman never spots between periods and she spots, this is abnormal for her. Between-period bleeding, especially if you are typically regular, needs to be checked out. Bleeding after menopause is considered a sign of cancer of the uterus (endometrial cancer) until proven otherwise.

Changes in moles are a well-known sign of skin cancer, but we should also watch for changes in skin colour. Sudden bleeding or too much scaling should be checked, too.

6. Blood in the wrong place

If you notice blood in your urine or your stool, don’t assume it is from a haemorrhoid or that it may be your period because it could be a sign of colon, bladder or kidney cancer. Coughing up blood is another danger sign that should not be ignored.

As people age they seem to complain more of various aches and pains, but pain, as vague as it may be, can also be an early symptom of some cancers. Pain that persists and is unexplained needs to be checked out. for example, gnawing abdominal pain and indigestion for no apparent reason could be an early clue to cancer of the oesophagus, stomach or throat.

Smokers should be especially alert for any white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue because both can point to a pre-cancerous condition called leukoplakia that can develop into cancer of the mouth. Ask your dentist or doctor to take a look. if you have difficulty swallowing, it could be a sign of cancer of the oesophagus.

9. Changes in the lymph nodes

If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit, in your neck or anywhere else or have a lymph node that gets progressively larger, and it has been longer than a month, see a doctor urgently.

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Question by Larisa the Loyal: how is life after a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis?I will find out tomorrow for sure if I have MS. or not, and I was just wondering from anyone who has experienced this is life better or worse after a diagnosis. how did it make you feel? happy, shocked, relieved, or in denial?

Best answer:

Answer by SciFiLarisa,

I was diagnosed with MS in February 2001.

I felt happy that they were able to figure out what was wrong. some people may go years without a definite diagnosis. I was a little shocked because outside of the MS, I’m never sick. I was relieved because I wasn’t about to be passed around to different doctors while they kept telling me they didn’t know what was wrong. I don’t recall denial showing up, I mean I’m sick, it happens. I didn’t sit there and just stay upset, I went to the internet and started learning everything I could possibly learn about MS, current treatments, trials of newer medications. I also started to communicate with other MS patients, to hear about their experiences, their symptoms, how they manage their MS.

Multiple Sclerosis is NOT fatal. It will not kill you. Life does not end, it continues. It might now be the life we thought that we were going to have, but it’s life, that happens sometimes. the big thing to remember is that you may find it difficult to something you normally do everyday, but what you need to do, is not not let this discourage you. what you need to do is to learn to do it in another way. You may have to learn how to accomplish some tasks in a different way, but you will get used to it.

MS is 100% different for every patient, so you’ll find many patients may have experienced a similar symptom that you have but chances are, the rest of their symptoms are different.

It’s also important that you get involved with a support group for MS. if you find any in your local area that are in person, that is good, however make sure you check out the internet for support groups too. You’ll be able to ask these patients so many questions about MS and get some really good answers too.

There is no known cause for Multiple Sclerosis. there is no cure. Please be careful that there are no quick fixes for MS, and be aware that there are people on the internet that are looking to prey on people with diseases and their goal is only to take your money. ALWAYS check with your doctor about some new treatment/drug.

Good Luck to you.

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“I thought, ‘if I just go down this hill and have a wreck, I can go to the hospital and get some rest,’ ” Rohling said. “then I immediately thought, ‘you idiot! who in their right minds would want to hurt themselves?’ ”

That moment signified a point people with depression and anxiety must reach before they seek help, Rohling said. The O’Neal Bridge incident was three years ago, but it brought the then nearly 60-year-old Rohling “out of denial.” soon after, she said she decided life was too short to be miserable. She started talking to a doctor, seeking treatment for the depression and anxiety she believes she has battled her entire life.

“it was as if I could have bits and pieces of happiness, but it didn’t seem to last,” said Rohling, of Florence. “I suffered from severe anxiety. I was extremely grumpy and fussy. I just was not happy. and, if I wasn’t happy, nobody around me was happy, either.”

Externally, Rohling’s life appears ideal. She and her husband have four children and six grandchildren. She plays piano at her church and teaches piano. She is self-employed as a bookkeeper.

Rohling also works with the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) of the Shoals because she realizes she still needs help. The group offers classes and support.

“When I’m feeling good, I can overlook my spouse’s quirks,” Rohling said. “But, when I’m not in a good place, I want to kick him out of the house.”

Betty Robertson, NAMI Shoals’ education spokeswoman, said depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, may especially manifest themselves during the holidays when a person is feeling overwhelmed.

“a lack of family support and loneliness can exacerbate the illnesses,” Robertson said. “There are an awful lot of people who have no family, and, if they do have family, they are estranged from them. Sometimes the Christmas that we and Riverbend provide is the only one people (with mental illnesses) have.”

Dr. Lynn Embry, a licensed professional counselor at for your Health in Muscle Shoals, said those prone to depression and anxiety are indeed more vulnerable during the holidays. Not only do unrealistic expectations associated with special occasions and parties trigger episodes in those who suffer from mental illness, they also may feel pressure to spend money they do not have, overeat or mix alcohol with their medications.

Embry said older individuals are particularly susceptible to holiday depression, although those who are alone, grieving the loss of a loved one or a relationship, and alcoholics and addicts can find the holidays disconcerting, as well. When it comes to holiday anxiety, Embry lists the “worriers, the perfectionists, the ones who don’t take enough time to slow down and enjoy the present moment and the ones who are not able to set healthy boundaries for themselves” as most likely to stress out to an unhealthy extreme.

For most, some holiday stress is inevitable. But when it escalates to physical symptoms such as increased blood pressure, stomach problems, muscle tension, headaches, panic and the daily feeling of being overwhelmed, Embry encourages treatment by a physician. Medication is not always required in these cases, he said.

“There are varying degrees and one treatment does not fit all,” Embry noted. “Talk therapy, exercise and relaxation are helpful, along with good nutrition and a positive attitude. The support of friends and family is critical.”

Rohling agrees. She said it is essential for family members to be proactive in learning details about their loved one’s specific illness, especially around the holidays. for instance, much like dementia patients, people with mental illnesses crave structure and sameness. in holiday situations, a person’s carefully constructed environment may become unraveled and, therefore, extremely uncomfortable. Rohling emphasizes depression and anxiety are treatable illnesses, requiring support, not blame.

“There is extra stimulus that comes from the holidays,” Rohling said. “The person may not be able to handle everything that’s going on.”

Rohling said she now realizes she cannot do everything, especially during the holidays.

“I tried to be supermom, superwife, superwoman,” she said. “I’m getting better. I know now what my body can and can’t do.”

Rohling encourages those who feel something is wrong inside them and have not sought care to do so. if the family doctor cannot provide it, a mental health professional can, she said.

“We have to get rid of the stigma,” she said. “There’s no reason not to get help today.”

Rohling said seeking help has positively affected her mentally, physically and spiritually. She has learned to instill boundaries, be kind to herself and has finally found a place of serenity. her most prayerful time is when she plays piano, she said.

“I’m happy with the way I feel inside,” she said. “I’m more calm and more at peace with myself than I’ve ever been. That’s priceless.”

Cheryl Milligan can be reached at .