For many women, cancer feels like a distant concern, something to think about only later in life. But the numbers tell a different story. Every year in the United States, more than 375,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and another 106,000 face gynecologic cancers such as ovarian, endometrial, or cervical cancer. While the majority of these cases are found after menopause, younger women are not immune.
The challenge is that only breast cancer and cervical cancer have routine screening tools. For most other gynecologic cancers, the first clue is a symptom, and those symptoms are often vague, easily mistaken for stress, diet changes, or common conditions. That’s why listening to your body and acting on unusual changes can be lifesaving.
Here are some surprising warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored.