Signs and Symptoms

Question 1

What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer?

Answer 1

• A lump in the breast
• A change in the size or shape of the breast
• Dimpling of the skin or thickening in the breast tissue
• An inverted nipple
• A rash (like eczema) on the nipple
• Discharge from the nipple
• Swelling or a lump in the armpit

Question 2

What are the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer?

Answer 2

Common presenting symptoms:

• change in bowel habit
• abdo pain
• rectal bleeding / mucus
• weight loss
• anorexia

Signs:
- anaemia (chronic bleeding from tumour site)

Question 3

What are the signs and symptoms of lung cancer?

Answer 3

• No symptoms in early stages
• Symptoms usually due to tumour causing pressure, pain or obstruction
• Persistent chronic cough
• SOB/wheezing (dyspnoea)
• Haemoptysis – significant symptom
• Chest, shoulder or back pain
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• > 50% of patients have metastatic disease at presentation
• Early disease can be confused with COPD – similar symptoms
• Early disease often diagnosed on routine chest x-ray

Question 4

What are the main differences in pathology between SCLC and NSCLC

Answer 4

See sheet of paper

Question 5

What are the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer?

Answer 5

Lower urinary tract symptoms caused by localised prostate cancer (similar to symptoms caused by BPH):
o	Hesitancy
o	Post-micturition dribbling
o	↓ void pressure
o	Frequency
o	Urgency
o	Nocturia
•	1/3 of patients present with symptoms from locally invasive or metastatic disease

Locally invasive disease: symptoms result from invasion of neural structures, bladder base & perirectal tissues:
o	Perineal pain
o	Impotence
o	Incontinence
o	Haematospermia

Metastatic symptoms result from bone & lymph node involvement & effect on related structures:
o	Bone pain
o	Hypercalcaemia
o	Spinal cord compression
o	Sciatica/paraplegia
o	Fracture
o	Lymphoedema

Question 6

What are the signs and symptoms of malignant melanoma?

Answer 6

A mole that is:

• Asymetrical
• Surrounded by a jagged border
• Varying in colour
• Diameter larger than a pencil’s eraser