Getting older comes with its share of aches, pains — but not every unwelcome change should be blamed on age. In fact, they can sometimes be symptoms of something more serious, including cancer.
“Older adults take longer to recognize that a symptom might be serious, in part because they attribute changes to aging rather than disease,” Dr. Jad Chahoud, an oncologist and chief scientific and innovation officer with Orlando Health Cancer Institute, told the Post.
“I would estimate that a significant proportion of patients can look back and identify symptoms that were present for weeks or months before diagnosis but were attributed to aging, stress, work, a prior injury, menopause or other common conditions.”
So when should you worry?
“I tell patients not to panic over every symptom, but don’t ignore persistent changes either,” Chahoud said. “If something is new, unexplained and lasting more than a few weeks, it’s worth discussing with your doctor.”
Chahoud said fear is one of the biggest reasons people put off seeking medical care — whether it’s fear of embarrassment, fear of what a doctor might discover or concern that they’re wasting a physician’s time.
But waiting can come at a cost. Early detection is key because many cancers are far more treatable when caught early, and getting checked out sooner can save lives.
“The goal isn’t to make people anxious,” he expained. “It’s to make them aware that ‘getting older’ should not automatically be used to explain away changes in your health.”
Knowing which symptoms are commonly dismissed can help people recognize when it’s time to call a doctor. Chahoud shared four cancer symptoms people often brush aside and why they deserve your attention.
#1: Fatigue
Feeling exhausted, weak or foggy is easy to blame on a busy schedule, stress or simply aging.
But persistent, unexplained fatigue can sometimes be associated with cancers, including colon cancer and kidney cancer, as well as blood cancers, like leukemia and lymphoma.
“The key red flag: fatigue that is disproportionate to activity, progressive, and not relieved by rest,” said Chahoud.
#2: Unintentional weight loss
Some people may welcome unexpected weight loss — or assume that, couples with a smaller appetite, is par for the course as your birthdays tally up.
But Chaboud explained that dropping weight without trying can be a warning sign linked to several cancers, ranging from pancreatic and lung to stomach and colorectal.
A loss of 5% or more body weight over the course of six to 12 months without an obvious reason should be evaluated.
#3: Changes in bowel habits
While diet is often a culprit for constipation and diarrhea, bowel issues can also be a warning sign of colorectal cancer and should not be ignored, advised Chahoud.
That includes changes to the shape, size, consistency or frequency of your poop. Pencil-thin poop, in particular, could indicate a tumor near the end of the colon or lining its inside.
Before his own colorectal cancer cancer diagnosis, “Dawson’s Creek” star James Van Der Beek — who died of the disease at 48 last summer, initially brushed off that his bowel movements had changed.
“I thought maybe I needed to stop coffee,” he told People in 2024. “Or maybe not put cream in the coffee. But when I cut that out and it didn’t improve, I thought, ‘All right, I better get this checked out.’”
#4: Urinary symptoms
Frequent urination, waking up multiple times at night or noticing blood in urine are commonly associated with an enlarged prostate and old age, but could be indicators of bladder, kidney or prostate cancer cancer and should be discussed with a medical professional.
#5: Persistent aches, pains or back pain
“While most pain is not cancer, persistent or acute progressive pain can occasionally be associated with cancers involving the bones, kidneys, pancreas or other organs,” warned the doc.
Better safe than sorry
“Aging itself should not cause a rapid decline in how you feel or function,” Chaboud stressed. “The goal isn’t to make people anxious. it’s to make them aware that ‘getting older’ should not automatically be used to explain away changes in your health.”
And one symptom alone rarely means cancer, he noted. “What concerns physicians is a symptom that doesn’t go away, is getting worse, or is accompanied by other warning signs such as unexplained weight loss, bleeding, persistent fatigue, or declining physical function,” he said.
Ultimately, being proactive about your health can make a world of difference.
“The message that matters: Most cancers are more treatable when caught early, and no symptom is too ‘trivial’ to mention to a doctor.”
