Praveen Ranganath, MD Cancer Orlando Health

There are many different types of cancer, making it virtually impossible to build a one-size-fits-all checklist of symptoms. It’s not unusual for some cancer symptoms to fly under the radar – or be confused with an unrelated condition.

It’s estimated that one in three people in the U.S. will develop cancer at some point in their life, according to the American Cancer Society. It’s easy to look at certain lifestyle choices – smoking and diets high in fried food, for example – and expect there to be an elevated risk of certain cancers.

It’s more of a challenge to identify cancers when there’s no obvious set of risk factors to keep us vigilant. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the less-obvious symptoms that could indicate cancer.

1. Chronic cough or hoarseness. You probably won’t be surprised to learn that coughing can be an indicator of lung cancer. But so is unexplained hoarseness. For some people with lung cancer, their voice will become strained, raspy or sound more quiet or softer in tone. This can be caused by a tumor pressing against the nerve that controls your vocal cords. The condition could also be a sign of laryngeal cancer. Of course, hoarseness can also be caused by a variety of less serious things, including colds and laryngitis. If it lingers beyond a couple of weeks, it’s time to see your doctor.

2. Difficulty swallowing. If you feel like food is getting stuck in your throat, that could be a symptom of cancers of the mouth, throat or esophagus. The condition is known as dysphasia and can be caused by a tumor blocking or narrowing your food passage.

3. Unexpected weight loss. Suddenly losing weight without making any lifestyle changes can be a symptom of many health conditions, including diabetes, dementia and heart failure. But it can also be related to numerous cancers. There’s no hard and fast rule on what constitutes enough weight loss to set off alarm bells. But if you’ve lost 5 percent of your body weight over six months – without trying – you should mention it to your doctor.

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