A doctor told about the early symptoms of gastrointestinal cancer

Cancer of gastrointestinal tract organs at an early stage may manifest itself in various clinical symptoms. Natia Chekhoeva, endoscopist at Gastro Clinic, told Gazeta.Ru on December 18.

"Abnormal weakness and temperature changes (sudden fluctuations in temperature for no apparent reason) can be an alarming indicator. Loss of appetite and sudden weight loss - these symptoms are often a red flag indicating major health problems. Abdominal pain - aching and dull pain in the epigastrium - can be a sign of a serious illness," she said.

Chekhoeva also noted that other warning signs can be changes in taste preferences, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea. The doctor emphasized that it is never a good idea to wait for symptoms to appear, and regular tests and preventive examinations should be done.

"Getting regular check-ups is your best defense against serious diseases. The earlier you start taking care of your health, the higher the probability of avoiding irreversible consequences," Chekhoeva pointed out.

Earlier, on December 17, Yulia Arkhipova, a breast oncologist at the Crede Experto clinic in Taganka, told Izvestia that people with certain gene mutations have a higher risk of developing cancer. Most often genetic defects in hereditary breast cancer occur in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Carriers of such mutations do not exceed 10% in the general population. These mutations are mostly congenital and are inherited in about 50% of cases from mother to daughter or from grandmother to granddaughter.