Some warning signs don’t necessarily develop into cancer; but for some people, going to the doctor sooner may save their lives. If you have any of these symptoms and they don’t subside, you need to consult your doctor. Prevention magazine recently summarized 10 pre-cancer symptoms that people need to take seriously. First, lumps. Any strange lump on the body requires medical attention. In the above survey, 7.5 percent of people reported unexplained lumps. While 67% of the respondents went to the doctor, 77% did not consider it a serious sign. Second, cough or hoarseness. Coughing is a very common symptom during the season when the common cold (or flu) is raging. However, if you have a persistent cough, it could mean throat, lung, thyroid or lymphoma cancer. Cough (hoarseness) was the most common symptom among respondents. Third, changes in bowel habits. In the study conducted by Dr. Whitaker, 18% of the respondents experienced changes in the timing, amount, or shape of their bowel movements. While these small abnormalities are usually caused by the consumption of certain foods or medications, they can also be a sign of colon cancer if they occur on a regular basis. Fourth, changes in bladder activity. Since urinary tract infections are more common in women, changes in bladder activity are usually disregarded as just another symptom of a urinary tract infection. However, whether you’re a man or a woman, if you notice blood in your urine, urgency to urinate and pain with urination, be sure to ask your doctor to check for bladder, kidney or prostate cancer. Fifth, unexplained pain. Persistent pain is an early warning sign that the body is sending out warning signs that it could be nothing, or it could be bone or ovarian cancer. Experts at the American Cancer Society believe that pain from cancer means it has spread. So when you have unexplained pain, don’t hold on to it, but seek medical attention. In the above survey, only 40% of the respondents were concerned that the pain could be a serious problem. Sixth, prolonged sore throat. A persistent sore throat may indicate a serious health concern, such as throat or pharyngeal cancer. Nearly 78 percent of those surveyed did not consider a sore throat to be serious. Seven: Unexplained weight loss. The American Cancer Society reports that unexplained weight loss of 4.5 pounds or more may be the first sign of cancer. This warning sign is more common with pancreatic, stomach, lung or esophageal cancer. VIII. Difficulty swallowing. A feeling of tight pressure in the throat may be a result of overstimulated nerves or a problem with the immune system, but it may also be an early warning sign of esophageal, stomach or throat cancer. Nine: Bleeding. Coughing up blood may be a sign of lung cancer, and blood in the stool may be a sign of colon (or rectal) cancer. If a woman experiences unexplained vaginal bleeding, she should be checked for cervical or endometrial cancer. A bloody discharge from the nipple could mean breast cancer, while bloody urine could mean bladder or kidney cancer. Unusual bleeding can occur at any stage of cancer. X. Changes in skin moles. Seven percent of respondents reported a change in the appearance of their moles, freckles or warts, and only 47 percent would see a doctor about it. Even more disturbing, more than 88 percent do not consider this symptom to be serious, although it can be a sign of skin cancer, most of which can be treated.