The symptoms of cancer are highly variable and depend heavily on which tissue type is affected and the location of the tumors.

The growth of cancerous masses, called tumors, can physically block normal organ function, depending on the tumor’s location. This can lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, chronic pain and visible lumps. As a cancer grows more severe, it can compromises organ functions and eventually become life-threatening.

Cancers made from glandular tissue, such as thyroid cancer, can lead to over- or under-production of those glands’ secretions, causing widespread effects across the body.

Some tumors discharge fluid or damage nearby tissue with their growth, leading to edema, swelling, and internal bleeding.

The most dangerous cancers form tumors that then begin to break apart and seed smaller tumors elsewhere in the body. This process is called “metastasis” and dramatically increases both the danger a cancer poses to the patient and the difficulty in treating it.