I must admit, I don't really know much about cancer, so of course I can't jump to conclusions. But I just have some really general questions.
I've been dealing with something very strange in my body, that I or the doctors haven't been able to diagnose yet. (you can visit my post in "Open to all topics")
I know cancer appears in various spots, but are there any general symptoms?
If you had a tumor, could it actually cause a bulge to appear? Something noticeable to your eye, or maybe when you flex a certain muscle?
How long can cancer take to show up and be diagnosable (is that a word?) Can it be gradual or come on suddenly?
I'm not trying to play dumb, or insult anyone with cancer. I've just had a problem that nobody including my general practicioner thinks is serious. So I'm trying to find the answers out by myself. I'd appreciate any information you guys could give me
Get a new doctor! God forbid whatever you have is cancer- the sooner it is caught, the better outcome you will have. Not all tumors are visible from the outside... but if you have a strange lump- it is far better to be on the safe side and get it checked out.
There are about 200 different cancers and each has its group of symptoms. Plus, each may "present" differently in different people. That's why your family doctor or even a specialist will consult or refer a patient to an Oncologist or a Hematologist.
Oncologists tend to specialize in tumors, Hematologists specialize in blood or bone marrow cancers [lymphomas, leukemias, etc.].
Cancers can be fast [acute] or slow [chronic] in their development. Also, some cancers can appear to stall in their development: they may grow at a regular pace, then stop and grow again. This can be either a symptom of that cancer, or for some totally unknown reason.
If you're worried that you may have cancer, ask for a referral to an Oncologist or Hematologist.
Visit the Cancer section of the National Institutes of Health for information:
[url="http://www.nci.nih.gov/"]http://www.nci.nih.gov/[/url]
Thank you that was very helpful. It's not that I think I have cancer, I am just coping with something unknown right now and I'm trying to find out as much as can. I've learned more about Intestinal disorders than business here at college.
A question for those who might know? 
