Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at 80 following what her team described as a brief battle with cancer. While the type of cancer she was battling has not been revealed, a doctor is highlighting several warning signs people should know about.
Dolly Parton died Tuesday at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, surrounded by loved ones. The type of cancer Parton was battling has not been revealed.
Her death comes as doctors continue to stress the importance of recognizing possible warning signs of cancer early on, particularly symptoms that can be easy to dismiss.
Dr. Jiri Kubes, a radiation oncologist and medical director at Proton Therapy Center, said one common misconception is that cancer shows up with dramatic symptoms right away.
Cancer symptoms you shouldn’t ignore
Persistent exhaustion, unexplained weight loss and a cough that won’t go away are among the symptoms that can sometimes be overlooked or attributed to something else. However, Dr. Kubes emphasized that experiencing one of these symptoms does not mean someone has cancer.
“One symptom on its own rarely points to cancer, and the vast majority of people experiencing these symptoms will not have cancer. The important thing is persistence. If something continues for several weeks, keeps returning or simply doesn’t feel right for you, it’s always worth getting checked rather than assuming it will eventually go away,” he says, according to OK!.
Everyone gets tired every now and then. But fatigue that continues despite getting enough rest is something to look out for.
“Cancer-related fatigue is often described as an overwhelming exhaustion that doesn’t improve with sleep. There are many possible explanations, including anaemia, thyroid disorders, infections and poor sleep, but persistent fatigue should always be discussed with your GP if it isn’t improving.”
When to see a doctor
There are many non-cancerous reasons someone may feel unusually exhausted, but if you’re struggling with persistent fatigue, it’s always a good idea to discuss it with your doctor.
A lingering cough is another symptom that can be easy to brush off. Most disappear within a few weeks. But if a cough continues, gets worse or seems different, doctors recommend having it evaluated.
“A persistent cough doesn’t automatically mean cancer,” Dr Kubes said. “In fact, there are many more common causes. However, if it continues beyond a few weeks or behaves differently from a typical cough, it’s sensible to have it assessed.”
Unexpected weight loss can also be worth investigating. If you haven’t changed your diet or started exercising more, it could be a sign that something else is going on.
“If you’re losing weight despite eating normally and haven’t intentionally changed your lifestyle, it’s important to understand why. Often there will be another explanation, but it’s not something that should simply be overlooked.”
“Cancer doesn’t always announce itself dramatically”
That being said, many of these symptoms have possible explanations that have nothing to do with cancer. If you’re worried, you should always seek a professional opinion.
“One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting for symptoms to become severe before seeking help. Cancer doesn’t always announce itself dramatically, and many of the early warning signs are vague and easily explained by more common conditions.
“The important thing isn’t to become anxious about every cough or ache, but to pay attention to symptoms that persist, keep returning or simply don’t feel normal for you. In many cases they’ll turn out to have a harmless explanation, but if something more serious is going on, getting it checked early gives us the best possible chance of diagnosing and treating it successfully.”
Dolly Parton’s death is a reminder that cancer does not always begin with an obvious or dramatic symptom. While these signs can have many causes unrelated to cancer, persistent or unusual changes are worth discussing with a medical professional rather than simply waiting for them to go away.
This is not medical advice. If you have questions about your health, always consult a health care professional.
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