Types Of Cancer - Preventive Measures - Early Symptoms

Types Of Cancer – Preventive Measures – Early Symptoms

February 7, 2026

Cancer is a disease where there is uncontrolled and rapid growth of abnormal cells, which are unique to types of cancer and organs or cell type involved. Genetic and environment play a crucial role along with lifestyle and general health condition. Healthy diet, habits and lifestyle can help to a great extent to limit chances of cancer. Common and important preventive measures include avoiding tobacco -both that we smoke and chewable, vaping, smoking, inhalation of toxic fumes, quitting or limiting alcohol, maintaining health body weight, regular self-care and checking any abnormal growth or lump like formation, avoiding self-medication, following medical advice and undergoing diagnosis and screening as suggested by doctors.
Below is short and simple overview of major cancer types, preventive practices and common early symptoms.

1. Lung Cancer

Prevention Lifestyle: Smoking, vaping is one of the leading cause of lungs cancer. It is important to quit smoking, tobacco, avoiding second-hand smoke, limit exposure to radon and asbestos.
Early Symptoms: A persistent cough that is not healing and recurring and do not go heal fully, aggressive coughing, coughing up blood, pain in chest, breathing difficulty or shortness of breath, hoarseness of voice, and unexplained fatigue.

2. Breast Cancer

Prevention Lifestyle: Maintaining a healthy body weight, regular workout and an active lifestyle, limit or quit alcohol, quit smoking, avoid self-medication. Undergoing mammography screening as per medical advice.
Early Symptoms: Formation of painless lump or mass in the breast, thickening of tissues around breast, changes in shape and size of breast, dimpling of skin and there can be an orange peel texture, a distorted look of the nipple, and nipple discharge.

3. Colorectal Cancer

Prevention Lifestyle: Consume a diet rich in natural fibre, include fruit, vegetables, lentils and whole grains in diet. Do colonoscopy screening as per medical advice to help doctor take a suitable action on precancerous polyps.
Early Symptoms: Changes in bowel habits and it is persistent. It can be like diarrhoea or constipation. Other symptoms can be blood in stool, abdominal discomfort, cramps, gas formation, feeling on unnecessary fullness and unexplained weight loss.

4. Prostate Cancer (Primarily in Men)

Prevention Lifestyle: A healthy body weight and diet rich in fruits, vegetables and healthy fats. Do undergo PSA tests as advised by doctor for prostate cancer screening. Keep an eye on common symptoms like feeling of not full evacuating urine or any problem with urination, any dull pain etc.
Early Symptoms: Difficulty in urinating, weak or uninterrupted urine flow of urine, blood or semen in urine, pain in lower back or pelvis area.

5. Skin Cancer (Melanoma & Non-Melanoma)

Prevention Lifestyle: Avoid direct exposure to sunlight for long hours. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of around SPF 30+. Use covered clothing during sun exposure, use protective gears like UV-protected sunglasses or glasses, umbrella. Avoid long hours on tanning beds.
Early Symptoms (ABCDE Rule): Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variation, Diameter (larger than 6mm), Evolving (changes in shape/size/colour).

6. Cervical & Gynaecological Cancers

Prevention Lifestyle: HPV (Human Papillomavirus Vaccine) between age 9-14 is very important and then on regular screenings (pap Smear / HPV Tests) as per advice of doctor. Practice of safe physical intimacy and intimate hygiene is very important.
Early Symptoms: Unusual vaginal bleeding between menstruation cycle or during menstruation or during premenopausal stage. Vaginal discharge, pain during intercourse and feeling of pressure around pelvic area and or pain around pelvic area.

7. Pancreatic Cancer

Prevention Lifestyle: It is very important to limit or quit alcohol, quit smoking, consumption of unhealthy and junk food, avoiding self-medication, management of healthy body weight, and live an active lifestyle.
Early Symptoms: It progresses silently without much symptoms in initial stages, so it is important to get checked and follow diagnosis routine by doctors if there is family history or general health check as per doctor advice. Some of the common early symptoms are yellowness of skin and eyes or a jaundice-like symptom, pain in upper abdomen that radiates to the back, changes in blood sugar levels and onset of diabetes. There can unexplained weight loss.

8. Blood Cancers (Leukaemia, Lymphoma)

Prevention Lifestyle: A healthy diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, lentils, protein etc. Do not avoid iron rich food. An active lifestyle with workout is recommended. It is important to avoid exposure to environmental toxins and especially benzene.
Early Symptoms: Unexplained extreme fatigue, low energy levels, frequent infections, easy bruising and bleeding, frequent fever, night sweats and swelling of lymph nodes. A pale look.

9. Liver Cancer

Liver cancer often arises from chronic damage due to infections, toxins, or fatty liver disease. Chronic damage of liver due to infections, toxins, self-medication, alcohol and fatty liver disease. In some cases, due to other diseases like hepatitis or autoimmune liver diseases.
Prevention Lifestyle: Vaccination against Hepatitis B, Limit or quit alcohol, especially if there is Fatty Liver disease, healthy weight management to avoid (NAFLD). Strictly avoiding low quality food, junk food and food that is decaying or stored for long. Practice safe intimacy and intimate hygiene to avoid Hepatitis C.
Early Symptoms: There can unexplained weight loss, gradual loss of appetite, frequent indigestion, burping after meals, feeling of fullness in stomach, reflux, flatulence and nausea. Pain in the upper right portion of the abdomen, swelling around abdomen, jaundice-like symptoms, fatigue.

10. Bone Marrow Cancer (Leukaemia/Multiple Myeloma)

These cancers (such as leukaemia) affect the blood-forming tissue in the bone marrow.
Prevention Lifestyle: Quit smoking, vaping, exposure to industrial and environmental pollutants like benzene. Maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. Avoid self-medication.
Early Symptoms: Unusual fatigue due to anaemia. Low immunity and frequent infections, low white blood cell count, get bruises easily, low platelet count, frequent fever, night sweat

11. Thyroid Cancer

The thyroid gland in the neck gets affected. It regulates metabolism.
Prevention Lifestyle: A balance in level of iodine intake and iodine in body is important. It is best to avoid Head/neck X-rays, CT scans if not advised by doctor. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and selenium is important. It is advised to maintain a healthy body weight and have an active lifestyle.
Early Symptoms: Formation of a lump or painless nodule in the neck. Visible swelling in the neck. Change in voice, persistent hoarseness in voice. Swallowing and breathing problem. Pain in neck and throat region.

General Prevention and Early Warning Signs

General Lifestyle Changes:

Do not use tobacco, limit alcohol to 1 drink/day (women) or 2 (men), maintain a healthy BMI, and exercise 150+ minutes weekly. Quit smoking, vaping, limit or quit alcohol, avoid self-medication and ignoring diseases and unusual symptoms, maintaining a healthy body weight and BMI, an active lifestyle with 150+ minutes of workout weekly. Avoid toxins, junk food and maintain a healthy diet. Efficient and serious stress management. A good lifestyle with enough sleep and regular activity.

Early Symptoms (When it is must to see a Doctor):

Unexplained weakness, sudden weight loss, frequent fever/night sweats, frequent diarrhoea or constipation, regular indigestion, burping, flatulence, reflux, changes in skin, changes in voice etc Any health issue that is recurring and do not heal completely, a lump or bump on skin that is not going, unexplained pain etc.

Modern Cancer Care Facilities at Desun Hospital Oncology Department

Desun Hospital in Kolkata provides comprehensive, JCI-accredited cancer care with dedicated facilities for medical, surgical, and radiation oncology, including a 20-bed ICU, 15-bed female oncology unit, and 15-bed day-care chemotherapy. The center offers advanced diagnostics (PET-CT, SPECT/CT) and treatments like LINAC, VMAT, and Bone Marrow Transplant. There is Oncology OPD where experienced doctors cancer specialists are available for consultation.

Core Oncology Services & Facilities:

Radiation Oncology: Features advanced, high-precision techniques including IGRT, IMRT, VMAT, 3DCRT, SRS, SBRT, and HDR Brachytherapy.
Medical Oncology: Provides chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy for adult and pediatric patients.
Surgical Oncology: Offers minimally invasive, laparoscopic, and complex, organ-specific cancer surgeries, including specialized Breast Conservation Surgery.
Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT): A dedicated 4-bed sterile BMT unit for leukemia, lymphoma, and thalassemia treatments.
Specialized Care: Includes a dedicated breast cancer clinic, pain management, and palliative care.
Imaging & Diagnostics: Modern imaging services include PET-CT, SPECT/CT, and mammography.

The hospital also provides comprehensive support services, including counselling for psychological care, and maintains 24-hour availability of specialist doctors