Some cancers can be detected at an early stage, when treatment is likely to be more effective. In addition to traditional screening tests, such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and Pap smears, laboratory tests have been developed in recent years to detect these cancers well before symptoms appear. There are now blood tests that can detect up to 50 types of cancer in early stages.

Researchers have even developed genetic tests that detect the future likelihood of developing cancer by looking for tiny alterations in DNA (information about our health contained in our genes).

But beyond these major advances, experts continue to stress that it is important to know your own body. If you observe any changes, such as a lump on your chest or a growing spot on your skin, you should see a doctor immediately.

There are over 200 different types of cancer that can cause many different signs and symptoms. Sometimes, symptoms affect specific areas of the body, like the abdomen or skin, but signs can also be more general, like weight loss, fatigue, or unexplained pain.

You should be on the lookout for any unusual changes in your body, such as:

Cancer can affect people in different ways. One person’s symptoms may be different from another’s, and some people don’t show any symptoms. That is why it is important to know your own body—both when it is normal and when there is a noticeable change or alteration.

When cancer is found early, the chances of quality survival are much higher.

Unfortunately, although cancer is more common after age 50, it can develop at any age. For this reason, parents should pay attention to changes in their children’s bodies until they’re old enough to notice these changes themselves.