A lingering cough is another symptom that people tend to dismiss. Most coughs clear up within a few weeks, but Dr. Kubes advises a medical evaluation if one continues beyond that point or changes in character. “A persistent cough doesn’t automatically mean cancer,” he 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.”
Unexplained weight loss rounds out the trio. If eating and exercise habits have not changed but weight continues to drop, Dr. Kubes says it is important to find out why. “Often there will be another explanation, but it’s not something that should simply be overlooked.”
Why early assessment gives the best chance of successful treatment
Dr. Kubes is clear that the goal is not to create anxiety about every ache or cough. The aim is to distinguish between symptoms that fade on their own and those that persist, recur, or feel out of the ordinary for the individual.
“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,” he said. “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.”
