Cardiac tumor: The symptoms you should never ignore, according to an oncologist

Gwhich part of cardiac tumors are considered secondary cancers. There are some signs that should not be ignored. An oncologist revealed what he should not miss to the background. 

Anthony. V Pais is clinical director of oncology and the website Only My Health explained some of the symptoms of cardiac tumors that may go unnoticed. 

Cardiac tumor: Symptoms

“The cardiac tumor is very rare and the symptoms are often confused with those of the most common heart or respiratory diseases. This situation can cause delays in diagnosis and treatment”, he starts by saying.

“ One of the things that worries us as oncologists is that patients tend to ignore the first warning signs, considering them vague or unrelated to cancer or tumors”, the expert continues.

Know the signs you should never ignore.

Persistent shortness of breath

“ Many patients attribute this sign to aging, lack of physical condition, stress, asthma or weight gain. But a tumor that develops in the heart can interfere with normal blood flow. It can harm the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.”

Unexplained fatigue

“ Patients often describe fatigue despite sleeping enough. Things that were normal before, like walking, climbing stairs, shopping or spending a day at work, can suddenly seem very difficult. Fatigue is such a common symptom of modern life that it is often ignored.”

Chest discomfort or pressure

“ Cardiac tumors can also cause chest pain, pressure or a feeling of weight, which affects the surrounding tissues and interferes with cardiac function. The pain can be intermittent and does not always occur during physical effort, therefore it is easy to ignore.”

Cardiac arrhythmia

“ Tumors that affect some areas of the heart can stop this electrical signaling, cause palpitations, irregular beats, tachycardia or arrhythmias. Some patients experience dizziness or episodes of near fainting due to these changes in heart rate.”

Dizziness

“A tumor can partially block blood flow inside the heart and reduce the amount of blood that reaches the brain. Patients may also experience episodes of dizziness, fainting or feeling faint, especially during physical activity.”

Swelling of the legs

“ Persistent swelling of the feet, ankles, legs or abdomen may indicate problems with blood flow. There are many causes for swelling, but doctors consider heart tumors as one of the possibilities when symptoms are accompanied by other warning signs.”

Malaise, weight loss and fever

“ The immune system may react to the tumor and produce symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, recurrent low fever, loss of appetite, night sweats and a general feeling of malaise. These symptoms are often confused with viral infections or stress fatigue.”