Cancer signs that can easily be mistaken for pregnancy symptoms

1. A positive pregnancy test result

On very rare occasions, a positive pregnancy test can be a sign of cancer. That's because the test detects the presence of a hormone called hCG, which means a woman is pregnant.

However, hCG is also present in people who have been diagnosed with cancer, so in very rare occasions, a positive pregnancy test can signify cancer.

2. Swollen feet

During pregnancy, the feet start swelling as a result of the body producing more blood and fluid to help nourish the baby.

However, swollen feet can also be a sign of preeclampsia, which can cause renal or liver failure as well as cardiovascular issues. Women who have preeclampsia are also 30% more likely to develop cancer, so it's important for pregnant moms to always visit their doctor for a checkup so that their health can be monitored.

3. Spotting

Spotting is something that can happen anytime during a pregnancy and happens usually at the time of conception and during the last trimester. However, spotting is also a sign of cervical cancer, and it frequently gets mistaken for 'normal' bleeding.

4. Abdominal pain

Abdominal pain is another common symptom during pregnancy, and it happens since the baby is growing inside a pregnant woman's body.

In some cases, abdominal pain can be a sign of swelling or fluid build-up that's caused by stomach cancer. If during your pregnancy you experience sharp and intense pains in your abdomen, then you need to consult your doctor to identify what's causing the pain.

5. Morning sickness

Another common symptom of pregnancy, morning sickness happens to a lot of pregnant women, and can sometimes happen even during the middle of pregnancy.

However, morning sickness is also a symptom of stomach and colon cancer, so morning sickness doesn't always mean that you're pregnant.

6. Weight gain

Weight gain during pregnancy is pretty normal, and it happens because the fetus is slowly growing inside your body.

However, weight gain can sometimes also be a sign of ovarian cancer, as ovarian tumors can grow to a large size inside the woman's abdomen, causing the woman to gain weight.

7. Baby brain

Baby brain, or forgetfulness during pregnancy happens to a lot of mothers, and it usually goes away after the pregnancy.

However, forgetfulness can also be a sign of brain cancer, as the it alters the levels of chemicals in your brain which can cause you to become more forgetful.

Source: babygaga.com, ovarian-cancer-survivors.org

*Republished with permission from The Asianparent Philippines