Certain symptoms of cancer may mimic other illnesses, which underscores the need for medical intervention at the earliest opportunity, says Lautoka Aspen Hospital paediatrician Doctor Savenaca Seduadua
“When you look at the early warning signs, they are signs and symptoms for other common illnesses, like those recurrent infections, a simple infection, a simple upper respiratory infection that’s probably been treated by a wrong antibiotic,” he told a cancer awareness session organised by the WOWs Kids Fiji and the Health Ministry in Lautoka.
Dr Seduadua said this could easily be remedied by administering the correct antibiotic or medication.
“Those signs and symptoms can be symptoms as well for other common illnesses, such as upper respiratory tract infection,gastroenteritis,or pneumonia.”
Dr Seduadua said cancer symptoms could also be mistaken for malnutrition.
“When you go and see a doctor with your signs and symptoms, the doctor will not take cancer as the first thing, or as the first diagnosis, with someone coming in with probably losing weight and having fever.
“When the doctor sees, the first thing that the doctor will probably think of is maybe some infection that’s going on, or some nutritional problem, rather than cancer.”
