[simeonie (OP)]

This may seem like a really weird question, but how do people with cancer know they have it?

Do they only find out in the later stages? Is it different for different types?

What are the symptoms of cancer?

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[Contrarienne]

Usually people get a diagnosis of cancer from a doctor.  There are symptoms, but they vary by types of cancer.  Here are some suspicious symptoms:

newbielink:http://www.cancer-info.com/danger.htm [nonactive]

Your question is interesting to me, because I've had two medical conditions that doctors recommend regular cancer screening for.  I used to get screened every 3-4 months due to an ovarian teratoma - incidentally, there is a blood test used in diagnosis of ovarian cancer.  I think it's called CA-125.  At any rate, when my medical insurance rate was raised from $258.62 monthly to $895.02 monthly, I quit having insurance and no longer have access to medical care.  What this means is that unless I can diagnose myself, which is impossible if medical testing is necessary for the particular problem, I will never know if I have certain illnesses.

~Au Contrarienne~

[daveshorts]

Ouch that is a scary amount of money... and Americans complain about european tax rates...

Can you not shop around (if not for insurance companies then for a different country to live in?)

[chris]

That's America for you Dave - the country of the free, where everything is far from free !

Indeed, you have the freedom to haemorrhage money on healthcare, or die of something horrible !

Chris

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
 - Groucho Marx

[Simmer]

On the other hand, if you can afford it, it's the best healthcare in the world.  It's just a different way of looking at things over there, everything is possible but nothing is guaranteed.

Not sure how you can diagnose cancer reliably, in some types you can look for lumps or bleeding but in others there may be no symptoms, or none that can be distinguished from less serious illness.  
I would think the only way to be sure would be frequent thorough medicals with all the whistles and bells.  

There is also something to be said for just not worrying about it and hoping for the best! Not the safest course but at least you get to enjoy your life, however long or short it may be []  

I suppose, as usual, the best approach lies somewhere between those two extremes.

[NLJB]

You get a biopsy, which is a sample of the tissue: annual tests are preformed to determine whether you have certain types of cancer: for instance Mammograms. The warning signs of cancer are:
Change in bowel or bladder habits
A sore that won't heal
Unusual bleeding or discharge
Thinkening or lump in breast or elsewhere
Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
Obvious change in wart or mole
Nagging cough or hoarseness

Hope that was helpful

NLJB