Silent Cancers: The Signs You May Ignore for Years

The Mechanisms of a Disturbing Silence:
Cancer development is a long and complex process. As oncologist Dr. Jérôme Viguier explains, “the first cancer cells are initially undetectable because they are microscopic and cause no symptoms.” This initial silence is due to several factors:

The small size of cancer cells in the early stages.
They are located in difficult-to-reach areas, such as the pancreas or prostate.
The lack of specific symptoms makes early detection virtually impossible.
The time between the appearance of the first abnormal cells and the appearance of visible symptoms can range from several to ten years. The latency period depends on the type of cancer, its growth rate, and its location.

These mechanisms make these cancers extremely difficult to diagnose, even with advanced medical tools.

Cancers are experts at camouflage.
Some types of cancer are particularly good at evading medical intervention. These include:

Pancreatic cancer: Located deep in the abdominal cavity, it goes undetected for a long time, especially if it develops in the tail of the pancreas. Symptoms such as jaundice or abdominal pain only appear when the tumor has reached a significant size.
Prostate cancer: This type of cancer grows slowly, making it difficult to detect in its early stages. Common urination problems, such as difficulty urinating or frequent urination, often occur in advanced stages.
Breast cancer: Some cancers, especially those located close to the chest wall, can grow for a long time without being detected. Self-examination and regular mammograms are still crucial to detecting them.