Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disorder that causes weakness and dissipation of muscles. It is a common genetic disorder, affecting one in every 6,000 to 10,000 babies worldwide and is rarely found in adults. Doctors believe that the inadequate production of protein in the body causes this condition. Here are the stages and symptoms of spinal muscular atrophy. Type 0 SMA Type 0 SMA occurs in the womb, even before the child is born. Poor fetal movement, inability to breathe, move or swallow, severe weakness, and joint deformities are some of the symptoms of this type of SMA. Infants suffering from this type do not develop proper motor skills. Type 1 SMA This type is also known as Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease or infantile-onset spinal muscular atrophy. It is the most common and also considered as the most severe type of SMA. The symptoms can be clearly seen at birth or in the first six months. Children suffering from this type of SMA are unable to sit or stand. Symptoms of Type 1 SMA are reduced muscle tone, limited ability to move, lack of reflexes, tremors, respiratory infections, and difficulty in sucking, swallowing, and breathing. Some children also have scoliosis and other skeletal issues.

The abnormal growth of cells in the breasts results in breast cancer. In common parlance, breast cancer stages are described as local, regional, and distant. In the local stage, the cancer is confined within the breast; the regional stage signifies the lymph nodes getting involved; and the distant stage is when cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Here are some important points to help one understand the stages and symptoms of breast cancer. Common Symptoms Patients may notice swelling of breasts, skin irritation or dimpling, and breast pain. They may experience nipple pain or the nipple turning inward, redness, scales, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin and a discharge other than breast milk. They may also feel a lump under the arm. Stage 0 Stage 0 is a non-invasive stage, also known as ductal carcinoma in situ. One of the symptoms for this stage is that the cancer cells or abnormal non-cancerous cells remain in that part of the breast where they broke out and have not spread to other parts of the breast. They do not invade the neighboring normal tissue. Stage 1 When it comes to the stages and symptoms of breast cancer, stage 1 is when the invasive breast cancer cells break through or invade the normal surrounding breast tissues.

The prostate is a male gland shaped like a walnut that is responsible for producing the seminal fluid. This fluid transports and nourishes the sperms, and the type of cancer that develops in this gland is known as prostate cancer. Being aware of the early warning signs of prostate cancer is essential for men to ensure early diagnosis and timely care for successful treatment. Listed here are some early signs of prostate cancer that require immediate medical attention: Trouble urinating:  It can get difficult for one to start or stop urinating, which usually happens as the cancerous growth exerts pressure on the bladder and urethra. This makes it difficult for the urine to flow smoothly. Pain or a burning sensation while urinating:  Again, this happens due to the pressure exerted by the cancerous growth on nearby organs, including the bladder and urethra. The burning sensation can be a result of the restricted flow of urine or an infection in the urinary tract. Blood in urine or semen:  Though this is not one of the early warning signs of prostate cancer, it is an important one. Since the prostate gland becomes enlarged due to the abnormal growth of cells, it pressurizes the bladder and urethra, causing irritation and bleeding.

Cancer that affects the cells in the ovaries is called ovarian cancer. This form of cancer can be successfully treated if diagnosed early, so women should keep a check on the changes in their bodies and watch out for certain early warning signs of ovarian cancer. This facilitates early diagnosis, and the 5-year survival rate of the disease is 80% if it is diagnosed and treated early. Here are some of the early warning signs of ovarian cancer women should know about and seek immediate medical attention for: Bloating:  Bloating is a common problem women experience, especially during the menstrual cycles. However, if bloating is persistent for weeks, it is an early warning sign of ovarian cancer as the disease can cause bloating for 3 weeks or more. If bloating is also associated with swelling of the abdomen, women should approach a gynecologist for further examination. Abdominal and pelvic pain:  Another early warning sign of ovarian cancer is abdominal and pelvic pain, and some women also complain of constant pain in the lower back. One way women can identify the cause of pain is to relax to check whether the pain alleviates. Abdominal and pelvic pain associated with ovarian cancer does not get better with a massage, rest, or other home remedies.

Melanoma is a common form of skin cancer that occurs as a result of abnormal growth and multiplication of the melanocyte cells. Although melanoma is quite rare (about 100,000 new cases are reposted every year in the country), it can be dangerous if left untreated. Here are some early warning signs of melanoma that one should look out for: Abnormally shaped moles:  One of the most common early warning signs of melanoma is the appearance of abnormally-shaped moles. Since melanoma is a cancer of the pigment-producing melanocyte cells, the overproduction of these cells can cause sudden appearance of dark spots/patches on the skin, generally referred to as moles. Unlike regular moles that are small and usually evenly shaped, moles that arise due to melanoma are irregularly shaped and are usually large. Moles that keep changing color and shape:  Another early warning sign of melanoma that should not be ignored is the changing shape and color of existing moles. As the melanocyte cells keep multiplying, an existing mole may change in appearance, size, and color. It gets bigger, more uneven, and darker in color, and these sings should not be taken lightly. One should make an appointment with a skin specialist to get such moles tested.