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Thyroid disorders can cause symptoms that are mistaken for those of a woman approaching menopause. Both menstrual cycle changes and mood changes can result from the menopausal transition or from thyroid conditions. Blood tests can determine which of these conditions is responsible for your symptoms. It's also possible to have a combination of the two causes.

Other symptoms and signs of hyperthyroidism include:

It's hard to tell if you have thyroid disease. You might feel run down and tired, or have what is known as "brain fog." You may be gaining weight, pregnant, or experiencing hair loss. Others may feel "hyper," anxious, or sweat a lot more than usual. All of these are common symptoms of thyroid disorders.

Your doctor will begin with a series of questions. Be sure to tell your doctor about any unusual characteristics of your periods, such as heavy bleeding or spotting. If you have taken notes when you experience these concerns, share them. These questions may be followed by a gynecological examination. Before the exam, ask your doctor to recommend any medications or antibiotics that should be taken first.

Most nasal polyps are small and cause little trouble. They can grow larger, however, and when they do, it may be necessary for your doctor to remove them. Large polyps can cause obstruction, postnasal drip, loss of smell, facial pain, and fluid buildup in your nasal cavity. They can also sometimes be cancerous.

Doctors can look into your ear using an otoscope to see if you have one of these polyps. If it turns out you do, there are treatments available. You will be told to avoid getting your ears wet. You may also be prescribed medication, such as steroids or antibiotic ear drops. In some cases, removing them requires surgery.

Polyps in the ears (also called otic or aural polyps) can come from many causes. They can develop from ear infections or tears, foreign objects in the ear, inflammation, tumors, and can even be present at birth. They can cause hearing loss, but the most common symptom of an aural polyp is bloody liquid draining from the affected ear.

There's not a lot you can do to prevent leukemia, and there are no special screening tests to look out for it. The things you can do are not smoke, stay away from benzene, and avoid really high levels of radiation. Other than that, your best tool is your annual exam. This lets your doctor keep tabs on your health and often includes routine blood tests that could spot the disease early on.

Whether you're in remission, watchfully waiting, or getting ongoing treatment, regular checkups and tests will become a part of your life. Talk openly with your doctor not just about changes in symptoms, but also about any emotional and day-to-day struggles you might have. Ask about a survivorship care plan, which addresses both your medical needs and your overall well-being.