One of the leading causes of deaths from cancer worldwide is lungs cancer which affects women and men of different age groups. There are limited treatment options and in most cases, it gets diagnosed at an advanced stage when it has spread to multiple organs. That explains why the mortality rate of this cancer is so high and hence, every individual should know lungs cancer early symptomsand take necessary precautionary measures to keep their lungs healthy.
Wondering what are the common signs of lung cancer? Let’s find out everything about lungs cancer so that you and your dear ones can receive timely treatment and live a long, healthy life.
Signs and Symptoms of Lungs Cancer
The survival rates of people with lungs cancer are low because symptoms may not appear unless the cancer spreads to other organs. However, some people experience some lungs cancer early symptoms and so, if one can identify those symptoms, their chance of living longer increases.
In its early stage, the following can be lungs cancer symptoms:
- Persistent cough that gets worse instead of going away
- Feeling fatigued
- Weakness
- Coughing up sputum and noticing blood in sputum
- Hoarseness
- Chest pain along with deep breathing and constant coughing
- Loss of hunger
- Chest infections
- Sudden weight loss
- Breathing difficulty or shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Infections like pneumonia and bronchitis that keep returning
When lung cancer ends up spreading to other internal organs, then the symptoms also become more severe. These are the advanced lung cancer symptoms that you must not ignore:
- Bone pain (such as pain in the hips or back)
- Changes in the nervous system (like headache, numbness of one leg or arm, weakness, dizziness, seizures, and balance problems) – all of these symptoms resulting from cancer affecting the brain
- If the cancer reaches the liver, yellowing of eyes and skin (a condition known as jaundice) can also happen.
- Swollen lymph nodes (lymph nodes are immune system cells) present in areas like the neck and the region above a person’s collarbone
Other Symptoms Caused by Lung Cancer
Lung cancers can even cause some syndromes. These include:
- Horner syndrome
- SVC or superior vena cava syndrome
- Paraneoplastic syndrome
Studies have revealed that these symptoms may be caused by several illnesses other than cancer. Still, whenever you have these problems, it is advisable to see your physician right away. That’s the best way of the finding the cause and starting treatment as soon as possible.
What to Do When You Think You Have Lungs Cancer Symptoms?
If you have been experiencing any of the early signs and symptoms of lungs cancer we mentioned above, the symptoms can be caused by some other illness as well. Only lung health screening will reveal if cancer cells are present in your lungs. So, you should immediately book an appointment with an esteemed doctor. Your doctor will run all necessary tests and let you know if there is a reason to worry.
Lung Cancer Treatment
For people with lung cancer, physicians curate a treatment plan based on the type of lung cancer after doing the lung cancer screening. The treatment for non-small cell lung cancer is less complicated than treating the patient once the cancer has spread.
These are the top treatment methods:
- radiotherapy
- surgery
- chemotherapy
- immunotherapy
- targeted therapy
While surgery gets rid of the cancerous cells by surgically removing them, chemotherapy can shrink the size of cancer cells. As living with cancer can be stressful, palliative care is often recommended by doctors to help people dealing with cancer and their families.
The Bottom Line
Lastly, whether an individual has lung cancer or not, maintaining a lung-friendly lifestyle is crucial for all. Everyone knows the link between smoking and lung cancer and so, you should quit smoking to help your lungs heal. Air pollution is another reason behind respiratory health ailments, even lung cancer.
If you want to spread lung cancer awareness, share this article with others and protect them from a deadly disease like lung cancer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the early signs of lung cancer to watch out for?
While most patients with lungs cancer may not notice any symptoms initially, some early signs and symptoms are weight loss, constant cough, and breathing issues. Chest pain symptoms and wheezing symptoms are also some indicators of lung cancer.
Q. How can lung cancer be detected in its early stages?
Early detection of lung cancer is possible if a person goes for regular health check-ups. Some of the diagnostic procedures include using various imaging tools such as MRI scans and CT scans.
