Lung cancer is a very aggressive form of cancer. Knowing the signs and symptoms of the disease can help you catch it and get treated early, which is so critical in helping you beat it. Whether you currently smoke, have smoked in the past or never have smoked cigarettes or cigars, this list of lung cancer warning signs can empower you with the information you need for early detection.
One of the Most Common Lung Cancer Warning Signs: Cough
When you think of lung cancer warning signs, you probably think about persistent coughing. According to American Cancer Society, coughing is one of the most common symptoms of lung cancer. In one study, cough was found in 65 percent of lung cancer cases.
When a tumor obstructs your airway, a nagging cough is often the result. But a cough also can be accompanied by blood or rust-colored phlegm, which is a major red flag. As cancer cells enter your lungs, the healthy tissue experiences irritation and shedding. The result is coughing up blood.
You should see your doctor if you’re experiencing a persistent cough that does not go away, a cough that gets worse or a cough with blood or rust-colored phlegm. A nagging cough can be caused by minor ailments, but it’s always a good idea to get it checked and rule out more serious health conditions.
Lung Cancer Warning Sign: Wheezing
Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound that occurs while breathing. The sound occurs as air moves through narrowed breathing tubes in the lungs. Wheezing can be heard when breathing out (exhaling) or breathing in (inhaling).
Wheezing most often originates from the small breathing tubes (bronchial tubes) deep in the lungs. Wheezing may be due to a cancer blockage in an airway. When an airway is constricted or narrowed, the air can make a wheezing or whistling sound as it tries to pass through.
Lung Cancer Warning Sign: Chest Pain
Chest pain can be a side effect of excessive coughing, which can cause strained muscles. However, it also can be an indicator that cancer is growing into your chest wall. The chest has many nerve fiber endings and, when the cancer invades the chest wall, the result is pain. In addition, you may experience chest pain that worsens with deep breathing, coughing or laughing.
If lung cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it may cause bone pain (such as pain in the back or hips), as well as headache, from cancer that has spread to the brain.
Lung Cancer Warning Sign: Hoarseness
You need your vocal cords to be able to speak, sing and cough. But if a tumor is pressing on the nerve that connects to your larynx (which houses the vocal cords), your vocal cords can become paralyzed. That’s why a hoarse, raspy or strained voice can be another warning sign of lung cancer. Hoarseness can also be a warning sign of vocal cord cancer, a condition that’s also closely connected to smoking.
Lung Cancer Warning Sign: Pneumonia
Multiple infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia indicate a potential blockage. If these infections don’t go away or keep recurring, that should be a warning sign that something is wrong. When cancer blocks the smaller airways in the lungs, it creates a space for bacteria to flourish, which can result in an infection. The way to evaluate lung conditions like pneumonia and cancer is through proper screening and diagnosis, which includes a computed tomography (CT) scan.
Don’t Ignore These Often-Overlooked Lung Cancer Symptoms
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Feeling tired or weak
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), from cancer spread to the liver
- Swelling of lymph nodes
- Though uncommon, lung cancer can cause skin changes. One example is hyperpigmentation, a condition in which some parts of your skin appear darker than your natural color. Hyperpigmentation can appear as flat brown, black, pink or red spots.
Catch It Early, Treat It Early
If you’re experiencing any of these lung cancer warning signs, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated. Lung cancer usually does not show signs at first. Symptoms are most likely to appear after the cancer has spread. Initial symptoms may include a persistent cough, chest pain and unexplained weight loss. Lung CT scans may detect the disease without symptoms.
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According to the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER), only 18 percent of people diagnosed with lung cancer survive five years or longer. If you go to your doctor when you first notice lung cancer warning signs or schedule a lung CT scan, your cancer might be diagnosed at an earlier stage, when treatment is more likely to be effective.
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