lung cancer symptoms everyone should know

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Lung cancer symptoms you should be aware of

Why is it important to know about lung cancer symptoms? Lung cancer is one of the most dangerous types of cancer because it tends to spread to body organs at an early stage. For this reason, being aware of common lung cancer symptoms is essential - early detection significantly improves chances of survival.

Lung cancer originates from abnormalities in the basic unit of the body - the cell. In the normal state, cells divide and reproduce according to need. This is brought about by a system of checks and balances built into the organism.

Sometimes, however, this orderly system is disrupted and cells divide and proliferate in an uncontrolled manner. They form an abnormal mass referred to as a tumor. Although not all tumors are malignant, those that give rise to lung cancer symptoms are.

Tumors that are benign usually do not pose a threat and can be removed without spreading to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors, like those of lung cancer, multiply and spread aggressively. They tend to move to other - often distant - parts of the body, in a process called metastasis.

Lung cancer, in particular, tends to metastasize or spread at an early stage. This makes it difficult to treat and it is one of the most life-threatening cancers around. The malignancy can spread to practically any part of the body. However, certain organs are more prone to being affected - they include the liver, adrenal glands, bone and the brain.

This tendency to metastasize rapidly makes it imperative that lung cancer be detected as early as possible. Hence it is critical to be aware of common lung cancer symptoms.

Here is some of what you must watch out for. Remember, this is not a comprehensive list and is only indicative of the many lung cancer symptoms found in a wide cross section of patients.

Swelling in the facial and neck region
A persistent cough that does not respond to treatment
Blood in sputum / spit with a brownish tinge
Pain in the chest region
Sudden, significant drop in weight that isn't the result of dieting or exercise
Shortness of breath
Inexplicable fatigue
Recurring bouts of pneumonia, bronchitis and other such infections
Change in voice quality / hoarseness that persists
Fever that occurs for no apparent cause
Loss of appetite

Having one or more of these symptoms of lung cancer does not always indicate the presence of the disease. There are many other health conditions that can cause these symptoms.

The human lungs

However, if some of these signs are present, it is necessary to consult a doctor so that he can investigate further.

When the disease spreads to other parts of the body, it can give rise to other lung cancer symptoms. Examples include bones that fracture too easily, persistent / recurrent headaches, formation of blood clots, bleeding, pain in some area of the body, etc. Some symptoms may not be apparent till the disease has progressed to become stage 4 lung cancer.

Early detection is critically important to improve the chances of curing lung cancer. In patients where the cancer has already advanced, detection can still help to prolong life and improve its quality.

Lung cancer symptoms can be caused by various factors. Smoking heads the list of causes. An estimated nine out of ten cases of lung cancer would never have developed if the patient did not smoke. That is a shocking statistic.

Asbestos exposure is another known risk factor. Researchers have found that asbestos workers are fully seven times more likely to develop lung cancer as compared to the general population. Other risk factors include exposure to toxic chemicals, heavily polluted air in big cities, lung inflammation, etc. Having a family history of lung cancer also increases the risk of a person developing the disease.

Lung cancer symptoms - gender differences

In many diseases, the symptoms that men exhibit may be somewhat different from those shown by women. This may be the case with heart diseases, for example.

However with lung cancer, most of the time, it gets detected only at a highly advanced stage, after it has spread to other areas of the body. This is especially true of small cell lung carcinoma, although such metastasis can also occur in non-small cell lung carcinoma.

By that time, both men and women tend to show very similar symptoms. For instance, loss of weight, unexplained pain in the chest or some other part of the body, loss of appetite and so on. Thus in practical terms, there aren't major differences between men and women when it comes to signs of lung cancer.

The presence of any of these lung cancer symptoms is sufficient reason to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Also read:
Is lung cancer genetic?
The Main causes of cancer
What is stage 3 lung cancer?

Around the web: References and more

Environmental tobacco smoke and lung cancer - British Medical Journal
Cancer - World Health Organization
Early detection - Harvard Medical School
National Cancer Institute - National Institutes of Health
A lung cancer survivor's story - Yale School of Medicine
Signs of lung cancer - Standord University

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