symptoms of lung cancer to be aware of
Lung cancer symptoms Home

Do you know these symptoms of lung cancer?

Here is a list of some of the common symptoms of lung cancer:

  • Haemoptysis - coughing up sputum stained with blood
  • Increasing hoarseness of voice
  • Dyspnoea - wheezing and / or shortness of breath
  • Pain in the chest region
  • Swollen neck and face
  • Bronchitis / pneumonia that occurs repeatedly
  • Cough that persists and worsens over a period of time
  • Inexplicable fatigue
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Appetite loss
  • Frequent bouts of fever / persistent fever
Those are only a few of the symptoms of lung cancer. There are others too. The fingertips of some patients may change in shape. Their lymph glands may become swollen, especially those in the lower neck and upper chest. Frequent bouts of pneumonia are a fairly common sign of this disease.

Of course, there are many other health / medical conditions that can give rise to these symptoms of lung cancer. Therefore, having one or more of these signs does not necessarily mean that the person concerned has lung cancer - it could be due to any number of other reasons.

If you have any of these symptoms, it DOES mean that you should consult a doctor or other medical professional immediately. He or she will then do the required checkups to determine the cause of the problem.

On the flip side, lung cancer may be present without there being any obvious symptoms at all. This disease is perfectly capable of spreading silently and remaining undetected till it reaches an advanced stage. Lung cancer that has progressed far is difficult to treat or cure.

As with all kinds of cancers, it is essential to detect lung cancer at an early stage. That is why knowledge of the symptoms of lung cancer can literally save a life.

When a patient presents himself to a doctor reporting some of the symptoms above, he will begin a comprehensive appraisal of the patient's medical history. Some of the things the doctor will look into include whether the person is (or has been) a smoker, the presence of cancer in other family members, exposure to dangerous substances including asbestos, radiation exposure, etc.

This initial evaluation will give the doctor clues about what further tests to do. He will then order any tests that may be necessary at that stage. His objective is to get at the root cause of the symptoms of lung cancer (or of whatever else) - as mentioned earlier, these symptoms can be due to a number of different factors.

Problems in the lungs can give rise to shortness of breath. This happens when the lungs are not able to function well because they are affected by diseases including cancer. Since the lungs are vital organs, any serious damage leading to impairment of breathing can lead to damage to the brain and other organs and may result in death or serious disability. It is impossible to lead a full, healthy life without healthy lungs.

Lung cancer can spread to other parts of the body - this process is called metastasis. Vomiting, nausea and weakness are some of the symptoms of lung cancer when the disease spreads to the brain. If it affects the liver, jaundice or stomach pain may result. Cancer in the bones can cause bone and joint pain.

One should always be vigilant about these symptoms of lung cancer. Early detection is critical for improving chances of affecting a cure.


Sitemap | Cancer information | Disclaimer - Important | | Privacy | Contact

Copyright © 2007-2013 LungCancerSymptoms.org. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copying content without permission strictly prohibited.