Early Symptoms of Lung Cancer by Charlene J Nuble

Lung cancer takes time to produce chronic and severe symptoms. Therefore, it is important that one knows the different early symptoms of lung cancer in order to recognize the disease early and prompt treatment can be given. All of these signs and symptoms which appear on the early stages of cancer should be noticed in no time so that treatment can be given at once. Once these signs and symptoms are experienced, it is best to consult with a medical specialist or your physician.

According to statistical reports, lung cancer ranks first in the majority death rate in either male or female. This is one main reason why medical practitioners and people involved in maintaining the stability of people’s health are eager to lessen the occurrence of the disease by manipulating the environment. Usually, cancer becomes evident from the age of 40 going to 70. In fact, women are now also being affected with the disease and is gaining in number in terms of affectation compared to men.

The moment cancer cells becomes malignant, it is termed as lung cancer in the primary stage. If a person gets lung cancer and he or she is not a smoker nor is exposed long-term to chemicals and lung irritants, it is deemed that the cancer may have come some place else from the body. This means that aside from that affected side, it has also reached the lung which is known as metastasis. The spread on the lungs commonly comes from the bone, stomach, lymph nodes, breast, kidneys, skin, colon, cervix and even testis.

Some of the common signs and symptoms of cancer are: nagging cough which doesn’t go away in weeks or month’s time, chest pain, recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia problems, hemoptysis or coughing blood-stained sputum, easily fatigued, weight loss which is caused by anorexia or loss of appetite, and lung manifestations like Dyspnea, hoarseness and wheezing.

Cancer can be quite hard to diagnose because the earliest symptoms can often become tolerable that makes the person think he or she is just experiencing a simple cough or a normal chest pain. Once the early signs and symptoms occur, oftentimes the cancer is diagnosed as severe or has metastasized to a nearby body part like the lymph nodes. Once the diagnosis of this metastasis happens, it is too late because of the advancement the disease has become.

Some evident symptoms seen in patients having lung cancer are:

• Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing – which is considered as one of the serious symptoms of lung cancer for it may not allow the cancer patient to ingest food and even liquid. Sometimes, this leads to asphyxiation.

• Abnormalities affecting the fingers or the fingernails like overgrowth of tissues in fingertips that result to clubbing

• Gynecomastia or the development of breasts in men

• Atrophy or shrinkage of the muscles

Above all, the three main symptoms related to lung cancer that must not be set aside are the following:

• Chest pain that is a result from persistent coughing or even at the extent of abnormal breathing.

• Hemoptysis or coughing out of blood-streaked sputum which may indicate that trauma is now being experienced by the respiratory system.

• Shortness of breath can happen if there is a blockage in the bronchioles or tubes which serves as a passageway for oxygen.

If more than one of these early symptoms of lung cancer are now occurring on you, it is best that you consult your doctor immediately most especially if you are aged 40 and above.