| Signs and Symptoms |
| Written by Michael Kerry | |
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The signs and symptoms of lung cancer are difficult to detect. You may have problems and sickness for a long time that you don’t realize is lung cancer and it will take a chest x-ray to determine the extent of your illness. Know your family medical history and get checkups frequently if it runs in the family. What is Lung Cancer?Just like all cancers, lung cancer starts when cells in the body start malfunctioning and dividing more often than is needed for normal new cell growth. These new, un-needed cells form a tumor mass. Malignant and Benign TumorsThese tumors can be benign or malignant. The benign tumors can be removed and all is well, malignant tumors on the other hand can be quite dangerous.Malignant tumors come in all shapes and sizes so to speak. There are several kinds. Some are fast growing and can spread from one area of the body to another rather quickly. Others can be slower in growth and localized in one area. The ones that grow slowly and are localized can normally be removed successfully. Both benign and malignant tumors can be found in lung cancers. Although the kind that grow faster and spread quickly seem predominant in the lung area. Lung Cancer Signs and SymptomsLung cancer often has no immediate symptoms or signs and for this reason often goes undetected in the earliest stages. There are statistics out there that suggest that when diagnosed with cancer, over forty percent of these people had no symptoms. The patient’s first knowledge of having lung cancer is often through an x-ray required for an entirely different reason.With that in mind if you have any uncomfortable feelings or any of the following signs that don’t have a good explanation, do not hesitate to ask for a lung x-ray. Some things to watch for would be a new cough that stays with you for a long period of time or an existing chronic cough that gets worse. Any time you cough up blood you need to speak with your doctor, this symptom can be associated with cancer. Along the same lines, if you have bronchitis that doesn’t go away, or other respiratory infections that keep coming back, make sure your doctor considers lung cancer and takes an x-ray. So many of the symptoms of lung cancer reflect other diseases and are therefore hard to detect. These symptoms can be unexplained weight loss, weakness, or unexplained fatigue. Another common sign that could mean nearly any health problem is breathing concerns like shortness of breath or wheezing. There should be no need to tell you if you have any blood in your sputum or are having chest pains, get to a doctor at once. With these symptoms the doctor should definitely order an x-ray and chest pains can be a major indicator of lung cancer. Cancer SpreadsCancer in any area of the body can also spread to the lungs. Lung cancer can spread to any other organ of the body and because it is usually a fast growing cancer it can spread rapidly.While it can spread to any organ in the body, it mainly goes to the liver, bones, brain, or adrenal glands. So if your doctor suggests you need a chest x-ray for any reason, make sure you get it. This may be the only way you can detect lung cancer in its early stage. What causes Lung CancerThere are several causes of lung cancer. The most common cause of this disease is smoking. It could be smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes, but cigarettes are the worst of the three in causing cancer.Passive smoke is also presents a danger for lung cancer. So does asbestos fibers, radon gases, and a person’s genetic makeup are also known causes. Genetic makeup means that if you have family members who have had lung cancer, you have a greater chance of getting the disease. There are types of occupations where the worker is exposed to certain chemicals like nickel, arsenic, chromium, ethers and aromatic hydrocarbons. Exposure to these chemicals increases your susceptibility to cancer. If you’ve had lung cancer once, you are more likely to get it again than someone who has never had lung cancer. To prevent lung cancer, all we can do is try and stay away from the causes. Understand the symptoms well enough to listen to your body and ask for an x-ray if you feel it’s needed. |
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