One of the biggest obstacles with diagnosing lung cancer is that many patients do not have any lung cancer symptoms until the cancer is in advanced stages.
Therefore, it is mandatory for anyone who is at high risk of developing lung cancer that they be aware of the symptoms of the disease. If there is even the slightest suspicion that they may have lung cancer, they should immediately consult with their doctor.
Unseen Disease
In the early stages of lung cancer, symptoms are usually not present. In many cases, it is not until the tumor has grown or the cancer has spread, that clear symptoms will appear. Chest x-rays taken for other reasons may be the first suspicion that lung cancer is present.
Without early symptoms, early detection of lung cancer is not possible, and as the disease grows, it becomes more difficult to treat and the likelihood of it spreading to other parts of the body becomes more likely.
Even when symptoms do present, it can be difficult to notice that they are something more than a chest cold or other common respiratory illness. Many times people ignore them or use over the counter medication to try and treat what they believe is a simple virus.
Signs
A common virus or infection is similar to the symptoms of lung cancer and may include:
* Persistent cough
* Chest discomfort
* Difficulty breathing
Being informed and aware is the best way to catch lung cancer symptoms early. Watch out for the following:
* A new cough that develops suddenly, especially if you smoke or used to smoke.
* A nagging cough that does not respond to cough medication
* A dull, persistent chest pain
* Wheezing
* Raspy voice
* Repeated respiratory illness
Metastatic are a type of lung cancer tumors, which cause different symptoms and react differently in the body. They can affect the adrenal glands, the bones and even spread to the brain. Other types of lung cancer do not cause any symptoms.
The difficulty of detecting lung cancer in the early stages is part of the reason why it has such a high death rate.
Therefore, it is mandatory for anyone who is at high risk of developing lung cancer that they be aware of the symptoms of the disease. If there is even the slightest suspicion that they may have lung cancer, they should immediately consult with their doctor.
Unseen Disease
In the early stages of lung cancer, symptoms are usually not present. In many cases, it is not until the tumor has grown or the cancer has spread, that clear symptoms will appear. Chest x-rays taken for other reasons may be the first suspicion that lung cancer is present.
Without early symptoms, early detection of lung cancer is not possible, and as the disease grows, it becomes more difficult to treat and the likelihood of it spreading to other parts of the body becomes more likely.
Even when symptoms do present, it can be difficult to notice that they are something more than a chest cold or other common respiratory illness. Many times people ignore them or use over the counter medication to try and treat what they believe is a simple virus.
Signs
A common virus or infection is similar to the symptoms of lung cancer and may include:
* Persistent cough
* Chest discomfort
* Difficulty breathing
Being informed and aware is the best way to catch lung cancer symptoms early. Watch out for the following:
* A new cough that develops suddenly, especially if you smoke or used to smoke.
* A nagging cough that does not respond to cough medication
* A dull, persistent chest pain
* Wheezing
* Raspy voice
* Repeated respiratory illness
Metastatic are a type of lung cancer tumors, which cause different symptoms and react differently in the body. They can affect the adrenal glands, the bones and even spread to the brain. Other types of lung cancer do not cause any symptoms.
The difficulty of detecting lung cancer in the early stages is part of the reason why it has such a high death rate.
About the Author:
Anne Durrel originally comes from Stockton, California, USA. She has written many articles about Lung Cancer . Other guide you may be interested in reading: lung cancer prognosis tips, and lung cancer stages guide!
