A constant cough. In most cases, cough is the main symptom of colds, flu, pneumonia, etc. But do not take a cough as an insignificant sign. A cough can be dry, for example, as with allergy, or soggy, for example, as with influenza and colds. The mucus can be dyed orange, red or brown, or you can even detect blood in saliva. In any case, an emergence of a chronic cough for a long time is a substantial reason to consult a doctor.
Shortness of breath. This symptom remains limited longer than others. While shortness of breath is one of the first signs of lung cancer. Generally, patients and doctors are looking for causes of dyspnea in other diseases, most often heart disease, but they forget about the possibility of the risk of propagation cancer. In some cases, persons believe that shortness of breath is an effect from weak physical activity or aging. Do not neglect such symptom, especially when these signs continue for a long time.
Rapid weight loss. If a person loses weight without any changes in his way of life that could affect his body weight, or if the foods in your daily diet seem unattractive to you – it is important to find out a background, because lung cancer signs in the early stages can include deprivation of appetite and inexplicable weight loss. What a person experiences: some people have the reluctance to take food and forget to eat; they may also notice that their clothes are getting too big, although they do not eat less. If the bad appetite continues to persist, or you keep on to lose weight without any effort on your part, consult a doctor.
Weakness and pain. Often patients complain of pain in the chest or back, which persists with time. The pain may be in the chest or lung area, but it can also be present in the upper back, shoulders or neck – and it is easily confused with muscle pain. The pain can be different: from periodic to acute paroxysmal and permanent. Pain can be delivered to the shoulder, neck, stomach. Also, pain can intensify with deep breathing, coughing. Pain is not stopped by taking non-narcotic painkillers. By the intensity of pain can be judged on the extent of affection to the lungs and other organs of the chest.
Frequent infectious diseases. Lungs perform an important function in the body, and sometimes various infectious diseases can get into the body through the respiratory system. In chill weather, you can catch a cold or even pneumonia. But if the colds happen 4-5 times a season, despite the full treatment and adjustment of immunity, there is the reason to think about an examination for lung cancer. The malignant formation can block part of the airways, leading to the growth of infection, while preventing the effects of medicament on the damaged area. That is why infections often do not respond to treatment and cause frequent relapses.
Syndrome of drumsticks. The condition of the hands and fingers on the hands can inform on disorders in the body associated with developing lung cancer. Thickening of the last phalanges of the fingers on the hands and rounding of the nail plate are always about lung diseases, in particular, the development of malignant formations. Therefore, as soon as you notice the changes in your hands do not hesitate to visit an oncologist.
Whistling and wheezing. The presence of whistling and wheezing in the airways we used to take as a cold that, according to the guesses of smokers, results from their unhealthy habit. But the case maybe not connected with a cold or smoking the matter is a likeliness of existence of cancer’s symptoms. So if a person is disturbed by whistling and wheezing in his lungs more than one week, it is very recommended to visit a doctor.
Phlegm with blood. A cough with blood is a dangerous condition that may indicate an internal bleeding. Mucus is called a substance that is released during coughing. Sputum contains a secret of bronchial glands, dust particles, and microbes. If in the sputum there are streaks of reddish-pink color, then it has got blood. Sometimes the reason for this is the rupture of a small blood deferent in the lungs – in this case, such event does not pose a significant threat to health. But perhaps, the blood in the sputum signals about infectious processes in the lungs (including lung cancer). If there is such sign more than one week, it is better to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Raspy and hoarse voice. If you observe hoarseness in voice for a long time, you should pay attention to such sign. Of course, this may be either a simple cold or some easy infection, but also a hoarse voice can be a signal to the occurrence of lung cancer. Continuous hoarseness in the voice can lead to inflammation and irritation of the vocal cords, and obstruct the process of swallowing food.
Headaches. Almost every person gets to know what a headache is, and the existence of headaches is quite a usual thing among people who suffer from certain diseases. If a person started to feel some specific ache in his with changing of its intensity and power, that could be a significant sign of having a serious illness in the organism such as lung cancer. Do not ignore the doctor’s help if you are suffered from such symptoms.
Learn more about lung cancer at American Cancer Society (ACS).