Lung Cancer Symptoms – What Is It?
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One difficulty in diagnosing lung cancer is the fact that in many patients symptoms of the disease are not apparent until the cancer is in an advanced stage.
That is why it is very important for people, especially those at high risk, to understand lung cancer symptoms. People must be aware what these symptoms are and see their doctor if they even suspect they may have lung cancer.
Unsuspected 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.
The problem with lung cancer not exhibiting symptoms early is that as the disease grows it gets more difficult to treat and the likelihood of it spreading to other parts of the body grows.
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.
Symptoms
You know what it feels like to have a common virus or infection. Lung cancer symptoms are usually similar and can include:
* Chest pain
* Shortness of breath
Be aware of how your body feels is the best way to catch lung cancer symptoms early. Be aware of the following:
* A new cough that develops suddenly, especially if you smoke or used to smoke.
* A cough that just will not go away no matter what medication you use to treat it.
* Chest pain that does not go away
* Panting
* Hoarseness
* Ongoing respiratory illness
Lung cancer symptoms can also vary depending on the type of cancer. Metastatic lung cancer tumors may react differently in the body and cause different symptoms. They can spread to the adrenal glands, the bones and even the brain. Most do not cause any symptoms.
Part of the reason why lung cancer has a high death rate is because it is very difficult to catch in the early stages.
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