Lung Cancer Symptoms – What Are the Signs to Call Your Doctor?
The sooner a disease is diagnosed the sooner it can be treated. For this reason, it is important for you to be familiar with the common lung cancer symptoms. It has been estimated that they occur in about three-quarters of all patients. Some of the signs are caused directly by the development of the tumor in the lungs while others are caused by the effects the cancer has on the organs.
Coughing is perhaps the most common of all lung cancer symptoms. You should see your doctor if you have a persistent cough that does not go away after a couple of weeks. You should also seek medical help if the cough worsens with time.
Many smokers are used to having a certain type of cough. Any changes in it or the appearance of new cough can be signs of lung cancer development. You should be careful to notice any such changes and discuss them with your health care provider immediately. If you had been smoking, but have quit, you should be able to notice the appearance of a new cough that can be a lung cancer symptom.
Coughing up blood is one of the most serious lung cancer symptoms. It does not occur in all sufferers, but it is not uncommon either. In general, the amount of blood coughed up is irrelevant. Even if you think this has occurred for other reason, you should not exclude the development of a tumor. For this reason, it is essential for you to see a doctor immediately.
Pain in the chest can also be a sign that you have this dangerous condition. It usually occurs in one out of every four sufferers. The people who experience this symptom describe the pain as dull or aching, but never stubbing. The pain in the chest is usually persistent. It might spread to other areas of the body near the chest.
Hoarseness can signal that you have lung cancer as well. This symptom is not directly caused by the tumor. It usually occurs when the tumor blocks part of the lung and/or causes inflammation. Shortness of breath is another symptom that can be caused blockage in part of the lung, the spread of the tumor or by a collection of fluid in the lung.
If you have reoccurring lung infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, you might have the condition as well. The doctor who is treating you will probably do the necessary testing, once he observes a pattern or recurrence.
