Symptoms of lung cancer may not appear until the cancer is in the advanced stages, making diagnosis difficult in many cases.
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.
Hidden 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.
Symptoms
You know what it feels like to have a common virus or infection. Lung cancer symptoms are usually similar and can include:
* A cough that will not go away
* Pains in the chest
* Difficulty breathing
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 nagging cough that does not respond to cough medication
* Chest pain that does not go away
* Panting
* 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.
Part of the reason why lung cancer has a high death rate is because it is very difficult to catch in the early stages.
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!
