Knowing the warning signs can help you in receiving treatment sooner.
Dustin Diamond died of lung cancer
at the age of 44, and his death came as a shock, not only because he was so
young but also because it happened so quickly. The CDC states, "Various people
have different symptoms for lung cancer." "Some persons experience
symptoms that are related to their lungs. Some persons with lung cancer who
have spread to other parts of the body (metastasized) experience symptoms
specific to that part of the body. Some folks simply have a general feeling of
unwellness. The majority of people with lung cancer do not have symptoms until
the condition worsens. Symptoms of lung cancer may include: "as follows:
Continue reading.
1. You May Have Coughing That Gets
Worse or Doesn't Go Away
"Anyone suffering from a cough
that displays the following symptoms should seek medical attention as soon as
possible:
- blood or rust-coloured mucus or phlegm
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia that recur or do not go away
Lung cancer coughs can be dry or
wet, depending on the stage of the disease. It can happen at any time and
disrupt sleep, "Medical News Today reports on this phenomenon. "The
majority of persons who develop lung cancer have a smoking history. Smoking can
also irritate the lungs, resulting in a cough that lasts just a short
time."
2. You May Have Chest Pain
According to the American CancerSociety, "chest pain is normally made worse by deep breathing, coughing,
or laughing."
3. You May Have Shortness of Breath
"The medical word for
difficulty breathing is dyspnea. It's a common symptom of lung cancer or lung
cancer that has spread. Dyspnea is a condition in which you have trouble moving
air in and out of your lungs. Dyspnea can also be caused by a lack of oxygen in
your lungs "The University of Rochester Medical Center reports on this.
"Dyspnea is a breathing disorder that causes difficulties or shortness of
breath in victims. They frequently relate it to suffocation or being
suffocated. If you believe you are unable to breathe, you may feel anxious or
panic. Your anxiety and fears can worsen your dyspnea. Panicking might cause
you to get more breathless and begin a cycle that is hard to stop down."
4. You May Have Wheezing
According to the Mayo Clinic, wheezing can be caused by inflammation and narrowing of the airway in any location, from your throat to your lungs. "Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which both cause narrowing and spasms (bronchospasms) in the small airways of your lungs, are the most common causes of recurrent wheezing." It's also possible that lung cancer is at blame.
5. You May Cough Up Blood
The medical name for coughing up
blood "is hemoptysis, or the presence of blood in the sputum (spit or
phlegm) coughed up from the lungs. Hemoptysis affects 7-10% of lung cancer
patients when they are first seen by a medical professional, and around 20%
experience it over the course of their illness. In the United States, lung cancer
is a leading cause for 23% of all hemoptysis "LungCancer.net reports on
this.
6. You May Feel Tired All the Time
"Throughout the course of the
disease, fatigue is the most frequently reported symptom in lung cancer
patients, and all international guidelines recommend early screening for
cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and symptoms that can affect patients' quality of
life," according to a study published in Dove Press. Pain, depression, and
insomnia are commonly seen simultaneously in individuals with lung cancer but
are typically treated as separate diseases despite having common biological
mechanisms.
7. You May Have Weight Loss With No
Known Cause
According to the British Journal ofCancer, "weight loss is common at presentation in patients with lung cancer
and mesothelioma, and a frequent cause of patient concern." "An
imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure causes weight
loss."
8. You May Also Have These Symptoms
"Repeated bouts of pneumonia
and swollen or enlarged lymph nodes (glands) inside the chest in the area
between the lungs are other changes that can sometimes occur with lung
cancer," the CDC notes. "Other conditions can also cause these
symptoms. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, speak with your doctor,
who can help you figure out what's causing them."