Lung cancer is a common cancer in both sexes and is the leading cause of death. In the early stages, the disease has faint and unclear signs, but when symptoms are severe and obvious, the disease becomes severe and difficult to treat. Therefore, recognizing the 9 early signs of lung cancer helps people examine and treat the disease early. Let’sMy Auris learn about 9 early signs of lung cancer through the following article.
What is lung cancer?
Lung cancer is the tissues and cells of the lung that proliferate abnormally, without control. When the body inhales, air goes down the trachea and into the lungs, where it spreads through tubes called bronchi. Most cases of lung cancer originate from cells that form this tube.
Lung cancer is also a common type of cancer and has the highest mortality rate in both sexes. Lung cancer is divided into 2 types:
- Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of cancer.
- Small cell lung cancer: this form is less common, but spreads quickly to other organs and parts of the body through the bloodstream.
50-75. In Western countries, the incidence of lung cancer is increasing not only in men but also in women. Not only that, but the incidence of this disease worldwide is also high.
In particular, smoking is considered the main cause of cancer. 80% of lung cancer deaths in women and 90% in men come from smoking. Men who smoke are 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer and 13 times more likely to develop lung cancer in women.
In addition to smoking, inhaling cigarette smoke also increases lung cancer. Therefore, this is very dangerous for the elderly, children and pregnant women.
Besides tobacco, there are also many other risk factors that increase lung cancer as follows:
- Working in a polluted, toxic environment for long periods of time due to the effects of heavy metals, asbestos, cigarette smoke, plastic, petrochemical industry, gas,…
- Suffering from certain lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD, tuberculosis lesions, old scar tissue in the lungs,… early
Early-stage cancer has unclear and easily confused signs, so many people subjectively do not seek early medical examination and check-up. By the time symptoms become severe and widespread, the disease has reached a stage where it is difficult or even impossible to treat.
Therefore, keep an eye out for the following9 signs of early stage lung cancer and if you detect any unusual symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately:
Prolonged coughing
Cough can be due to many different causes, it can be a cold, a cold or a respiratory infection. Usually, taking medicine will help you feel better after 1-2 weeks. However, lung cancer has a long-lasting cough that does not improve with medication.
Chest pain
This is one of the 9 early signs of lung cancer that should not be subjectively monitored. If you feel pain in the chest area, it is accompanied by pain in the back or shoulder and the pain may be continuous or dull, or only occur occasionally.
Monitor the pain to see if it occurs in one area or spreads throughout the entire chest cavity. When you have lung cancer, chest pain will lead to uncomfortable reactions in the lymph nodes because the tumor can now metastasize to the chest wall, ribs or pleura.
Hoarseness does not recover on its own
Lung cancer can cause hoarseness. This is an easy to spot and easily confused sign. Because hoarseness can also be caused by a cold, but it will go away on its own in a short time. If hoarseness lasts for more than 2 weeks, it may be abnormal. Lung cancer causes hoarseness because the malignant tumor presses on the nerve that controls the larynx or trachea, changing the voice.
Hoarseness that does not recover on its own – 9 signs of early stage lung cancer Changes in cough
For people with the disease With chronic cough, you should pay attention to changes in coughs, especially those who have a habit of smoking. If you frequently have coughs, each cough lasts longer, or the sound emitted shows signs of hoarseness, coughing up a lot of mucus or even coughing up blood, it could be a warning sign of lung cancer.
Wheezing
If the airways are inflamed or blocked, when breathing, the lungs will make a wheezing sound. Most wheezing is a benign sign and is not difficult to treat. But this is also a sign that needs attention because it is one of the 9 early signs of cancer.
Breathing changes
If shortness of breath suddenly appears and this happens often, you need to pay attention to a health examination. Because lung cancer shows signs of changes in breathing due to narrowed airways or fluid accumulation in the chest due to tumors in the lungs.
And before, it was a heavy task like climbing stairs and breathing normally, but now fatigue and shortness of breath appear, so you need to see a doctor soon.
Unusual weight loss
If you do not apply a diet or high-intensity exercise and your weight drops rapidly, from 4-5 kilograms, you should have a health check-up because it may be caused by cancer. The main reason is due to the body’s energy consumption by cancer cells, causing the body to quickly lose weight.
Frequent headaches
When a tumor in the lung compresses and puts pressure on the superior vena cava, it will lead to severe headaches and discomfort. Because this is a large vein that plays the role of transporting blood from the upper part of the body to the heart. Pressure from the tumor will cause pain and heaviness in the head, especially in the first half of the day.
Regular headaches – 9 signs of early stage lung cancer Muscle pain
Tumor growth will take up all the area of surrounding organizations, it will press on the nerves in the back, chest, shoulders, abdomen, and arms, leading to arm pain and muscle fatigue. Not only that, it can also cause inflammation and swelling of the above mentioned parts due to the tumor pressing on the veins.
Hopefully with
Anh Thy
