Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Cancer is the leading cause of death across the globe, accounting for 9.6 million deaths in 2018 alone. Statistics indicate that more than 20 percent of those deaths were due to lung cancer, making it the most deadly cancers in the world.

Early detection is often essential to surviving various forms of cancer, and lung cancer is no exception. In fact, the five-year survival rate for people diagnosed before the cancer has spread rises from 18 out of every 100 to 55 out of every 100. With so much at stake, it pays for men and women to learn the signs and symptoms of lung cancer.

Recognizing the signs of lung cancer involves both learning about its potential symptoms and identifying risk factors. Symptoms do not typically manifest themselves in the early stages of lung cancer, though there are some classic symptoms that should be discussed with a healthcare provider if they appear.

 Those symptoms include:

·                     Persistent cough: This is especially concerning for people who cough up rust-colored sputum

·                     Shortness of breath

·                     Hoarseness

·                     Chronic bronchitis

·                     Chest pain

·                     Unexplained weight loss

·                     Bone pain

These symptoms are not generally a cause for concern by themselves, but doctors may still recommend patients who experience them be tested for lung cancer.

Understanding lung cancer risk factors is another important step men and women can take in the fight against this deadly disease. Smoking is a major risk factor for lung cancer, but a growing number of people who have never smoked are being diagnosed with lung cancer. So even non-smokers are at risk of lung cancer, which might come as a surprise to those who have never used tobacco. People who have any of these risk factors should speak with their healthcare provider to determine if screening for lung cancer would be in their best interest.

·                     Exposure to second-hand smoke

·                     Exposure to radon gas

·                     Exposure to asbestos

·                     Exposure to other carcinogens, such as chromium and nickel

·                     Air pollution

·                     Arsenic in drinking water

·                     Previous radiation to lungs

·                     Personal or family history of lung cancer

Lung cancer can affect anyone, even people who have never smoked. If you have any of the symptoms discussed above or concerns, talk with your healthcare provide to see if you are a candidate for CT lung cancer screening at Horn Memorial Hospital.