8 Symptoms of Lung Cancer You Can not Ignore
Lung cancer is a quietly lethal disease, and is the highest-risk cancer of 17.8 million by 2016, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). One of the causes of high mortality is due to the difficulty of diagnosing early lung cancer. Approximately 40% of people diagnosed with lung cancer, just received a diagnosis after the disease has developed. From 1/3 the diagnosis, the cancer has reached stage 3. Here are some warning signs of lung cancer that you should not ignore.
Lung cancer is a quietly lethal disease, and is the highest-risk cancer of 17.8 million by 2016, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). One of the causes of high mortality is due to the difficulty of diagnosing early lung cancer. Approximately 40% of people diagnosed with lung cancer, just received a diagnosis after the disease has developed. From 1/3 the diagnosis, the cancer has reached stage 3. Here are some warning signs of lung cancer that you should not ignore.
The characteristics and symptoms of lung cancer are common
1. You have an incurable cough
Cough is very common. You can cough from a fever or by choking. However, if the cough does not stop immediately after the fever has disappeared or does not improve after treatment, you should visit a doctor to check lung or X-ray.
2. You feel a change in your cough
Chronic cough is often a symptom of other conditions, such as acid reflux (GERD), asthma, or allergies. However, if the condition of cough changes (such as from a dry cough and then cough with phlegm or bleeding), you need to visit a doctor.
3. You feel shortness of breath after normal activity
If you often feel shortness of breath or your breathing sounds, this can be a symptom of lung cancer. You can have trouble breathing due to tumors that block the respiratory tract or fluid around the increased lung, thus suppressing your lungs. Because it's normal to feel short of breath, we often ignore it. However, if you can not breathe normally after doing routine activities such as climbing stairs, lifting things, or doing things that you could previously do without difficulty breathing, call your doctor immediately.
4. You have chest pain
Although lung cancer tumors that appear in the middle of the lungs do not cause pain, certain types of lung cancer that occur on the outside of the lung and chest wall can cause pain. Lung cancer can cause pain in the chest, shoulders, or back. If the cancer causes chest pain, discomfort may be caused by lymph nodes or metastases in the chest wall, pleura (lining around the lung) or swollen ribs.
5. You can hear your breathing sound
Shortness of breath occurs when the lungs contract, block, or become inflamed. Shortness of breath can be a sign of health conditions such as allergies and asthma. Do not ignore it. If the condition does not get better soon, you need to immediately tell the doctor. It's better to know what actually happens than to assume.
6. Your voice changes
Your voice may become hoarse during a fever or when it is not used for some time, just like when you wake up. However, if you feel a change in your voice, or someone tells you that your voice becomes heavier and hoarse, consult a doctor immediately. If the condition does not improve after 2 weeks of treatment, consult a doctor. Lung cancer tumors can affect your voice box, causing changes in your voice.
7. You lose weight
Sudden weight loss is a bad sign. People with lung cancer often experience weight loss in a short time, caused by cancer cells that use all energy and nutrients. Do not ignore changes in your weight, especially if it happens when you do not change your diet or lifestyle. This can be a sign of change in your health.
8. You experience bone pain
Advanced lung cancer may cause bone pain. Most people with bone cancer are older people, so they think bone pain is the process of aging. Bone pain due to lung cancer is often centered on the back or shoulders, arms, or neck, although rare. Pain from lung cancer often worsens as you rest and during the night. Pain is a bad sign. Therefore, do not ignore the pain in your body parts and immediately consult.
Other symptoms may appear
There are other signs and warnings that may indicate lung cancer, such as fever, extreme fatigue, difficulty eating or swallowing, loss of appetite, or suspicious lumps in your body. It is important to tell your doctor about changes in your body. If you have a family history of lung cancer, or you are a smoker, you can do a routine checkup. Early diagnosis can provide higher expectations in the treatment of lung cancer.