{"id":3065,"date":"2019-01-08T09:14:07","date_gmt":"2019-01-08T09:14:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/veryhealthy.life\/?p=3065"},"modified":"2021-08-06T05:34:10","modified_gmt":"2021-08-06T05:34:10","slug":"12-alarming-lung-cancer-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/veryhealthy.life\/12-alarming-lung-cancer-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Alarming Lung Cancer Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Lung cancer is a disease that can strike anybody at any time. Breathing is something that everybody requires for survival and is often taken for granted. Seldom do you think of the quality of the air that is filtering into your lungs while breathing, however, it is that very thing that causes the most damage? While there are two commonly diagnosed types of lung cancer, they are both equally devastating. Death due to lung cancer far outweighs those caused through other types of cancer like breast or prostate cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2014 that 215,951 deaths had been attributed to lung cancer alone in that year. A further 45,221 deaths were attributed to other forms of cancer which had started in the lungs. The greatest biggest threat where lung cancer is concerned is that symptoms often only appear when cancer has reached an advanced stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Chest Infections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Infections of the chest are common symptoms of lung cancer. The repeated instances of bronchitis <\/a>and pneumonia are a cause for concern. Unfortunately, in the early stages when these symptoms may be encountered, they are often passed off as nothing more than a random chest infection. It may only be after suffering the infection a number of times that something is awry and by this time, the cancer is already in the advanced stages. The cancer cells attach themselves to the lining of your lungs causing disease and scarring of the tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is especially important to protect yourself when working in areas where the air is contaminated. Industries where asbestos and silica is prevalent in the air open you up to severe infections, silicosis, and lung cancer. Cancerous cells weaken the lung tissue, making the lungs more susceptible to infections. While the body tries to fight off the foreign cells, your immunity is low and infection can be expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Chest Pains<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chest pains are never a pleasant experience, however, when they affect you to such a degree that breathing, coughing<\/a>, or laughing amplify the pain, there is a deeper cause that needs to be investigated. It is very important to pay close attention to where the pain is felt and to what time of pain you are experiencing. The cause of the pain you feel in your chest and the associated discomfort is caused through the enlargement of the lymph nodes in the lungs as well as through metastasis to the chest walls, the pleura surrounding the lungs, or the ribs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While you may not associate chest pains with cancer of any sort, it is an extremely possible situation. Chest pain is a serious symptom that requires the necessary degree of concern should you be experiencing it. Early diagnosis is extremely important where a disease as invasive as cancer is concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Bloody Sputum (Hemoptysis)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While this symptom may also indicate other illnesses, coughing up bloody sputum is a cause for concern and it should head you straight to the doctor’s surgery. This symptom is often also related to tuberculosis<\/a>, however, further testing should identify the root of the problem. Damage to the lining of the lungs through cigarette smoking or inhalation of dangerous gases or particles can degrade the tissue condition to such an extent that it starts to break up causing the bloody sputum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bloody sputum is a sign of an infection in the lungs and that is exactly how lung cancer might begin. Any discolored sputum is a cause for concern and should be investigated thoroughly by undertaking a complete x-ray of the chest and lungs. Blood tests are also done to provide more accurate testing for cancer as this ensures nothing serious goes undetected. The social acceptance of self-diagnosis is the reason many people assume symptoms will just go away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Prolonged Cough<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The appearance of a nagging cough that doesn\u2019t seem to go away is a warning bell. In some instances, you may experience a worsening of this cough. In many cases, for those who smoke, this is a symptom that is simply passed off as one related to prolonged smoking habits, however, bear in mind that smoking is also a cause of lung cancer. Coughing and wheezing are caused through the constriction of the blood airways into and out of the lungs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coughing is a reaction to the condition that is an attempt at clearing the airways and allowing free breathing once more. In cases where cancer cells have attached the lungs, the tissue in the lungs and the airways is damaged and that thickening is what is restricting the airflow. Coughing will unfortunately not help this situation, however, it is the natural reflex of the body and a survival instinct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Shortness Of Breath<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The inability to fill your lungs to capacity and take a normal breath may leave you feeling unnerved. It can affect you to such an extent that it leaves you gasping for air. This too is often palmed off as a symptom of prolonged smoking <\/a>or a deeper condition like asthma. The last thought is of cancer. Shortness of breath can be caused by the thickening and scarring of the tissue in the lungs, however, the increase in the production of phlegm will also pose a threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In instances where the tumor itself blocks the airways or fluid from the tumor builds up in the chest cavity will also leave you feeling short of breath and somewhat winded. Pay attention to your body, notice when you feel this shortness of breath. If it is after doing tasks that you did with ease in the past, it is time to see the doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Weight Loss Or Loss Of Appetite<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Inexplicable weight loss of more than 10 pounds is cause for concern. Where cancer is present it may be that the cancer <\/a>cells are utilizing the energy provided by your food source or that your body is adjusting the way it functions in order to fight off the foreign cells. This is what is using up the energy provided by the food you eat. When your body is fighting against cancer, it produces substances which are called Cytokines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These substances produced can cause muscle loss, weight loss, and a reduction in your appetite. Another common reason for weight loss is the actual treatment taken to kill the disease. Nausea and vomiting are often associated with the disease. The occurrence of sores on the tongue is prevalent and that in itself often leads you to avoid eating. Feeling ill and fatigued often leads to a reduction in physical activity and exercise which will result in loss of muscle mass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Weakness And Fatigue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are a number of things that could influence feelings of fatigue <\/a>and they aren\u2019t necessarily the same for all cancer sufferers. Depending on the type of cancer you have been diagnosed with, your body may be releasing Cytokines which deplete the body\u2019s energy levels, or cancer may be increasing your body\u2019s need for energy. Most of the treatments destroy the diseased cells, however, they also destroy many of the healthy ones. You may begin to feel fatigued as your body tries to complete the necessary repairs to damaged cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anemia, pain and poor eating habits and nutrition will all contribute to feelings of exhaustion and feeling of weakness. There are also a number of psychological and emotional factors that contribute to fatigue. Feelings of anxiety and stress after the medical diagnosis will leave you feeling completely drained and a lack of sleep or broken sleep will only amplify this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Hoarse Voice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any change in your voice should be noted. If your voice suddenly sounds deeper or raspier be vigilant. It may be caused by the onset of a cold, however, if it persists for more than two weeks there is a potentially more serious underlying reason. A hoarse or raspy voice can be caused by the existence of lung cancer. There is a possibility that the tumor has affected the nerve that controls your voice box or larynx.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your voice produces sound through the movement of your vocal cords from the open to the closed position and back again. Cancer affecting the laryngeal nerve will hinder the movement of the vocal cords and cause the sound of your voice to differing. It may well be that there is no cause for concern, however, a prolonged period of the symptoms<\/a> must be investigated thoroughly in order to rule out the possibility of cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Bone Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While this symptom is not directly related to cancer in the lungs, it is prevalent when cancer has spread to infect other organs which include the bones<\/a>. Bone pain is usually experienced in the back and the hips, however, there have been instances where shoulder, arm and neck muscles are also affected. Pain caused through lung cancer is often worsened at night, especially when lying on your back. The differentiation between bone pain and muscle pain can be difficult. Bone pain is worse in the night time hours and increases with movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes you might have to consider what may be causing this pain and again the usual text process needs to be done. Alleviation can be given through medication or other alternatives such as yoga or therapies. Regardless of how normal it may seem, it\u2019s best not to ignore the pain or try to endure it, which is often how the progress is worsened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Headaches, Dizziness, And Seizures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lung cancer that has spread and infected the spinal cord will leave you with a host of new symptoms. Someone who has a spinal cord that has been infected with the cancerous cells will often experience headaches<\/a>, dizziness, and in extreme cases seizures. Not all cases of headaches are caused by metastasis of the brain. In some cases the lung cancer is still contained in the lungs, however, the pressure placed by a large tumor on the large vein that transports blood from the upper body to the heart, the Superior Vena Cava, can result in headaches and seizures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is true to say that experiencing severe headaches and dizziness can be quite debilitating. Extended periods of headaches can leave you feeling exhausted and without energy. Severe pressure by the tumor can block off the flow of blood to such an extreme that they can occur. Seizures bring with them an entirely new spectrum of dangers and can become life-threatening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Jaundice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Should your lung cancer progress and spread to your liver <\/a>you will experience the symptoms related to jaundice. Your skin will take on a yellow color which indicates that the liver is not functioning to capacity. The inability to clear the waste from your body is what turns your skin a different color. Elevation of bilirubin levels in the blood is what causes the discoloration which is referred to as hyperbilirubinemia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jaundice itself is not the disease, it is an indication that there are underlying problems. Jaundice occurs if the metabolism and excretion of bilirubin are dysfunctional. The spread of lung cancer can cause jaundice when spread to the liver. The jaundice is said to have hepatic origins which mean that there is an increase in both the unconjugated or water-soluble and conjugated or water-insoluble forms of bilirubin within the liver. The instance of jaundice should never be regarded as insignificant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Lumps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The appearance of lumps all over the surface of the body is a symptom of lung cancer that has spread. Most cancers<\/a>, once reaching the latter stages, begin to attach the lymph nodes in the body. The swelling associated with infected lymph nodes causes swelling and lumps that are sometimes visible by the naked eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While these lumps are more prevalent in the area where lymph nodes are found such as the groin and armpits, lumps can appear anywhere on the body. While not every lump is cancer, it is a good idea to have it checked out to make certain. Lumps that are benign are also commonly mistaken for cancerous tumors by those experiencing them. These lumps are called Lipoma and are caused by fat cells that are overgrown. Any unusual lumps or bumps must be examined by a medical practitioner. Early detection of lung cancer is vital for successful treatment and recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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