Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Early diagnosis of lung cancer is one of the key factors in improving the survival rate for those who are diagnosed. When lung cancer is caught in the first stages, the five year survival rate is 49%. The overall survival rate for those diagnosed with lung cancer is less than 15%. Knowing the signs and symptoms of lung cancer can prompt you to consult a doctor before lung cancer moves to later stages and becomes far more difficult to treat.

Up to 25% of those diagnosed with lung cancer report that they had no symptoms. The cancer is first discovered during a routine chest x-ray or CT scan. Most often, these cases involved a single small tumor called a coin lesion. This is the most treatable stage of lung cancer, and makes a powerful case for routine chest x-rays with your physical.

Symptoms related to the cancer
The symptoms of lung cancer are often related to the site of the cancerous lesions. Invasion of the lung tissues most often cause difficulty breathing, which may lead to shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, wheezing and coughing up blood. If the cancer has spread beyond the bronchia, there may be other related symptoms. For instance, if the cancer has invaded the esophagus, it may cause difficult swallowing. Cancer that has invaded the nerve tissues may cause paralysis of the vocal chords, or hoarseness. It may also cause shoulder pain that travels down the outside of the arm as the nerves are affected by the growth of the cancerous cells. If large areas of the bronchia are affected, it may cause a collapse of the lung, pneumonia, abscesses or other opportunistic infections.

There are also a number of non-specific symptoms that are often seen in all types of cancer. Those include weight loss, fatigue and weakness. There may be mood changes, including depression and irritability. Since the immune system is busy fighting an invader, opportunistic infections may set in and be difficult to shake.

When Should You Call a Doctor?
If you have any of the symptoms related to cancer, particularly if you smoke or have obstructive pulmonary disease, you should contact your health care provider and schedule an appointment. Especially call your doctor if you have any of the following:

· New, persistent cough or worsening of a chronic cough
· Persistent bronchitis
· Repeated respiratory infections
· Chest pain
· Blood in your sputum
· Unexplained weight loss
· Fatigue that is unrelated to exertion
· Shortness of breath
· Wheezing

Your doctor can order chest x-rays and CT scans to determine what’s causing the problem. Because some cancers can cause elevated hormone levels, he may also order diagnostic tests to check the levels of cortisol and calcium in your blood.
While the medical community is still debating the usefulness of annual chest x-rays and CT scans in detecting cancer in its earliest stages, being vigilant can pay off. Dismissing a persistent cough or frequent bouts with bronchitis as ‘no big deal’ may give lung cancer a chance to take hold and start to spread. The best indicator, say many health professionals, is instinct. If something feels ‘not right’, have it checked out. Far better to be safe than sorry.