Lung cancer can be managed better if it is detected at the early stages so it’s good to know what signs and symptoms to look out for. Very often, though, there are hardly any symptoms to warn you of the impending doom so especially is you are a smoker, it would be a good thing to get regular check-ups done and to try and notice any small change which could alert you to the possibility of lung cancer.
The main symptom is a cough that is persistent and this kind of a cough doesn’t get better, it only gets worse. Any cough that even hints of a ‘smoker’s cough’ must be tested at once. You could also be coughing up phlegm which could have traces of blood in it. Any sign of blood should always set the warning bells ringing and you must get a medical check up done as soon as you can. You could maybe be suffering from a dull ache in the chest and even if it isn’t there all the time, if you feel it when you breathe in deeply, that’s reason enough to see a doctor. Sometimes, it can hurt a lot when you cough.
You could also be short of breath very often, sometimes even after a little bit of exercise or exertion. The voice could begin to sound hoarse and sometimes, the vocal chords get paralyzed. Very often, there’s wheezing and as the condition worsens, it becomes difficult for the person to breathe. The lung cancer could lead to complications like pneumonia and abscesses and even a part of the lung collapsing.
You’ll find that you get tired very easily and that you begin losing weight which could be a result of a loss of appetite. If the throat has been affected, there could be difficulty in swallowing which also means less food eaten and further weight loss.
If the cancer spreads from the lungs to other parts of the body, there could be other symptoms as well. Persistent and bad headaches could means it has traveled to the brain. This could also result in blurred vision, convulsions and strokes. If it has spread to the bones, it could be very painful. Any kind of pain in the bones must be taken seriously and tests must be done. If the cancer spreads to the nerves surrounding it, you could experience a pain that runs down the arm from the shoulder.
Keeping a careful watch over your health and getting yourself tested if you find that there’s any change from the normal would be a good idea when it comes to lung cancer. Of course, the best way to stop these symptoms from rearing their ugly head is to say No to tobacco. It causes irreparable harm in the lungs and lung cancer with its high death rate is no joke. So quit while you can and you might be lucky enough to steer clear of lung cancer.