Early Symptoms Of Lung Cancer

The earlier you catch lung cancer, the better your chances of beating the disease. That's why it's essential to understand the early symptoms of lung cancer. If you have even the slightest reason to suspect that you may have to deal with this disease someday, for instance if you were ever a regular smoker in your life, then it behooves you to keep a watchful eye on your health.

Lung cancer has been identified as the deadliest form of cancer in most of the developed nations of the world, including the United States where 170,000 people die from the disease each year. The primary etiology of lung cancer is the inhalation of carcinogens through cigarette smoke by both smokers and non-smokers. Though lung changes begin almost immediately upon exposure to carcinogens, they can take years to develop. It's also important to note that the risk of lung cancer can increase when there is an additional environmental exposure to Radon.

One of the clearer early symptoms of lung cancer is haemoptysis (coughing up blood). The sight alone is enough to scare most people into seeing their doctor, which is your most important first step. Coughing up blood, whether it's cancer related or not, is a symptom of something serious going on inside your body. If you're over the age of forty and smoke regularly, then there's a good chance it's a symptom of lung cancer. Don't put off seeing your doctor.

Here's a list of some other early symptoms of lung cancer ...

Persistent pain in the chest or elsewhere, (possibly from the cancer spreading to a bone).
Excessive fatigue.
Worsening breathlessness.
Chronic cough.
Weight loss &loss of appetite
Hoarseness
Wheezing
Pyrexia of unknown origin
Chest pain
Dyspnea

Though these symptoms could be indicative of other lung problems, they still serve as a warning sign.

Your physician will likely want to take a health history and run some tests to confirm your situation. For instance, he may want to take a sample of your sputum (mucus) if you've been coughing persistently. He will likely order a chest X-ray or perhaps even a CT scan, to get a clear picture of your lungs. He may also want to take a biopsy of any areas that appear abnormal after examination. While none of these processes are difficult, nor are they terribly fun. The important thing to remember is that the earlier you catch lung cancer, the better your odds of defeating it.

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