Early Signs of Lung Cancer You Should Know!

Many people see a lung cancer diagnosis as a death sentence. That’s understandable, since lung cancer kills more than 1.3 million people a year. But when caught early enough, lung cancer can be treatable and, often, curable. According to the National Cancer Institute, the five-year survival rate for lung cancer that hasn’t metastasized, or spread, is slightly more than 50 percent, as compared to nearly 4 percent for lung cancer that’s already spread to other organ systems. So pay close attention to these early — and sometimes surprising — signs of lung cancer, and be assertive about bringing anything suspicious to your doctor’s attention.

Cough That Won’t Subside
Coughing is usually associated with a cold or respiratory infection, these illnesses usually go away within a week or two. A persistent cough that won’t go away may be a sign of lung cancer, especially if the cough continues to get worse.

Finger Pain
painful or thickened fingertips are a typical symptoms of lung cancer as the lung tumors release chemicals into the bloodstream which spur the tissue and bone growth in the fingertips and under the fingernails. You have to tell your doctor about this symptom.

Weakness in the Upper Limbs
if you feel weakness, loss of coordination, and feel cramps, it is a sign of paraneoplastic syndrome, a lung cancer-related condition in which the hormone-like substances are secreted by tumors.

Face and Neck Swelling
A complication of lung cancer called superior vena cava syndrome  (SVC syndrome) may cause swelling of the face, neck, and arms, and well as dilated veins in the neck and chest. These symptoms can occur when tumors in the lungs press on the superior vena cava, the large blood vessel returning blood to the heart.

Loss of Appetite or Unexplained Weight Loss
If the pounds are peeling off and you haven’t made lifestyle changes that would account for weight loss, or if foods you used to like begin to seem unappealing, it’s important to look for an explanation.

Signs of Advanced Stages of Lung Cancer:

Advanced stages of lung cancer are often characterized by the spread of the cancer to distant sites in the body. This may affect the bones, liver or brain. As other parts of the body are affected, new lung cancer symptoms may develop, including:

• Bone pain
• Swelling of the face, arms or neck
• Headaches, dizziness or limbs that become weak or numb
• Jaundice
• Lumps in the neck or collar bone region

Smokers are not the only segment of the population who are at risk for lung cancer. Even 20{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71} of lung cancer deaths are people who do not smoke.






Stay healthy and positive! Share and make your loved ones aware!

Source: Nature Health Family