 |
Despite these worrying numbers, lung cancer is not necessarily a death sentence if diagnosed early enough. The problem is that most people aren’t aware of the early symptoms, which could potentially save lives.
Speaking with Dr Stanley Uduak of Yaks Hospital, Lagos, he said lung cancer may not produce any noticeable symptoms in the early stages. A nagging cough or slight wheeze may barely register in the course of our busy days, but it’s critically important to pay attention to even mild symptoms.
Sometimes people think having trouble breathing is simply something that comes with getting older. It is important to pay attention to these symptoms as they could be the first signs of lung disease, including asthma and lung cancer. Below are some general symptoms of lung infection that should not be ignored:
Chronic cough
A cough that you have had for a month or longer is considered chronic. This is an important early symptom that tells you something is wrong with your respiratory system.
Shortness of breath
It’s not normal to experience shortness of breath that doesn’t go away after exercising, or that you have after little or no exertion. Labored or difficult breathing or the feeling that it is hard to breathe in out is also a warning sign.
Chronic mucus production
Mucus, also called sputum or phlegm, is produced by the airways as a defense against infections or irritants. If your mucus production has lasted a month or longer, this could indicate lung disease.
Wheezing
Noisy breathing or wheezing is a sign that something unusual is blocking your lungs’ airways or making them too narrow.
Coughing up blood
If you are coughing up blood, it may be coming from your lungs or upper respiratory tract. Wherever it’s coming from, it signals a health problemand issue with your lungs.
Pains in your hands and fingers
If you’re feeling tired and your fingers are hurting, it can be an early warning sign of cancer. If the skin on your palms is getting thick, and you notice the appearance of white or pale folds, you might be experiencing a condition called “tripe palm” placing you within a high-risk group for cancer.
Unexplained Mood Swings
As funny as this may sound, suddenand unexplained irritability is often a sign of cancerbut most patients and doctors don’t make the connection right away. If you’re experiencing sudden bouts of irritability or anger, followed by depression or
exhaustion that is accompanied by other symptoms on this list, you ought to make a doctor’s appointment as soon as possible.
Repeated Infections
If you’re suffering from recurring infections, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, in addition to other infections,
particularly of the airways, know that it is closely associated with lung cancer. These chronic infections are caused by the body’s immune system being weakened from battling tumors.
Plummeting Weight
Weight loss is often celebrated, but if you’re not cutting calories or exercising more to lose weight, something else might be up. Add to that a sudden lack of appetite qnd a cancer tumor may be the cause in your sudden metabolism spike. This happens because while you may not detect a problem, your body does, and it’s working harder and expending more calories to try to heal a tumor that keeps growing and growing. Cancer-related weight loss is usually unexplained and occurring when patients have made no significant changes to their dietary or exercise habits. This condition is technically known as cachexia, and in extreme cases, it can cause the body to literally waste away as it eats away muscle and body fat in its search for all possible sources of energy.
Irregular Breast Tissue
Abnormal breast development in men can occur due to the cancer encouraging the secretion of unusual hormones. Breast development will usually begin spontaneously, and progress over a period of a few weeks or a few months. Most men are totally unaware that this condition is associated with lung cancer, and it just goes to show that if you can’t explain a health issue, you should never ignore it. This condition, technically known as gynecomastia, happens because the body produces increased levels of estrogen when cancer is present. Estrogen, in turn, triggers breast growth. The condition can be managed surgically or by taking supplements designed to even out
hormone levels in the bloodstream.
Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can occur if a lung tumor grows and puts pressure on the top of the lungs and the nerves in the armpit. This pressure will often result in aches, tingling, and pain sensations that shoot down the shoulder, the inner arm, and hands. Unfortunately, this is a sign that the cancer tumor has become very large, and as such, it may be very difficult to treat. Related pain conditions include tenderness and soreness of the rib cage, especially near the armpits. Swollen lymph nodes, general body aches, and facial swelling can also accompany cancer-related shoulder and arm pain.
Chest pain
One prime symptom of lung cancer is chest pain that’s felt deep in the lungs when you lift something, cough or laugh. And persistent pain in the chest that doesn’t go away is a sign that you may have lung cancer. This pain occurs because the growing tumor is pressing against surrounding tissues and nerve endings as it increases in size. If the lung cancer spreads to other parts of the body, these areas are also likely to be affected by pain. Lung cancer metastasis
frequently occurs in bones, so if you’re experiencing bone pain, particularly in the back or hips, along with chest pain, see your doctor right away.
Interview done by Health Journo's Temidayo Williams
No comments:
Post a Comment