Recognize the symptoms of early-stage lung cancer

Lung cancer is a deadly disease that afflicts many people. People with lung cancer often develop symptoms of this disease and are only diagnosed when they have entered an advanced phase. Therefore, it is important for you to know the symptoms of lung cancer in the early stages to be able to treat it quickly.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world, with 1.7 million deaths in 2015 according to the World Health Organization (WHO). One of the causes of this high mortality rate is the difficulty of early diagnosis of lung cancer symptoms. Thus, many cases of lung cancer are only diagnosed when they have entered an advanced stage that is difficult to treat.

Early Stage Lung Cancer Symptoms
It is not easy to realize the presence of symptoms of lung cancer in the early stages, because most of the symptoms of this disease are not typical and are often similar to other diseases, such as tuberculosis, pleural effusion, pneumonia, bronchitis, and lung abscesses. Symptoms that can occur in early-stage lung cancer include:

Continuous cough

Coughing can be caused by a mild condition, such as a cold or respiratory tract irritation. However, if the cough does not stop for more than two weeks, this could be a sign of another more serious illness, one of which is lung cancer. Immediately consult a doctor to get a complete examination including physical examination and support, such as chest X-rays.

Bleeding cough

Chronic cough accompanied by blood or phlegm mixed with blood spots, can be a sign of lung cancer. To be sure, further investigation is needed.

Shortness of breath

If you suddenly feel out of breath when doing simple activities, this can be a sign of early stage lung cancer. Shortness of breath can occur due to cancer cells that block the respiratory tract, or a buildup of fluid around the lungs that compresses the lungs. However, shortness of breath is not only fixated on lung cancer. The appearance of shortness of breath during activities as usual, can also be a sign of heart failure.

Chest pain

Lung cancer can also cause pain in the chest, shoulders, or back. Usually this pain is sharp, blunt, appears continuously, or sometimes disappear. Pain in the chest can resemble a sign of heart disease, but chest pain due to lung cancer will usually feel more severe when taking deep breaths, coughing, or laughing.

The voice became hoarse

Hoarseness generally appears when you are experiencing inflammation in the respiratory tract. However, if the voice turns hoarse suddenly and lasts more than two weeks, then you should be vigilant. It could be that this change in voice is a symptom of lung cancer. This condition occurs when cancer cells affect the nerves that regulate the vocal cords, causing changes in your voice.

Wheezing

The wheezing sound that accompanies you when you inhale or exhale in adulthood can be a sign of certain health conditions, such as allergies or asthma. However, you are not advised to assume it as a normal asthma condition, because wheezing can also be a symptom of lung cancer. Immediately consult a doctor if wheezing does not disappear after treatment.

Weight loss

Usually people who suffer from cancer, including lung cancer, will lose weight drastically. This is caused by cancer cells that use all of the body's energy and nutrients. Therefore, do not ignore changes in your weight, especially if it occurs when you do not change your diet or lifestyle.

In addition to the symptoms described above, there are also some other signs that can indicate lung cancer, such as fever, fatigue, difficulty eating or swallowing, loss of appetite, swollen fingers, and the appearance of suspicious lumps on your body. For this reason, it is important that you detect early symptoms of early-stage lung cancer, so that you can increase the success of your treatment.

Risk Factors for Lung Cancer

Many risk factors that might underlie someone with lung cancer. Here are some risk factors that you need to know and avoid:

Smokers, active and passive

Frequent exposure to secondhand smoke can increase the risk of lung cancer. Therefore, do not smoke and avoid people who smoke actively.

Radon exposure

Natural gas produced by the decomposition of uranium in soil, water and rocks is one of the factors that can increase the risk of lung cancer.

Exposure to asbestos

Someone who works with asbestos, such as in a mine or factory, has a higher risk of developing lung cancer. Especially if you are an active smoker.

Air pollution

For too long in a place that is highly polluted by air, the risk of lung cancer becomes greater. About 5% of deaths from lung cancer worldwide are caused by air pollution.

offspring

If a family member has lung cancer, you are more likely to suffer from this disease. However, research shows that the relationship between hereditary factors and the occurrence of lung cancer are also related to environmental factors in the family, such as smoking and exposure to pollution in the environment.

After learning about the various risk factors for lung cancer, you need to realize the importance of stopping and living a healthy life. By quitting smoking, you can extend your life expectancy and reduce your risk of developing lung cancer later in life.

Regular consultation with a doctor for routine health checks (medical examinations) is also an important step for early detection of certain diseases, including lung cancer. This initial examination is recommended although there are no early signs and symptoms of lung cancer. Initial testing is highly recommended for those who have high risk factors, such as heavy smokers who have been smoking for a long time, even though they have now stopped.