The lungs are the organs through which we breathe air in to the body. The lungs exhale carbon dioxide and inhale oxygen. When the cells lining these lungs get affected it leads to lung cancer. Lung cancer affects more men and women than any other form of cancer. People who smoke, inhale polluted air and breathe asbestos fiber in workplace sometimes show lung cancer signs symptoms.
Lung cancer signs and symptoms vary from person to person. Lung cancer signs and symptoms depend on the severity of the disease. Most people will not show any lung cancer signs and symptoms in the early stages of the disease. In about twenty five percent of people the cancer is detected during a routine x-ray or CT scan. But these people never show lung cancer signs symptoms.
Some of the lung cancer signs and symptoms are difficulty in breathing, persistent cough, wheezing, constant chest pain, coughing blood and loss of appetite. Hoarseness of voice can be a lung cancer sign and symptom. Difficulty in swallowing is another lung cancer sign and symptom. When the cancer invades the esophagus people have difficulty swallowing.
Lung cancer can spread in to other parts of the body too. That is why lung cancer is known as a fatal form of cancer. When lung cancer spreads to places like the brain, lung cancer signs and symptoms like blurred vision, headaches and seizures can occur. Some people may mistake these lung cancer signs and symptoms for brain diseases.
Some of the lung cancer signs symptoms which are not specific to lung cancer alone are loss of weight, general weakness and fatigue. Some other lung cancer signs and symptoms are psychological symptoms like depression and mood changes. Even though men and women are equally affected by lung cancer, lung cancer among women has increased by one hundred and fifty percent in recent years. Women who smoke are one and a half times more likely to get lung cancer than men. It is factors like the genes of women which is the reason for women being on the higher risk category.
In most cases lung cancer signs and symptoms take many years to manifest. Some of the lung cancer signs and symptoms are head aches, bone fractures, pain and blood clots. Smokers are at a high risk of getting lung cancer. Cigarette is high in nicotine which is a carcinogenic substance. This affects the cells in the lungs causing lung cancer. Even non-smokers, who are also known as passive smokers, stand a high risk of getting lung cancer.
If any one has any of these lung cancer signs and symptoms, then he should consult a doctor immediately. The doctor may ask for an x-ray or CT scan to make a diagnosis. The early detection of lung cancer can make a difference between life and death for a person. By detecting the cancer early, the doctor can prevent it from spreading to other organs of the body. Even heavy smokers can prevent lung cancer if they stop smoking and start a new lease of life.