General symptoms of lung cancer

General symptoms of lung cancer

The symptoms of lung cancer may include

• Having a cough most of the time
• A change in a cough you have had for a long time
• Being short of breath
• Coughing up phlegm (sputum) with signs of blood in it
• An ache or pain when breathing or coughing
• Loss of appetite
• Tiredness (fatigue)
• Losing weight

Less common symptoms of lung cancer

Other less common symptoms of lung cancer are usually associated with more advanced lung cancer. They include

• A hoarse voice
• Difficulty swallowing
• Changes in the shape of your fingers and nails called finger clubbing.
• Swelling of the face caused by a blockage of a main blood vessel (superior vena cava obstruction)
• Swelling in the neck caused by enlarged lymph nodes
• A constant ache or pain in your chest or shoulder that has lasted some time
• Pain or discomfort under your ribs on your right side (from cancer cells in the liver)
• Shortness of breath caused by fluid around the lungs (called a pleural effusion)

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What is lung cancer

 What is lung cancer..

      Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary lung cancers, are carcinomas that derive from epithelial cells. The main types of lung cancer are small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), also called oat cell cancer, and non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The most common cause of lung cancer is long-term exposure to tobacco smoke, which causes 80–90% of lung cancers. Nonsmokers account for 10–15% of lung cancer cases,and these cases are often attributed to a combination of genetic factors, radon gas, asbestos, and air pollution including secondhand smoke.

    The most common symptoms are coughing (including coughing up blood), weight loss and shortness of breath. Lung cancer may be seen on chest radiograph and computed tomography (CT scan). The diagnosis is confirmed with a biopsy. This is usually performed by bronchoscopy or CT-guided biopsy. Treatment and prognosis depend on the histological type of cancer, the stage (degree of spread), and the patient's general well-being, measured by performance status. Common treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. NSCLC is sometimes treated with surgery, whereas SCLC usually responds better to chemotherapy and radiotherapy

    Survival depends on stage, overall health, and other factors. Overall, 15% of people in the United States diagnosed with lung cancer survive five years after the diagnosis.Worldwide, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and women, and is responsible for 1.38 million deaths annually, as of 2008.

                                                                    a simple comparison

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