Joe Biden's Prostate Cancer Health Scare, What Are Next Steps?
6 Surprising Symptoms Of Lung Problems You Shouldn't Ignore
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways
A severe cough, wheezing and shortness of breath are the main symptoms that would likely prompt a visit to your doctor's office to rule out lung conditions. But there are some less obvious symptoms of lung problems that are also important to be aware of—especially since they may at first seem unrelated. Here, doctors explain how changes not commonly associated with pulmonary issues may be a sign to get your lungs checked.
6 sneaky symptoms of lung problemsIt's easy to write off minor bothers like aches or dizziness, but it turns out they can be unexpected symptoms of lung problems. Here are six under-the-radar signs to watch for:
Unintentional or rapid weight lossWhile there are a number of reasons you may start losing weight without really trying, some people with lung cancer may experience unexplained weight loss, says Snehal Smart, MD, Doctor, Patient Advocate and researcher with The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.Com.
"This could be related to the body using up calories faster than the intake," she explains.
Unintentional weight loss may also be a sign of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), adds Raj Dasgupta, MD, Chief Medical Advisor for Fortune Recommends Health. For people with COPD, the effort of breathing can burn additional calories, and chronic inflammation can lead to muscle wasting, he says.
Shoulder painYou might usually assume shoulder pain is due to stiffness or a pulled muscle, and while relatively rare, it can sometimes be another underlying symptom of lung cancer. Specifically, unexplained or persistent pain in the shoulder can be a sign of a Pancoast tumor, which grows in the upper part of the lung and affects nerves and tissues around the shoulder and chest, explains Dr. Dasgupta.
Shoulder pain can also indicate a condition called pleurisy or pleuritis, which refers to inflammation of the lining of the lungs, he adds.
Eye conditionsIf you notice one of your eyelids drooping (ptosis), this may signal Horner's syndrome, says Dr. Dasgupta. This is a rare neurological disorder that affects the eye and surrounding area on one side of the face. Horner's is often linked to the existence of Pancoast tumor, he says.
Dr. Dasgupta also notes the possibility of Sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease that can affect the lungs and any part of the eye and its surrounding tissues in addition to causing a range of other symptoms.
"Some lung infections such as histoplasmosis can lead to eye conditions known as ocular histoplasmosis syndrome," adds Dr. Smart. "The infection can move from the lungs to the eyes and lead to vision loss."
Dizzinesssupersizer
Trouble maintaining your balance or lightheadedness can be a sign of low oxygen levels due to several lung problems such as a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs) or COPD, explains Dr. Dasgupta. This is because these conditions cause the lungs to struggle to oxygenate the blood, leading to dizziness, he says.
Voice changesHave you ever woken up and tried to speak only to realize your voice was hoarse? We typically chalk this up to tired vocal chords or a dry, irritated throat. However, a noticeable change in voice where it becomes hoarse or weak can indicate lung cancer, says Dr. Dasgupta. This can occur particularly if the tumor presses on the recurrent laryngeal nerve, which controls the vocal cords, he explains.
It's also possible for lung nodules to have a similar effect, as they can push on or spread to the larynx or throat and cause a hoarse voice, adds Dr. Smart.
"This could also be a sign of bronchitis or lung infections, which can sometimes be associated with inflammation of the vocal cords and affect the voice," Dr. Dasgupta adds.
Clubbed nailsThis condition, in which finger or toe tips and nails become enlarged and curved, can signal chronic lung diseases including pulmonary fibrosis or lung cancer, says Randall Turner, DO, Medical Director at Able To Change Recovery.
When to see your doctor about symptoms of lung problemsSince many of these symptoms can overlap with different conditions, it can be tricky to determine whether they are connected to lung health. The best way to tell is by paying attention to patterns and any additional signs related to your breathing, says Dr. Turner.
"For instance, if you have a persistent cough that will not go away or you find yourself short of breath more often than usual, these could be signs of lung issues," he explains.
So if unexplained weight loss, for example, is paired with difficulty breathing or chest pain, you may want to think about your lungs, he says.
Watch for symptoms of lung problems that worsen over timeJacob Wackerhausen/Getty
The progression of these symptoms can also be a clue, adds Dr. Turner. If shoulder pain, voice changes or ongoing fatigue are not improving, it is worth visiting your doctor who can do a physical exam as well as a chest x-ray or CT scan if needed.
You should especially consider your medical history and discuss additional risk factors like smoking or long-term exposure to pollution, he suggests.
For more on lung health:
These Asthma Self-Care Tips Are Recommended by Doctors to Help You Breathe Better
The Best Way to Quit Smoking: Experts Share Proven Tips for Tackling Nicotine Withdrawal
These 6 Simple COPD Self-Care Tips Can Help You Breathe Easier, Experts Say
This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.
Lung Cancer Symptoms And Risk Factors - Healthline
Lung cancer often doesn't cause symptoms in its early stages. But as the cancer grows, you may develop warning signs, such as a persistent cough or shortness of breath.
Any symptoms you experience may vary based on factors such as tumor location and the specific type of lung cancer you have.
Keep reading to learn about the more and less common symptoms of lung cancer, as well as risk factors for the disease.
Lung cancer can cause symptoms that affect your lungs and general symptoms similar to those of many other types of cancer.
Some of the rarer symptoms of lung cancer are associated with certain types of lung cancer.
Depending on the location of the cancer or how your immune system responds to it, these types of cancer may cause their own unique set of symptoms.
Horner syndrome
Cancers located in the upper part of the lungs are called Pancoast tumors. These tumors can affect the nerves of the eyes and face.
Symptoms associated with these tumors are known collectively as Horner syndrome. They include:
Superior vena cava syndrome
The large vein that transports blood from the head and arms to the heart is called the superior vena cava (SVC). If a tumor develops in the right lung or in the nearby lymph nodes of the chest, it can press against the SVC, causing symptoms such as:
SIADH syndrome
The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) is a condition where the body makes and releases too much antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
ADH helps the kidneys control how much water your body loses through urine. Too much ADH causes your body to hold onto too much water.
Metastasized lung cancer symptoms
If the cancer spreads from the lungs to distant body parts, it can cause symptoms such as:
Smoking is by far the greatest risk factor for developing lung cancer. The risk increases the longer and more you smoke.
Additional risk factors include:
The link between smoking and lung cancerAnybody can get lung cancer, but smoking is responsible for up to 90 percent of lung cancers.
Lung cancer was a relatively rare disease until smoking rates increased drastically in the 1900s. There are now an estimated 225,000 cases of lung cancer per year in the United States.
The best way to minimize your chances of developing lung cancer is to avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.
Lung cancer is most treatable in its early stages. It's important to visit a doctor for an official diagnosis if you develop potential warning signs of lung cancer.
The National Cancer Institute lists the survival rate for cancer localized to the lungs as 59 percent. It's 5.7 percent if cancer spreads to distant body parts.
The most recent American Cancer Society screening guidelines recommend people at high risk of developing lung cancer get an annual low-dose CT scan.
Early Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Symptoms, Causes, And ... - WebMD
Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of lung cancer. Early NSCLC is when your disease is in its earliest stages, or stages I-II. That means that your lung tumor has grown and may have spread to your lymph nodes, but it hasn't spread to other organs outside your lungs.
There are three main types of early NSCLC based on the specific cells of your tumor and where the disease is located inside your lungs:
Smoking is a major cause of lung cancer. Inhaled smoke can damage cells that line your lungs and cause cancer. It can affect smokers or people exposed to secondhand smoke.
But some people get NSCLC even when they've never smoked. Breathing in substances like radon, exposure to asbestos, a family history of lung cancer, or radiation therapy for other cancers can make people more likely to get the disease.
Sometimes, early non-small-cell lung cancer has no symptoms. Signs of the disease may not show up until the cancer has grown and spread.
But when symptoms do appear early on, they can include:
These are vague symptoms that may not mean you have cancer. They could be caused by other conditions like asthma, COPD, or pneumonia. But if you notice these symptoms and they don't go away, see your doctor. If your NSCLC is diagnosed early, you can start treatment as soon as possible for better results.
While early non-small-cell lung cancer often doesn't cause symptoms, your diagnosis may begin during a routine screening with a CT scan. This scan shows areas of your lungs that could have early cancer.
Doctors recommend that people at higher risk for lung cancer get screened for the disease each year even if they don't have symptoms. That includes people between ages 50 and 80, who are in good health overall, and are:
If your doctor suspects that you have early NSCLC, they can order some tests to diagnose you with cancer or to rule out another condition that may be causing your symptoms:
If your doctor recommends a biopsy to diagnose you, there are a few different ways they might take the tissue sample:
They'll remove both the lung tissue and nearby lymph nodes to see if cancer has spread.
If test results show NSCLC, your doctor will find out what stage your cancer is in. Staging shows how much your lung cancer has spread so you and your doctor can plan the right treatment. To figure out the stage, your doctor will use tests like a CT scan, MRI, PET scan, or bone scan. If your cancer is in stage I or II, you have early NSCLC.
If you're diagnosed with early non-small-cell lung cancer, you'll probably have a lot of questions. It may be hard to think of everything to ask right away, but after you've had time to gather your thoughts, you may want to cover topics like:
For stage I non-small-cell lung cancer, your only treatment may be surgery to remove your tumor and nearby lymph nodes.
Doctors use a few different types of surgery for stage I early NSCLC, including:
If your tumor is very small, you may only need to remove part of a lobe of your lung unless your doctor thinks removing the whole lobe is the only way to be sure all the cancer is removed.
After your surgery, your doctor will examine the tissue that was removed for signs of cancer cells at the edges, called positive margins. If you have positive margins, you may need an additional surgery to remove the rest of the cancer tissue or radiation therapy to kill off the cancer cells that the surgery didn't get.
If your tumor is larger and at risk for growing back, your doctor may prescribe chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy drugs after your surgery.
Newer genetic tests can help show which cancers are more likely to come back and require chemo. People with a mutation in genes such as EGFR, KRAS, ALK, ROS1, BRAF, RET, or MET may be able to use targeted cancer drugs to treat their diseases.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy can kill cancer cells left behind after surgery. If you have health problems that make it too risky for you to have a lung operation, you may have radiation as your main treatment for early NSCLC in stages I or II.
Radiation therapy for early non-small-cell lung cancer includes:
To treat stage II NSCLC, you'll probably start with surgery like sleeve resection, lobectomy, or pneumectomy, where your whole lung is removed. Your doctor will also remove nearby lymph nodes to see if your cancer has spread.
If you have positive margins on the tissue removed during surgery, you may then have a second surgery, chemo, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of these treatments to destroy the remaining cancer cells. If you have certain genetic mutations, you may benefit from targeted therapy drugs.
During your early non-small-cell lung cancer treatment and recovery, you need to take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest. Save your energy for the things you really need to do. Don't try to do too much. Remember that it's OK to ask family and friends for help with everyday tasks and chores.
If you have shortness of breath because of your lung cancer, it may feel scary to not be able to get as much air into your lungs. The key is to try to relax, find comfortable seated positions, and focus on slow, gentle breathing. Try not to think about filling your lungs with air. Instead, work on moving the muscles around your lungs, like your diaphragm. Your doctor can prescribe supplemental oxygen to help you with shortness of breath, too.
Supportive or palliative care can also help you manage symptoms of early non-small-cell lung cancer or treatment side effects. Your doctor can prescribe treatment to ease pain, open your airways so you breathe easier, reduce nausea or fatigue, ease constipation, help you sleep better or improve your appetite, or ease anxiety or depression.
If you can get a diagnosis of non-small-cell lung cancer and start treatment early on, you have a better chance of success. People with early NSCLC have a 63% relative 5-year survival rate. That means you're 63% as likely to live 5 years as someone with no cancer.
Because treatments for NSCLC are improving all the time, you may expect an even better outcome if you're diagnosed now than you would have had in the past.
While you manage your early non-small-cell lung cancer and treatment, you'll need support from family and friends:
Comments
Post a Comment