8 Early Warning Signs Of Lung Cancer You Shouldn’t Ignore

Many people immediately associate lung cancer with death, which is somehow acceptable, given that annually a large number of people die from lung cancer. However, lung cancer can be cured if it is detected early.

1. Persistent cough or changes in cough

Colds commonly last for a week or two. If your cold last longer than this, you must see your doctor. If you smoke or suffer from chronic cough, check if there are some changes in your cough.

These changes include frequent coughing, deep coughing followed by deep or hoarse sound, coughing up blood, or more mucus than usual.

2. Chest, shoulder, back and abdominal pain

Chest pain is associated with heart attacks, but people who do not belong to this risk group should see a doctor who will determine whether it is lung cancer. Chest pain occurs as the first symptom of lung cancer in 1 out of 4 people.

Back, shoulder and neck pain can resemble a muscle pain and tension. If you constantly feel pain in your shoulders, back or abdomen, consult your doctor.

3. Shortness of breath

Approximately 15% of people diagnosed with lung cancer cases are non-smokers, and the main causes are exposure to air pollution, chemicals, and secondhand smoke. Although shortness of breath may be associated with many other diseases, it may also be associated with lung cancer.

If you feel like you are not in shape, experience difficulties in breathing, especially when you try to take a deep breath, contact your doctor to determine whether it is a lung cancer or something else.

If you often have to cleanse your throat, experience increased secretion of saliva, dry cough, or you cough up brown, orange or red slime and you notice blood in your saliva, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

4. Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss

If you keep losing weight without any definitive cause, and if you just cannot imagine eating the foods that once used to be your favorite, it is more than important to discover the real cause of these changes.

Some people lose their appetite and simply forget to eat, some feel full even after having small servings, and some suffer from nausea if they eat too much or eat too fast. If these symptoms were not present before, make sure you seek medical help.

Lung cancer can cause loss of appetite and weight loss due to various factors. If you need to make a great effort to breathe, you will probably experience significant changes in your appetite. Abdominal pain is associated with nausea, poor appetite and occurs when the cancer spreads to the liver.

5.Fatigue

This is also one of the first symptoms of lung cancer. It is similar to the fatigue you experience in cases of flu, fever and colds. Fatigue caused by cancer is constant and lasts for longer, no matter what you take.

Substances that are released and travel through the bloodstream affect the oxygen levels in the body, the health of red blood cells, adrenal glands and other parts of the body responsible for the production of energy.

Fatigue can be caused by insomnia, overtime activities and many other factors. Cancer can spread to the adrenal glands, which directly control the release of energy. If you are constantly tired for no reason, make sure you consult your doctor.

6. Weakness in muscles

The constant feeling of weakness may be one of the first signs of lung cancer. Muscle weakness occurs when harmful substances begin to travel through the bloodstream and reach the muscles. If these substances spread to the brain, they can impair the function of one side of your brain.

If you feel that you need too much energy for every activity, if you feel tired even when you do an easy activity, consult a doctor to determine if you are suffering from lung cancer.

 7. Frequent infections and diseases

Frequent infections, cold, flu or bronchitis are often caused by impaired immunity, or even lung cancer.

The symptoms are similar to colds, flu and infections. The only difference is in the frequency of the symptoms and their duration. Specifically, if the symptoms are present for a long time, make sure you consult your doctor to determine whether it is cancer.

Once the cancer cells spread through the lung tissue and bronchial tubes, they cause symptoms similar to colds or flu. Lung cancer makes the patient increasingly vulnerable to diseases and infections. The immune system is weak, which is why the body cannot defend well against microbes.

8. Abnormal growth of breasts in men

Enlarged breasts in men can be a sign of a serious health problem. Sometimes there may be an increase in only one of the breast. This increase may occur only in the area around the nipple.

As the tumor grows, the organism releases various hormones and other substances that travel through the bloodstream, and increase the breasts. Even 1 out of 5 said that the first symptom was breast growth.

Enlarged breast is something you should definitely tell your doctor. It may be associated with weight gain, but also with much more serious health problems.

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