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Common early signs of lung cancer

A type of cancer that starts in the lungs is known as lung cancer. Here, abnormal growth of cells results in a tumor or cancerous mass in the lungs. The treatment for the condition is determined by the stage of cancer. Some of the initial signs of the condition can overlap with common infections. So, it is important to be vigilant and get examined upon noticing the following signs for an early diagnosis.

Common signs
While symptoms can differ based on the stage of cancer, here are some of the common signs associated with the onset of lung cancer:

A persistent cough that does not go away for weeks on end and continues to get worse
Sudden loss of appetite
Coughing up blood or rust-colored spit or phlegm (also called sputum)
Chest pain that gets worse with deep breathing, coughing, or even laughing
Shortness of breath
Hoarse voice
Feeling tired or weak
Onset of wheezing
Infections that do not go away or come back often, like bronchitis and pneumonia

On the other hand, if lung cancer spreads to different regions of the body, it may cause the following symptoms:

Bone pain: The pain here is usually observed in the hips or the back.

Yellowing of the skin and the eyes: Also known as jaundice, yellowing can be observed when the cancer has spread to the liver

Nervous system symptoms: Lung cancer can cause nervous system problems like weakness or numbness in the arms and legs, seizures, loss of balance, dizziness, and headaches. These issues develop when the cancer spreads to the brain.

Swollen lymph nodes : When the lymph nodes are swollen in the neck or above the collarbone, it could be a sign that the cancer has started to affect the immune system cells.

Apart from these common symptoms, lung cancer can lead to certain syndromes, which have their own set of symptoms.

Horner syndrome: This refers to a set of symptoms that develop when the cancer affects the upper part of the lungs (known as pancoast tumors). These tumors are more likely to be non-small cell lung cancer. They usually affect the nerves near the eyes and the face, leading to symptoms like:

Weakness or drooping in one upper eyelid
Little or no sweating on the affected side of the face
A smaller pupil in the affected eye
Severe shoulder pain

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome: SVC is a large vein responsible for carrying blood from the head and arms to the heart. This vein passes through the upper right side of the lung and the lymph nodes in the chest. With the onset of cancer, the tumor can create a blockage and press on the SVC vein, causing symptoms like:

Swelling in the face, neck, and arms
Swelling in the upper chest at times, leaving a blue-red color on the skin
Headaches and dizziness
Changes in consciousness

These symptoms can quickly turn serious if left untreated, so they need immediate medical attention.

Paraneoplastic syndromes: Some types of lung cancers make hormone-like substances in the body. These substances can affect distant organs and tissues, even if the cancerous cells have not yet reached the parts. The issues in such organs are collectively called paraneoplastic syndromes. In some cases, these issues could be the first symptoms indicating lung cancer. However, because these hormone-like substances affect other organs, lung cancer may not be confirmed initially. Here is what to expect with paraneoplastic syndromes:

When the hormone-like substances affect the kidneys, the symptoms to notice include lowered salt levels in the blood, fatigue, muscle weakness or cramps, loss of appetite, vomiting, restlessness, confusion, and nausea. This type is called the syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone. If left unchecked, the syndrome can lead to seizures.
At times, the hormone-like substances make the adrenal glands produce cortisol in the body. This syndrome is called Cushing syndrome. This imbalance in the body can lead to symptoms like weakness, easy bruising, fluid retention, drowsiness, increased blood pressure, and elevated levels of blood sugar that can increase the risk of diabetes.
When these hormone-like substances created by cancer cells start to attack the nervous system, a possible complication is Lambert-Eaton syndrome, which weakens the muscles around the hips. Those affected by this syndrome experience trouble getting up once after sitting down. Further, the muscles around the shoulder may weaken over time. Here, loss of balance, unsteady movements of the arms and legs, and speaking and swallowing issues are common signs one may experience. These sets of symptoms can be attributed to a phenomenon called paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration. Here, vision problems, sensation changes, and muscle weakness are a few other common signs.
Sometimes, paraneoplastic syndromes can cause changes like high levels of calcium in the blood—a condition called hypercalcemia. This can lead to symptoms like excessive thirst, frequent urination, vomiting, constipation, belly pain, weakness, confusion, dizziness, and fatigue.
Another common symptom of paraneoplastic syndromes is developing blood clots frequently.

As some of the early signs of lung cancer can overlap with generic illnesses like viral or bacterial infections, it is important to consult a doctor to conduct a thorough examination and get a diagnosis. Further, one should also make note of such signs and share the health history with the doctor during the examination. Based on the results of the examination, the doctor may recommend one or more treatment options. These options can be either surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of two or more treatments. Often, a team of doctors may be brought on board to come up with a suitable treatment plan for completely eliminating cancer cells in the body. The team may consist of surgeons, pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, radiation oncologists, and general oncologists.

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