Lung Cancer Symptoms

Lung Cancer Symptoms

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death.

Lung cancer suspect patients present to the pulmonologists for diagnostic evaluation because of suspicious symptoms or an incidental finding in the imaging of chest done for other reasons. Lung cancer is highly correlated with history of cigarette smoking. 10% of long-term smokers run the risk of developing lung cancer. The symptoms of lung cancer may be nonspecific.

In view of non- specific symptoms, lung cancer is diagnosed at advanced stage in most of the cases. Change in character cough in smokers should raise the suspicion of lung cancer. Chest pain, breathlessness, loss of appetite, hemoptysis , hoarseness of voice and weight loss are other presenting features.

Coughing of blood [Hemoptysis] in a smoker should always raise the suspicion of lung cancer. Clues in the history should alert the clinician that lung cancer is a possibility and further investigations are necessary. Thorough history and physical examination, with particular attention to nonpulmonary symptoms should be done in patients suspected to have lung cancer.

A minority of patients present with paraneoplastic syndromes. Symptoms of paraneoplastic syndromes may precede the diagnosis, appear late in the disease course, or suggest recurrence. Lung Cancer manifestations can vary depending on the intrathoracic or extrathoracic spread of the disease.

So suspicion of lung cancer at high risk population is the key for early diagnosis and improve the morbidity and mortality in lung cancer.