LUNG CANCER SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
Lung Cancer Symptoms and Treatments
Lung cancer is the abnormal growth of the cells in the lung. This cancer can start any where in the lungs and affects any part of the respiratory system. In the US, lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death among the men and women. It claims for more lives as compared to other cancers such as colon cancer, prostate cancer, lymph cancer and breast cancer.
Lung cancer is the cancer that begins in the lungs. The two organs found in the chest which helps you to breathe, is made up of areas called lobes. The right lung has three lobes and the left lung has two. When you breathe, air goes through your nose inside and then down through your windpipe and finally into the lungs where it spreads through the tubes called bronchi.
Mainly, the lung cancer begins here in the cells that line these tubes. There are two main types of lung cancer i.e. non –small cell and the small cell lung cancer. If the lung cancer develops somewhere else in the body and spreads to the lungs, it is called as metastatic cancer to the lung.
Symptoms of the Lung Cancer
Often, lung cancer does not produce any type of symptoms in the early stage. If the cancer develops in the bronchi and spreads to the nearby lymph nodes, the symptoms of cancer may include.
1. Chest pain
2. Coughing up blood
3. Coughing
4. Pneumonia
5. Difficulty in swallowing
6. Hoarseness
7. Fatigue
8. Swelling of the neck, face , and upper extremities
9. Loss of weight
10. Loss of appetite
If the cancer originates and grew at the top of lung, the symptoms may include.
Pancoast’s syndrome (Weakness and pain in the shoulder, arm and hand)
Further, if the cancer has metastasized and also traveled to the other parts of the body, the symptoms may include.
Metastasis to brain- causes headache, weakness, speech problem, memory lapse, and behavioral changes.
Metastasis to the other parts- causes pain, jaundice, bone fracture and blood clots
Additionally, lung cancer may also lead to alter the production of hormones, which regulates the body functions. The symptom may include.
1. Bone and joint pain
2. Breast enlargement in males
3. Cushing’s syndrome
4. Carcinoid syndrome
These symptoms can also cause due to other less serious condition or due to some medication. Therefore, you must consult your doctor before coming to any type of the conclusion.
Treatments for the Lung Cancer
A simple chest x-ray or CT scan can readily identify lung cancer. Treatment for the lung cancer vary from person to person depending on a variety of factors such as type, size and the location of cancer, current health and whether or not the tumor has spread.
The most effective plan for the treatment of the lung cancer is to quit smoking, STOP it completely! By quitting smoking, you remove the major cause of the cancer and make the treatment and the prevention of the new cancer more effective. The next treatments involved in the treatment of the lung cancer are.
1. Surgery – Surgery may cure the lung cancer by removing the tumor and relieving its symptoms. The extent of surgery may involve removing a part of a lobe, a whole lobe, or the entire lung. However, some tumors cannot be removed because of their size and location.
2. Radiation therapy- Radiation therapy is a form of external x-ray, which kills the cancer cells. It is used to relieve the pain and symptoms of tumor. It is also used to eliminate or decrease the size of the tumor.
3. Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy includes the use of the medication in the treatment to decrease the size of tumor or to eliminate the cancer. Treatment can be done in the form of pills, Injection, or catheter. You should consult your doctor for the effective medication.
The above information guides you about the lung cancer its symptoms and treatments. So go ahead, and take a preventive measure to avoid the symptoms. Those, who are already infected with lung cancer, consult your doctor for the effective treatment.
Lung cancer is the abnormal growth of the cells in the lung. This cancer can start any where in the lungs and affects any part of the respiratory system. In the US, lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death among the men and women. It claims for more lives as compared to other cancers such as colon cancer, prostate cancer, lymph cancer and breast cancer.
Lung cancer is the cancer that begins in the lungs. The two organs found in the chest which helps you to breathe, is made up of areas called lobes. The right lung has three lobes and the left lung has two. When you breathe, air goes through your nose inside and then down through your windpipe and finally into the lungs where it spreads through the tubes called bronchi.
Mainly, the lung cancer begins here in the cells that line these tubes. There are two main types of lung cancer i.e. non –small cell and the small cell lung cancer. If the lung cancer develops somewhere else in the body and spreads to the lungs, it is called as metastatic cancer to the lung.
Symptoms of the Lung Cancer
Often, lung cancer does not produce any type of symptoms in the early stage. If the cancer develops in the bronchi and spreads to the nearby lymph nodes, the symptoms of cancer may include.
1. Chest pain
2. Coughing up blood
3. Coughing
4. Pneumonia
5. Difficulty in swallowing
6. Hoarseness
7. Fatigue
8. Swelling of the neck, face , and upper extremities
9. Loss of weight
10. Loss of appetite
If the cancer originates and grew at the top of lung, the symptoms may include.
Pancoast’s syndrome (Weakness and pain in the shoulder, arm and hand)
Further, if the cancer has metastasized and also traveled to the other parts of the body, the symptoms may include.
Metastasis to brain- causes headache, weakness, speech problem, memory lapse, and behavioral changes.
Metastasis to the other parts- causes pain, jaundice, bone fracture and blood clots
Additionally, lung cancer may also lead to alter the production of hormones, which regulates the body functions. The symptom may include.
1. Bone and joint pain
2. Breast enlargement in males
3. Cushing’s syndrome
4. Carcinoid syndrome
These symptoms can also cause due to other less serious condition or due to some medication. Therefore, you must consult your doctor before coming to any type of the conclusion.
Treatments for the Lung Cancer
A simple chest x-ray or CT scan can readily identify lung cancer. Treatment for the lung cancer vary from person to person depending on a variety of factors such as type, size and the location of cancer, current health and whether or not the tumor has spread.
The most effective plan for the treatment of the lung cancer is to quit smoking, STOP it completely! By quitting smoking, you remove the major cause of the cancer and make the treatment and the prevention of the new cancer more effective. The next treatments involved in the treatment of the lung cancer are.
1. Surgery – Surgery may cure the lung cancer by removing the tumor and relieving its symptoms. The extent of surgery may involve removing a part of a lobe, a whole lobe, or the entire lung. However, some tumors cannot be removed because of their size and location.
2. Radiation therapy- Radiation therapy is a form of external x-ray, which kills the cancer cells. It is used to relieve the pain and symptoms of tumor. It is also used to eliminate or decrease the size of the tumor.
3. Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy includes the use of the medication in the treatment to decrease the size of tumor or to eliminate the cancer. Treatment can be done in the form of pills, Injection, or catheter. You should consult your doctor for the effective medication.
The above information guides you about the lung cancer its symptoms and treatments. So go ahead, and take a preventive measure to avoid the symptoms. Those, who are already infected with lung cancer, consult your doctor for the effective treatment.
Comments