domingo, 4 de noviembre de 2018

Lung Cancer Symptoms

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By Ananya Mandal, MDReviewed by Sally Robertson, B.Sc.

Lung cancer does not usually present with any symptoms in the early stages of disease, meaning it is difficult to detect and diagnose while there is the highest chance of treatment being successful.

The main symptoms of lung cancer include the following and people should seek medical attention of they develop any of these signs.

A cough that persists for more than three weeks
Ongoing chest infections
Pain on coughing or breathing
Coughing up blood
Shortness of breath
Unexplained loss of weight
Unexplained weakness and fatigue
Loss of appetite

Some less common symptoms of lung cancer include the following:

Curving of the fingers or enlargement of the finger ends, referred to as finger clubbing.
A fever, with a temperatures of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher
Wheezing
Hoarseness of the voice
Swelling in the face and neck
Difficulty swallowing
Pain on swallowing
Persistent chest pain
Persistent shoulder pain

Symptoms of metastatic disease

Symptoms that specifically indicate spread or metastasis of the lung cancer include bone pain, weight loss and signs that the nervous system is affected such as headache, convulsion, weakness in the limbs, or fainting.

Common sites that the cancer may have spread to include the adrenal glands, the brain, the bones, the pericardium and the kidneys.