Lung cancer, also known as bronchogenic carcinoma, is a form of cancer that originates in the lungs, and it is one of the most common types of cancer. It is also one of the leading causes of death in the world. Although any one can develop lung cancer, smokers have higher vulnerability than non-smokers.
Cigarette smoke contains chemicals that destroy the cells on the lining of the lungs. These chemicals are known as carcinogens. When carcinogens enter your lungs, they immediately begin to destroy the cells. Although your immune system may correct the damage at first, repeated smoking overwhelms your immune system. Overtime, your lung cells may lose their ability to function normally, leading to cancer. Other than smoking, exposure to radon gases, secondhand smoke, and asbestos increases the chances of developing lung cancer.
There are two major types of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. While the former majorly attacks heavy smokers, the latter mostly attacks non-smokers and people who smoke occasionally. Non-small cell cancers usually have similar characteristics, and they include large cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.
1. Coughing
A cough refers to a reflex action that occurs to clear your throat of any foreign substances or irritants. Although coughs are normal and infrequent, frequent coughs may imply a serious underlying condition, such as lung cancer. If you inhale cigarette smoke, radon gases, carcinogens, or other foreign substances, your throat or airways can be damaged. As a result, your immune system will cause you to cough in response to the damage.
Coughs resulting from bronchogenic carcinoma usually occur when the disease is at advanced stages. The coughs may be mild at first and less frequent. With time, they become more frequent and may fail to go away. Typically, this type of coughing is accompanied with other signs and symptoms, including chest pain. When the disease gets extremely serious, coughs may be accompanied with mucus discharge. Typically, the mucus will be bloody. Along with coughs, you may experience difficulty breathing. In severe cases, lung cancer coughs may become forceful, vigorous, and exhausting.
2. Chest Pain
The lungs are located in your chest. When the lung cells become cancerous, the cancer may metastasize to the surrounding chest tissues, leading to pain. Additionally, frequent coughing resulting from lung cancer causes repeated overstretching and contraction of the lungs. This movement strains the chest, leading to a painful feeling. At first, chest pain caused by bronchogenic carcinoma may occur in the form of mild pain that involves infrequent bouts. However, the pain develops and worsens over time, and it may not go away. You may also feel more pain in your chest when you cough. Seek emergency medical attention when you feel persistent pain in the chest.
3. Wheezing
If you suffer from bronchogenic carcinoma, you may hear a whistling sound when breathing. This sound is known as wheezing. The sound signifies constriction of the pulmonary air tubes, and it is more noticeable when exhaling. Cancer destroys cells, leading to formation of tumors. The tumor formation may cause the narrowing of the air ways contained in the lungs. This narrowing prevents free passage of air in and out of the lungs, leading to wheezing. The sound may not be easily noticed at first. With time, it becomes loud enough to be noticed by other people near you. Lung cancer patients usually experience shortness of breath along with wheezing.
4. Weight Loss
This is one of the first signs of bronchogenic carcinoma, and more than three quarters of cancer patients experience weight loss during advanced stages of the disease. Cancerous tumors trigger the formation of proteins that facilitate weight loss in your body. If you have cancer, you may lose weight even without changing your meal or workout plan. Additionally, bronchogenic carcinoma destroys healthy cells in your lungs. The tumors that develop in the lungs hinder proper gaseous exchange, leading to poor metabolism. If you have an impaired metabolic process, your body will not be able to effectively absorb food nutrients. This makes it difficult to prevent weight loss.
5. Chest Pain
Lung diseases, including lung cancer, are some of the major causes of chest pain. If you have cancer of the lungs, the condition may result in accumulation of fluid in your chest cavity, which is the space around the lungs. This fluid is known as pleural effusion, and it is usually painful. You may also experience shortness of breath along with the pain. If you persistently feel pain in your chest, visit your doctor for diagnosis. Treatment of pain in your chest usually depends on what causes it. If it is caused by fluid accumulation in the chest cavity, the fluid will be drained for pain relief.
6. Phlegm
Phlegm refers to thick mucus that forms at the back of your throat. It is produced in the chest and usually discharged via the mouth. This cancer sign is usually accompanied with coughing. Discharged phlegm is known as sputum. Sputum can be of different colors, including yellow, brown, white, green, black, clear, pink, or red. You can know that you have lung cancer if your sputum is pink or red due to the presence of blood. Other than cancer of the lungs, other common causes of red or pink phlegm may include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and pulmonary embolism.
7. Fatigue
You can be said to be fatigued if you experience frequent bouts of a worn-down feeling. Fatigue is a common symptom among cancer patients. If you have cancer, your body fights extra hard to ensure you survive. In the process, the body uses more energy than is acquired. This causes tiredness. During the early stages of bronchogenic carcinoma, you may experience bouts of mild fatigue. The symptom becomes more pronounced as the disease advances. If the disease is not treated, fatigue becomes chronic and may affect your lifestyle by preventing you from doing normal tasks. Contact your care giver if you frequently feel fatigued.
8. Weakness
If you are weak, you are not able to produce enough energy for normal muscle movement. This symptom is usually accompanied with fatigue. Cancer of the lungs may spread to other parts of the body and damage the nerves in your shoulders or arms, leading to weakness. Additionally, lung cancer may cause weakness by depriving your body of sufficient oxygen. The disease destroys the lung cells, which are responsible for facilitating gaseous exchange. The impaired respiratory system prevents your body cells from receiving adequate oxygen. As a result, metabolism, which is responsible for energy production, is impaired. This causes weakness.
9. Frequent Respiratory Infections
Your immune system cannot function properly if you have damaged cells. Lung cancer weakens your immune system by damaging the respiratory system cells. As a result, your respiratory system becomes highly susceptible to viruses, bacteria, and other parasites that cause respiratory infections. Examples of frequent respiratory infections that may result from bronchogenic carcinoma include pneumonia and bronchitis. These infections may be accompanied with difficulty breathing, and they may cause you to feel very sick. If these infections are not treated, they may develop into life-threatening conditions. For instance, pneumonia may cause lung abscess, which is the formation of pus in the pulmonary cavities.
10. Hoarseness
This is an abnormal voice alteration. You can be said to have a hoarse voice if you are not able to produce a smooth vocal sound as a result of weak and raspy voice. Each person has vocal chords, which open and close to cause sound-producing vibrations. This movement of the chords is controlled by the laryngeal nerve. If the lung cancer spreads from the lungs to the laryngeal nerve, the production of sound by the chords is impaired, leading to voice hoarseness. Hoarseness can symptomize many other conditions, including aortic aneurysm, throat cancer, and thyroid cancer. See your doctor if you have a hoarse voice that lasts for weeks.
11. Swollen Lymph Nodes
Your body contains blood capillaries, which are very small blood vessels. Lung cancer can damage these vessels by blocking them. The blockage may increase pressure in the vessels, causing them to leak. This triggers your kidneys to retain more salt and water as a way of compensating for the lost fluid. As a result, fluid builds up in your body, causing more capillary leakage. Too much fluid resulting from an impaired lymphatic system will build up in your lymph nodes, causing them to swell. Swollen lymph nodes may affect various parts of the body, including the face, arms, and face.
