How Do You Discern Lung Cancer Symptoms

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Dear Friend,
Lung cancer is talked about a great deal and almost everyone recognizes that smoking is responsible for most cases of lung cancer. But can you recognize an early sign of lung cancer?

It?s too bad that there really is no early sign of lung cancer. However over time symptoms do develop which include chest pain that doesn’t go away, a cough that doesn’t go away, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness. You might also experience swelling of the neck, of the face, weight loss, and unexplained fatigue.

If there is an early sign of lung cancer as in the symptoms mentioned above, you should see your doctor. He or she will evaluate your medical history, ask you about your smoking history or exposure to environmental elements like asbestos ask about your family history, and then perform a physical exam. You will need to have a chest x-ray, which may be followed by other tests.

With any early sign of lung cancer besides a chest x-ray usually a sputum cytology is ordered. This is when the mucus from a deep cough is examined under a microscope. There are also a number of procedures that are used.

Bronchoscopy: this is a thin light tube that is put into the mouth or nose, and then fed down the windpipe to look at the lungs, and collect tissue samples, or cells. You will usually be given a drug to relax your reflexes.

Needle Aspiration: is a process where a needle is inserted through the chest into the tumor and then a tissue sample is removed.

Thoracentesis: uses a needle inserted into the lungs to check for cancer cells.

Thoracotomy: this procedure is invasive surgery where the chest is opened to diagnose lung cancer. This is a major procedure which is not used unless absolutely necessary.

The symptoms associated with lung cancer can also be associated with other lung infections or disease so if you have an early sign of lung cancer see your doctor right away and find out what is going on.