2023-05-17 02:10:00
Lung cancer symptoms usually only appear when the disease is in a more advanced stage, shortness of breath, chest pain, excessive fatigue, difficulty breathing, weight loss without apparent cause and dry and persistent cough.
In the event of signs and symptoms possibly indicative of lung cancer, it is important to consult a pulmonologist or a general practitioner, this is the only way it will be possible to carry out the tests that allow the early identification of the disease, thus starting the treatment. soon afterwards and preventing the development of some complications of the disease.
Treatment may vary according to the type of cancer and characteristics, and surgery and chemotherapy or radiotherapy sessions may be necessary.
main symptoms
- Dry and persistent cough
- difficulty breathing
- extreme tiredness
- Decreased appetite
- hoarseness
- Weight loss
- Back pain
- chest pain
- blood in the phlegm
- Shortness of breathe.
It is extremely important that the pulmonologist be consulted as soon as the symptoms appear, as the symptoms only appear when the disease is in an advanced stage. In more severe cases, there is also the manifestation of a Pancoast tumor and metaphase.
Lung cancer illustration. (Reproduction/SH Brasil Group)
The diagnosis is made through the evaluation of the symptoms and signs presented by the patient, family and health history and imaging results. One of the main exams is tomography of the chest, where the presence of the tumor can be observed. PET-Scan magnetic resonance imaging and lung tissue biopsy can also be performed, depending on the case.
The main cause of the disease is cigarettes, since 90% of cases happen to smokers, the risk is greater according to the amount of consumption, number of cigarettes smoked per day and how many years the person has been a smoker.
But, the disease also appears in non-smokers, especially for those who have frequent contact with cigarette smoke or chemicals such as arsenic, beryllium and randon. However, this risk is much lower than the person who smokes.
It is worth mentioning that cigarettes contain carcinogenic substances such as tar and benzene that cause damage to the cells that line the inside of the lung.
Having been treated for other types of cancer can also increase your risk, such as breast cancer, lymphoma, or testicular cancer treated with radiation therapy to the chest.
Featured photo: Illustration of lung cancer. Reproduction/Intor thoracic surgery
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