Early symptoms of lung cancer
Early symptoms of lung cancer
The early symptoms of lung cancer are often not very obvious, and up to 80% of patients are diagnosed in the middle or late stages. This requires increased vigilance for certain related symptoms, especially in populations with a history of long-term smoking, a family history of tumors, and those working or living in highly polluted environments. The following six early signals of lung cancer should be taken seriously.
1.Hoarseness
Hoarseness is the most common early symptom of lung cancer, occurring in about 5% to 20% of patients. This hoarseness often occurs suddenly and progresses rapidly, with some individuals even losing their voice completely. It is due to the compression of the recurrent laryngeal nerve by metastases of lung cancer, causing paralysis of the vocal cord and resulting in hoarseness. Since metastases of lung cancer can appear early and sometimes grow faster than the primary lesion, hoarseness is a warning sign that should not be ignored.
2.Persistent Fever
About 30% of lung cancer patients experience prolonged fever in the early stages. If there is long-term chronic inflammation in the lungs accompanied by fever, the possibility of lung cancer should be considered. This fever usually maintains a temperature around 38°C. Different from inflammatory fever, which can be alleviated by active anti-inflammatory treatment, antipyretic and antibiotic drugs may not be effective for cancerous fever.
3.Cough
Cough is a common early symptom of lung cancer and often the earliest and most common. The cough of lung cancer patients is similar to that of individuals with colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other diseases. Therefore, it is easy to misjudge. If a patient continues to cough even after active antitussive treatment, or if the cough persists for more than three weeks, the possibility of lung cancer should be considered, and further examinations are needed.
4.Chest Pain
Chest pain accounts for more than half of lung cancer patients, especially in peripheral lung cancer patients, and is one of the earliest symptoms of chest pain. Due to the infiltration of the pleura, chest pain in the early stage of lung cancer is often localized to the affected area. This type of chest pain is often intermittent and worsens during coughing, deep breathing, or changes in body position.
5.Coughing Up Blood
Hemoptysis occurs in the early and middle stages of lung cancer, but the amount of blood is not large. It is often fresh red or mixed with foam. The amount of hemoptysis is generally small, and it may last for several weeks, months, or occur intermittently. Because of the small amount or intermittent appearance, it is not easily taken seriously.
6.Shortness of Breath
Approximately 10% of lung cancer patients experience shortness of breath in the early stages. If there is difficulty breathing during daily activities, the occurrence of lung cancer should be considered. This symptom is often overlooked because it is more common in individuals with weak constitutions and cardiovascular diseases. If shortness of breath is present in daily activities, the occurrence of lung cancer should be considered.
