Lung cancer is one of the worst diseases of our century. Pulmonary oncology ranks first in cancer mortality. The prevalence of this disease is due to the huge number of smokers around the world. This is confirmed by statistics: for 10 people with lung cancer, 9 - heavy smokers.
Other factors that provoke cancer include: harmful production, chronic lung diseases, alcoholism, poor ecology of megacities. The danger of lung cancer is that it is detected late, when treatment can no longer give positive results. With a diagnosis of lung cancer, the first symptoms are far from being found in the first stage of the disease, and severe pains begin when metastases are already present. And often the pain gives away to completely different places: for example, if the tumor is in the upper part of the lung, then the shoulder can hurt, if in the lower, discomfort can occur in the region of the liver or pancreas. Cancer pain is often confused with osteochondrosis.
Lungs' cancer. First symptoms:
- Dyspnea.
- Persistent cough.
- Sputum discharge, in later stages - with blood.
- Dramatic weight loss.
- Malaise.
- Pain when inhaling or coughing.
If you have at least some of these symptoms, you should contact your GP and be examined. The sooner a disease is detected, the more likely it is to save a life. Indeed, it is pulmonary oncology that is developing rapidly.
With a disease of lung cancer , the first symptoms may not be quite ordinary, they appear before the standard signs. Finding them on time can significantly simplify the treatment.
Indirect signs of lung cancer:
- The nails on the hands become round and convex, and the phalanges of the fingers thicken. The shape of the fingers resembles sausages. This symptom is reliable if it is not a congenital form of nails, but acquired recently. With a diagnosis of lung cancer, the first symptoms may appear that way.
- Enlarged lymph nodes in the cervical, thoracic, axillary zones. Particularly noticeable is the lymph node above the clavicle - the Virchow node. The increase may be temporary, and then go away on its own. This inflammation cannot be ignored. It is necessary to do at least fluorography.
What are some other symptoms of lung cancer?
A tumor in the lungs can affect the appearance of the eyes. This occurs if the formation is located in the upper lobe of the lung and grows into certain nerve nodes that are connected to the eye. So, there are three signs: the upper eyelid is overhanging, a narrowed pupil that does not respond to light, or the eyeball itself goes into the eye cavity. If one or all of these symptoms are present, then you need to not only consult an optometrist, but also check the lungs.
With a diagnosis of lung cancer, the symptoms and treatment depend on the stage of the disease.
Lung cancer is treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. As a rule, these procedures are carried out comprehensively. It is important to note that cancer is not treated with folk remedies.
Disease prevention includes: quitting smoking, proper nutrition, playing sports, walking in the fresh air, and, of course, the annual passage of fluorography.