LUNG CANCER
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Lung cancers such as squamous cell and
small cell cancers can cause symptoms such as cough, shortness of
breath, bloody sputum, chest pain, wheezing or pneumonia.
Adenocarcinomas are generally more common in the outer portion of
the lung and can cause chest pain with breathing, coughing or
shortness of breath. Most commonly patients have no symptoms when
the disease is first detected on a chest x-ray.
Small cell cancers and adenocarcinomas of the lung are also first
seen with symptoms of metastatic disease. In other words, the
problems and symptoms are those involving the organs or structures
to which the cancer has spread and not necessarily the lungs.
Symptoms that may indicate the cancer has spread include hoarseness
of the voice (due to spread of the cancer to nerves which control
the vocal cords), difficulty in swallowing, and swelling of the
face, arms and neck. Metastatic spread of the cancer outside the
lung and chest can occur with any of the lung cancer types, but most
commonly with small cell cancers and adenocarcinomas. Headaches,
weakness, numbness or paralysis may indicate spread of the cancer to
the brain or spinal cord. This requires urgent treatment. Bone pain
or pain in the abdomen can be symptoms of cancer spread to these
areas. |
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| LUNG CANCER RELATED ITEMS |
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