What are the symptoms of lung cancer that should be treated immediately by a doctor?

Lung cancer occupies a leading position among all oncological diseases in terms of mortality. Oncologists call difficulties in making a diagnosis in the early stages one of the reasons for the frequent death of patients – the pathological process developing in the lungs does not have specific symptoms by which it can be differentiated from other respiratory diseases.

At the initial stage of its development, the tumor is small in size and cannot always be detected even by instrumental methods. However, there are still signs that are highly likely to cause lung cancer.

Early symptoms

The symptoms of lung cancer at an early stage include:

• Frequent colds – the oncological process reduces immunity and causes frequent acute respiratory viral infections, flu, bronchitis and even pneumonia. Recovery may take a long time, but often the cold goes away quickly enough, but after a while it relapses again.
• Loss of appetite, weight loss – a tumor causes loss of appetite for a number of reasons. A person has to expend more effort to breathe (even if he does not even know about it). Appetite also disappears if the cancer spreads to the liver.
• Fatigue – substances produced by education enter the bloodstream and affect the level of oxygen, red blood cells, and adrenal glands – the main producers of energy.
• Shortness of breath – a growing tumor prevents the ability to fully inhale and exhale air. At first, shortness of breath may be insignificant and many people often do not pay attention to this symptom, believing that they are simply "losing shape."
• Persistent cough – it can be dry or wet, and over time, blood streaks appear in the sputum. A cough occurs due to a neoplasm that causes a blockage in the bronchial tubes or lungs.
• Muscle weakness occurs when a tumor releases autoantibodies that attack the muscles. It becomes difficult for a person to do even the simplest housework. If the process spreads to the brain, weakness may occur in one part of the body.
• Chest pain – A dull pain may be felt in the chest, or may be present in the back, shoulders, or neck. It occurs due to the pressure of the tumor on other tissues or if the formation irritates the nerves passing through this area.

Also recently, experts have noticed that lung cancer is often found in patients with mental disorders. The study showed that in the group of people aged 50-64 years who sought psychiatric help for the first time, the disease was diagnosed 4 times more often than in those who did not suffer from such disorders. But why cancer causes anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders has not yet been established.

What to do

These symptoms do not always indicate the development of cancer. However, if you find yourself with one or more of these signs, consult a doctor immediately. A favorable prognosis for lung cancer can only be discussed when it is treated at an early stage.