| As with most cancers, the earlier you detect lung | | | | hoarseness should be taken seriously. |
| cancer the better your chances of survival. In fact, | | | | When To See A Doctor |
| when it's caught in the first stages, there's an almost | | | | While you don't want to be running to your doctor |
| 50% survival rate after five years. This is a | | | | every time you get the sniffles, if the above signs |
| remarkable number considering the fact that overall, | | | | show themselves, especially if they're persistent, it's |
| lung cancer has only a 15% survival rate. | | | | better to be safe than sorry. This is particularly true if |
| So the earlier it's diagnosed the better. | | | | you've been a smoker or are currently smoking, or if |
| And that's why being aware of the signs of lung | | | | you've ever been exposed to asbestos over an |
| cancer can mean the difference between surviving | | | | extended period. |
| and becoming a statistic. | | | | It only takes a few hours out of your life to make an |
| The Early Signs | | | | appointment and visit your doctor. Here are the signs |
| Since the early signs of lung cancer can easily be | | | | that should inspire action: |
| mistaken for other conditions, it's often difficult to take | | | | - Unexplained loss of weight |
| them seriously. However, if you're experiencing a | | | | - Persistent shortness of breath |
| chronic cough that doesn't appear related to a virus or | | | | - Stubborn respiratory infections that keep coming |
| allergy, wheezing, chest pain, bouts of bronchitis, or a | | | | back |
| persistent fever ... it's time to pay attention. | | | | - A chronic cough that has no apparent cause |
| Lung cancer symptoms are often related to the | | | | - Pain in your chest |
| location of the lesions, which settle into the tissues of | | | | - Wheezing |
| the lung first. That's why the early signs tend to reflect | | | | - Fatigue (again, if it has no apparent cause) |
| common cold, flu, and bronchial illnesses. Once the | | | | The point to remember is that your immune system is |
| cancer moves beyond the bronchia, new symptoms | | | | busy fighting the cancer. This is why you may find |
| arise. | | | | yourself constantly run down and battling nagging |
| The Later Signs | | | | infections. It's also one of the reason you may |
| Once lung cancer has metastasize and moved | | | | experience mood changes and irritability. |
| beyond the bronchia, the signs can expand | | | | Conclusion |
| dramatically. For instance, if the cancer has spread to | | | | There is a caveat, unfortunately. Nearly a quarter of |
| the brain, then common signs might include blurred | | | | the people diagnosed with lung cancer never |
| vision, stroke, and migraines. As you can see, these | | | | experience any symptoms at all. So while these lung |
| are serious symptoms that could be related to any | | | | cancer signs can serve as red flags, their absence |
| number of illnesses. The point is this: don't dismiss them. | | | | doesn't necessarily mean everything is just fine. |
| In addition, signs such as depression, weight loss, | | | | Another reason to see your doctor for an annual |
| fatigue, shoulder pain, difficulty swallowing, and | | | | checkup. |