| There are two ways in order to know if you have lung | | | | In diagnosis, the doctor explores the different areas of |
| cancer. One is through the identification of the different | | | | possibility that the patient may or may not have lung |
| early signs and symptoms and through diagnostic | | | | cancer. Some of the diagnostic procedures which can |
| examination. Lung cancer is a killer disease that is | | | | determine the possibility of the disease are: |
| prevalent all over the world and chooses no status or | | | | 1. Chest x-ray - this is usually the first test that is |
| gender. | | | | ordered by the physician. Chest x-ray has the capacity |
| Therefore it is of utmost importance that you | | | | to detect tumors of the lung and to what extent it has |
| determine the signs and symptoms of the disease so | | | | reached, although this test may miss out on the smaller |
| that further evaluation can be ordered. | | | | ones and can only detect the more visual ones. |
| Some of the most common signs and symptoms that | | | | 2. CT scan - known as computed tomography, CT |
| are experienced by a lung cancer patient are: | | | | scans has the capacity to show the different |
| Chest pain which is constant and is evident during | | | | characteristics and patterns of a lung cancer cells |
| coughing or breathing | | | | which can help doctors come up with a possible |
| Dyspnea or difficulty in breathing which may be | | | | diagnosis. CT scans also have the capability to show |
| due to nagging cough and constriction of the | | | | the tiniest tumors which are not shown on x-rays. |
| bronchioles | | | | These small tumors may reveal if the cancer cell has |
| Wheezing most likely heard upon exhalation | | | | already reached the nearby lymph nodes and if it has |
| Cough out of bloody sputum or hemoptysis | | | | grown. |
| Swelling of the face and neck which can be | | | | 3. Bronchoscopy - using a scope to view the inside of |
| caused by a tumor which presses on the large blood | | | | the lungs. The microscopic examination of tissues |
| vessels just near the lung | | | | inside the lungs is enough to confirm the possible |
| Muscle weakness which may be caused by a | | | | existence of cancer cells inside the lungs. Here the |
| pressing tumor on the different muscle sites | | | | doctor would do an invasive procedure which will help |
| Fever which has an unknown cause | | | | him view the inside of the lungs for further visualization |
| Once these signs and symptoms are now present, the | | | | of the tumor and at the same time take samples of |
| person may then experience weight loss, fatigue, | | | | the specimen. |
| headache, fracture to the bones, distant pains, | | | | 4. Needle biopsy - this is done when the sample is too |
| anorexia, confusion which can further lead to coma. | | | | far away for the bronchoscope to reach. Specimen is |
| Though definite, none of these symptoms are positive | | | | obtained through insertion of a needle inside the chest |
| signs of having lung cancer unless a doctor has made | | | | skin and uses a CT to serve as a guide in |
| diagnostic findings on it. That is why, it is of top priority | | | | maneuvering the needle to the affected part. |
| that when a person experiences two or more of the | | | | Together with the signs and symptoms and diagnostic |
| above mentioned signs and symptoms, one must seek | | | | procedures interpreted by the doctor, you will now |
| the advice of a doctor. | | | | know if you have lung cancer or not. |