Lung Cancer Prognosis - Signs and Symptoms That Should Alert You

Lung cancer's early symptoms are quite similar to those of other illnesses, which often makes it hard to diagnose lung cancer until it has progressed to a more advanced stage. The fact that up to 25 percent of people with lung cancer may not exhibit any symptoms further increases the difficulty of procuring an early diagnosis.

During the physical exam, a physician will consider factors such as age, occupation and family history to form an understanding of how the patient's background affects their likelihood of certain symptoms being attributable to lung cancer or a more common illness.

While a 60-year old male with a history of smoking for four decades is a likely candidate for lung cancer, an 18 year-old female with no history of smoking is much less likely to have the disease.

Usually the first noticeable symptom of the disease is a recurring cough, which is a primary symptom in roughly eighty percent of cases. This is commonly known as "smoker's cough," because it is so common in habitual smokers. Nerve endings in the body's airways attempt to remove foreign substances, such as buildup from smoking; lung cancer affects these cells and thus the success of the lung's self-regulating mechanism. If a patient is diagnosed with lung cancer and has never exhibited the smoker's cough, they probably are afflicted with a tumor in a more minor passageway, which is why there is less outward irritation.

Coughing up blood is the second common symptom, and is caused by bleeding of the tumor as it increases in size and the patient expels mucous tainted with blood. Noticeable blood in the sputum should warrant a checkup with a doctor as soon as possible, in order to pinpoint the cause of the problem.

The third common symptom is wheezing, resulting from blockage of the airways due to the growth of a tumor. Some wheezing is audible to the naked ear, while at times wheezing can only be detected through the doctor's use of a stethoscope as the patient breathes.

Despite state of the art treatment protocols, the typical lung cancer prognosis with regard to its survival is rather poor. Frequently, a conclusive diagnosis is only possible when the cancer has already progressed to an advanced stage.

If any of the aforementioned symptoms have been noticed by you or a loved one, it is important to make an appointment with your doctor- an early diagnosis will contribute largely to your chances of recovery.

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