What is Lung Cancer?

The cells in your lungs multiply into several copies as part of their function, which makes them vulnerable to changes such as mutation, where they keep making copies of themselves without any control. When damaged cells continue to divide without any control and develop into a large number, they may make you susceptible to tumors of tissue, which may disturb your organs’ normal functioning. 

To put it simply, lung cancer is a cancer that occurs in the lungs. People who smoke are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer, and the risk gets greater with the added length of time and number of cigarettes smoked. There are usually 4 stages to lung cancer. 

The leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide is lung cancer. According to the Global Cancer Observatory’s GLOBOCAN 2022 report, India reported approximately 81,748 new lung cancer cases, accounting for 5.8% of all cancer cases in the country. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) was 5.8 per 100,000 population. 

What are the Symptoms of Lung Cancer? 

The symptoms of lung cancer do not show at early stages, hence, it gets difficult to detect them at an early stage. It is only when the disease gets advanced that symptoms of lung cancer start to show. 

You may have lung cancer if you experience the following signs and symptoms in and around your lungs. They may consist of:

• A persistent cough that fails to go away. 
• Pain in the chest region. 
• Coughing up blood, even in small amounts. 
• Hoarseness. 
• Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath. 
• Wheezing. 

The signs and symptoms that occur when lung cancer spreads to different regions of the body may consist of:

• Pain in the bones.
• Headache.
• Sudden weight loss. 
• Loss of appetite. 
• Inflammation or swelling in the face or neck.

The first signs of lung cancer could be a persistent cough or pneumonia that keeps returning despite treatment. The more common symptoms of lung cancer include a worsening or persistent cough, difficulty in breathing, pain in the chest region, hoarseness, or unexplained weight loss. The origin of your lung cancer may dictate the onset of these symptoms. Some of them may occur early in stages I or II, but may occur in later stages as well. It is therefore recommended that you get screened for lung cancer if you are at a higher risk. 

What are the Causes of Lung Cancer?

As mentioned above, the cells in lung cancer keep multiplying even when they shouldn’t, leading to mutations. These mutations may turn into cancer cells that gain access to your bloodstream or lymph nodes and travel to other regions in your body, increasing the damage. In addition to that, one of the main causes of lung cancer is smoking. Cigarette smoke has more than 7,000 chemicals, several of which are recognized as carcinogens. Contact with radon, asbestos, and air pollution can additionally increase the likelihood of lung cancer development. Moreover, genetic elements may contribute, since certain individuals are more prone to lung cancer compared to others. 

How is Lung Cancer Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of lung cancer is a multi-step procedure. To begin, you need to book an appointment and visit your healthcare professional. They may ask you about your symptoms and health history and perform a physical examination, which may entail listening to your heart and lungs. Lung cancer shares symptoms with other illnesses; therefore, your healthcare professional may ask you to get blood tests and chest X-rays done. However, chest X-rays are not as preferred as a CT scan, as the tumors are too small to see on an X-ray or can be blocked by your ribs. 

If your healthcare professional suspects that you may have lung cancer, they may ask you to undergo imaging tests such as a CT Scan and then a biopsy. Other tests may consist of a PET/CT scan to determine if your cancer has spread. 

If you are experiencing the symptoms of lung cancer or have lung cancer, don’t feel afraid. Take charge of your health and book an appointment with us today.