HomeLifestyleHealth & FitnessCommon Complaints In The Early Stages Of Lung cancer

Common Complaints In The Early Stages Of Lung cancer

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People who get lung cancer often don’t notice some of the disease’s earliest warning signs. Instead, they notice symptoms first when they get a bloody cough. But as cancer grows, it has many different effects that show up in different parts of the body.

The face is one such area, where puffiness and swelling are common symptoms among patients with lung cancer in its early stages. Knowing what else to look out for is vital because this could be a symptom of a range of diseases, from a bacterial infection to an allergic reaction.

Other signs on the face include a reddening of the cheeks and maybe even wheezing. This may seem weird, but the malignant growth of lung tumors can exert pressure on adjacent organs and blood arteries.

In many cases, this can cause a tumour to exert additional pressure on the superior vena cava, the major vein that feeds blood to the head and brain. According to research, lung cancer or non-lymphoma Hodgkin’s are responsible for 95% of such obstructions.

Studies show that other symptoms that go along with a red, puffy face are visible or swollen veins in the neck and chest, shortness of breath, coughing, and swollen arms. If you have all of these symptoms, you should see your doctor about getting a test.

These are the symptoms that lung cancer patients are experiencing, according to Reynolds Cancer Support House “most likely to ignore”.

“Some patients with lung cancer report noticing puffiness, swelling, or redness in the face.

“The explanation for this is that small cell lung tumours commonly block blood vessels in the chest, preventing blood from flowing freely from the head and face,” says the author.

If your face is red and swollen, it could be a sign of something called a carcinoid tumor. These malignancies grow in our bodies’ neuroendocrine cells, which are tiny biological messenger units that help the body function by releasing and receiving hormones.

When these cells become contaminated with cancer, our bodies’ functioning is disrupted, which can result in heated facial flushing, puffiness, and diarrhoea.

The following are some other common lung cancer symptoms to be aware of:

Swelling of the face
Fluid-like sensation around the lungs
Frequent infections
The blood clots.
High levels of calcium
Nervous system issues, such as spinal cord compression and neuropathy
Blockages in the lungs or digestive system
Tumors that have spread to other sections of the body as a result of metastasis

According to Cancer Research UK, the leading risk factors and causes of lung cancer are tobacco use, chemical exposure, air pollution, a history of lung illness, radon gas exposure, and a family history of lung cancer.

It is said that the path to a diagnosis starts with: “You usually start by seeing your GP. They will ask you about your general health and symptoms and will also examine you.

“This might include listening to your breathing and seeing how much air you breathe in and out. Your doctor will then decide whether to do tests or refer you to a specialist.”

Image Credit: Getty

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