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Lung Cancer Symptoms

Lung cancer is the leader in cancer deaths among both men and women in the United States. There are two main types of lung cancers: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer, the more common of the two, spreads more slowly to other areas of the body than small cell cancer.

Perhaps the most tragic fact regarding lung cancer is that it is quite possibly the most preventative of all the various types of cancers. An alarming 87% of all lung cancers are related to smoking. In a single cigarette, a smoker inhales over 4000 chemicals, many of which contain carcinogens. Sadly, even though this knowledge is wide-spread, many people choose to ignore the potential risks, and many are diagnosed with lung cancer. As with several other cancers, lung cancer symptoms are usually not apparent until it is in the advanced stage. Nonetheless, certain warning signs may manifest themselves, at which time a person should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Early Lung Cancer Symptoms – Warning Signs

• Persistent cough
• A noticeable change in a persistent cough
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing up phlegm
• Loss of appetite
• Wheezing with deep breaths
• Sudden or unexplainable weight loss
• Chest pains
• Fatigue
• Recurring pneumonia or bronchitis

Advanced Lung Cancer Symptoms

• Hoarseness of voice
• Moderate to severe difficulty swallowing
• Swelling of face and neck (SVCO)
• Swelling of lymph nodes on neck
• Moderate to severe pain under ribs on the right side
• Shortness of breath
• Bloody phlegm
• Moderate to severe wheezing

Break The Habit
If you are a smoker, do not risk your life by postponing a trip to the doctor’s office for a screening. Many people who are diagnosed with cancer did not experience any of the early symptoms of lung cancer. When this disease is in its advanced or final stages, treatment is often ineffective. If you smoke, quit - you owe it to yourself and your family to increase your chances against lung cancer.

Read about smoking and heart disease.