How Helpful Is The Recognition Of Early Symptoms Of Lung Cancer

By: Mark MacKay

Lung cancer is a very deadly disease. The most significant risk factor of this disease is cigarette smoking. Lung cancer proves to be one of the most deadly health problems among Americans.

Studies show that lung cancer account for twenty-eight percent of all cancer deaths among American men and women.

Records further show that lung cancer is the most lethal malignant tumor worldwide causing up to three million deaths annually.

Even with the recognition that cigarette smoking is the major risk factor of lung cancer, it is important to note that not all smokers die of lung cancer but just the same, not all non-smokers are safe from lung cancer.

It is further important to recognize that early symptoms of lung cancer will help ensure proper management of this health risk condition.

Doctors believe that detection of early symptoms of lung cancer will help halt the progression of lung cancer and put the symptoms to remission.

There are various treatments available against this disease but if you will neglect the early symptoms of lung cancer, it may be hard to manage and possibly, it is already impossible to control. This is because advanced stage of the disease already involves secondary cancer sites developed in the other parts of the body.

Various treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, radio immunotherapy and the new lung cancer treatment, photodynamic therapy.

All of these lung cancer treatments will become useless especially if the detection of the cancer is already on its advanced stage.

Thus, it is necessary to recognize early symptoms of lung cancer to ensure you will be able to halt the symptoms and not merely lessen the symptoms.

Early symptom of lung cancer such as persistent coughing is commonly associated with mere itchiness of the throat from smoking. This makes smokers neglect it and set it aside.

Most smokers commonly worry about lung cancer symptoms only when they see blood in the sputum. Do not fall prey to this situation because when you finally see blood in the sputum, this means that you are already on the advanced stage of the lung cancer.

Other common early symptoms of lung cancer that is often neglected are sudden weight loss, chest pain and constant fatigue, when you start feeling all these signs and you are a smoker, you may need to see your doctor and have him test you for possible signs of lung cancer.

The next symptoms of lung cancer, which will point to an advanced stage of the disease are recurring cases of pneumonia or bronchitis, and neck and facial swelling.

Ensure that you will not neglect early symptoms of lung cancer to help you manage the disease properly. Visit your doctor if you are a smoker suffering from persistent coughing and constant fatigue.

Furthermore, if you are working in an environment where you are often exposed to impure air such as chemicals and asbestos ashes, even if you are not a smoker, you may need to check with your doctor when you feel anything similar to the early symptoms of lung cancer.

There is yet no known cure for this disease, thus detection of early symptoms of lung cancer is the only defence you have in order to avoid this lethal cancer from affecting your life.

It will also help to make sure you will not suffer from lung cancer if you minimize smoking or totally eradicate smoking from your life and live a healthy and active lifestyle.

Regular exercise and eating a well-balanced diet will ensure you will not suffer from lung cancer and will not experience even the early symptoms of lung cancer.
A look at how you can increase your chances of surviving one of the deadly forms of cancer.

Mark MacKay is a freelance health columnist. He is also the creator of Lung Cancer Treatments, a web site setup to help people find useful and accurate information on Lung Cancer. Visit his site at http://www.Lung-Cancer-Explained.info

Article Source: http://www.eArticlesOnline.com