Lung cancer natural history

Complications

There are a variety of complications associated with lung cancer that depends upon different factors such as the stage of the cancer.

General Complications

1. Breathing difficulties
   1. Lung cancer patients can experience trouble breathing especially when tumors grow and block the airways. Also, it is possible for fluid to build up in the lungs of the patients which makes it difficult for the lungs to fully expand when inhaling.
2. Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
   1. Occasionally lung cancer can cause bleeding in the airways which results in the patient coughing up blood.
3. Pain
   1. It is possible that lung cancer will cause pain as well, especially if it spreads to the lining of the lung, or other areas of the body, like the bones.
   2. There are treatments to help combat the pain.
4. Pleural effusion
   1. Lung cancer can cause fluid to build up in the lungs which can cause breathing difficulties.
   2. There are treatments available to help drain the excess fluid
5. Metastasis
   1. In many cases, lung cancer will spread out to other parts of the body. Some of the more common places lung cancer metastasizes to are the bones, liver, brain, and adrenal glands.

Surgical Complications

1. Bronchopleural fistula
   1. It is when air leaks from a pneumonectomy bronchial stump
   2. Approximately 2% of patients that undergo a pneumonectomy experience this
   3. It will most commonly occur approximately 7 to 10 days after surgery
2. Intrathoracic bleeding
   1. In most cases it occurs from bronchial vessels or lung parenchyma
   2. It may have the symptoms of hypovaelemia
   3. Usually, it can be treated by transfusion
3. Atelectasis
4. Sputum retention