Lung cancer history and symptoms: Difference between revisions
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{{Lung cancer}} | {{Lung cancer}} | ||
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==Symptoms== | ==Symptoms== | ||
[[Symptom]]s that suggest lung cancer include:<ref name="Hamilton">{{cite journal | last =Hamilton | first =W | coauthors = Peters TJ, Round A, Sharp D | title =What are the clinical features of lung cancer before the diagnosis is made? A population based case-control study | journal =Thorax | volume =60 | issue=12 | pages =1059–1065 | publisher = BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. | date =Dec 2005 | pmid =16227326 }}</ref> | [[Symptom]]s that suggest lung cancer include:<ref name="Hamilton">{{cite journal | last =Hamilton | first =W | coauthors = Peters TJ, Round A, Sharp D | title =What are the clinical features of lung cancer before the diagnosis is made? A population based case-control study | journal =Thorax | volume =60 | issue=12 | pages =1059–1065 | publisher = BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. | date =Dec 2005 | pmid =16227326 }}</ref> | ||
* [[ | * [[Dyspnea]] ([[shortness of breath]]) | ||
* [[ | * [[Hemoptysis]] (coughing up blood) | ||
* | * Chronic [[coughing]] or change in regular coughing pattern | ||
* [[ | * [[Wheezing]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Chest pain]] or pain in the abdomen | ||
* [[ | * [[Cachexia]] (weight loss), [[Fatigue (physical)|fatigue]] and loss of [[appetite]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Dysphonia]] (hoarse voice) | ||
* [[ | * [[Clubbing]] of the fingernails (uncommon) | ||
* [[ | * [[Dysphagia]] (difficulty swallowing). | ||
If the cancer grows in the [[airway]], it may obstruct airflow, causing [[dyspnea|breathing difficulties]]. This can lead to accumulation of secretions behind the blockage, predisposing the patient to [[pneumonia]]. | If the cancer grows in the [[airway]], it may obstruct airflow, causing [[dyspnea|breathing difficulties]]. This can lead to accumulation of secretions behind the blockage, predisposing the patient to [[pneumonia]]. | ||
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Revision as of 13:46, 30 August 2012
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Kim-Son H. Nguyen, M.D., M.P.A., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]
Overview
Many of the symptoms of lung cancer (bone pain, fever, weight loss) are nonspecific; in the elderly, these may be attributed to comorbid illness. In many patients, the cancer has already spread beyond the original site by the time they have symptoms and seek medical attention. Common sites of metastasis include the bone, such as the spine (causing back pain and occasionally spinal cord compression), the liver and the brain. About 10% of people with lung cancer do not have symptoms at diagnosis; these cancers are incidentally found on routine chest x-rays.
Symptoms
Symptoms that suggest lung cancer include:[1]
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
- Chronic coughing or change in regular coughing pattern
- Wheezing
- Chest pain or pain in the abdomen
- Cachexia (weight loss), fatigue and loss of appetite
- Dysphonia (hoarse voice)
- Clubbing of the fingernails (uncommon)
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
If the cancer grows in the airway, it may obstruct airflow, causing breathing difficulties. This can lead to accumulation of secretions behind the blockage, predisposing the patient to pneumonia.
Many lung cancers have a rich blood supply. The surface of the cancer may be fragile, leading to bleeding from the cancer into the airway. This blood may subsequently be coughed up.
Depending on the type of tumor, so-called paraneoplastic phenomena may initially attract attention to the disease.[2] In lung cancer, these phenomena may include Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (muscle weakness due to auto-antibodies), hypercalcemia or syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). Tumors in the top (apex) of the lung, known as Pancoast tumors,[3] may invade the local part of the sympathetic nervous system, leading to changed sweating patterns and eye muscle problems (a combination known as Horner's syndrome), as well as muscle weakness in the hands due to invasion of the brachial plexus.
References
- ↑ Hamilton, W (Dec 2005). "What are the clinical features of lung cancer before the diagnosis is made? A population based case-control study". Thorax. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. 60 (12): 1059–1065. PMID 16227326. Unknown parameter
|coauthors=
ignored (help) - ↑ Honnorat, J (May 2007). "Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes". Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases. BioMed Central Ltd. 2: 22. doi:10.1186/1750-1172-2-22. PMID 17480225. Retrieved 2007-09-05. Unknown parameter
|coauthors=
ignored (help) - ↑ Jones, DR (Jul 1998). "Pancoast tumors of the lung". Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 4 (4): 191–197. PMID 10813231. Unknown parameter
|coauthors=
ignored (help)