Lung Cancer Symptoms

There are two major types of lung cancer which grow and spread in completely different ways and it is important to know which type is present. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer related death not only in the United States, but all over the world for both men and women. Most people with lung cancer do experience lung cancer symptoms - however, some people may never know they have the disease until revealed by a chest X-ray. One of the major reasons for the lethality of lung cancer is that lung cancer symptoms are not typically present until the disease has spread, thus making treatment difficult.

The two major types of lung cancer are small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and classification of them is based on their particular appearance through a microscope. It is possible for other types of cancer to appear in the lungs such as bronchial carcinoids, but they account for a very small percentage and are usually found in people under forty. Also, cancer may have spread from other areas of the body to the lungs and these are known as metastastatic cancers.

Small cell lung carcinoma grows rapidly and is the more aggressive of the two types. These are usually discovered after they have spread through the body. They are often referred to as oat cell carcinomas and directly related to cigarette smoking as less than one percent of individuals that do not smoke are affected.

There are three types of non-small cell carcinomas and they make up more than eighty percent of all cancer found in the lung. Adenocarcinomas are seen in both smokers and non-smokers; in most cases these tumors are located in outside areas of the lungs. Squamous cell carcinomas are more often found in the chest area instead of bronchi and have become less common than adenocarcinomas. Large cell carcinomas are very uncommon. There is a possibility that a mixture of all three types can be present.

When lung cancer symptoms are experienced they are most often directly related to the initial tumor, to malignant problems caused by hormones and blood, or other systems within the body and metastastatic tumors in other areas. Some initial signs may be a new cough or one that will not go away. Also if at any time there is blood involved with the coughing this should certainly be reason for medical attention.

Chest pains accompanied by shortness of breath and wheezing are common lung cancer symptoms. The pain can indicate involvement with other areas outside the lung. Shortness of breath and wheezing may indicate that there is the presence of fluid around the lungs which is known as pleural effusion. These can also be indicators that a blockage is present. A series of respiratory infections like bronchitis or pneumonia may also be an indicator of lung cancer.

A buildup of fluid between the heart and the sac surrounding it is also a possible of some lung cancer symptoms, but does not occur often and this is known as pericardial effusion. The collapse of a lung or pneumothorax is also responsible for some symptoms that resemble lung cancer symptoms. Other lung cancer symptoms may appear with relation to other areas in the body if the cancer metastasizes.

Treatment will be chosen after a series of test which will usually include X-rays, PET scans, CT scans and bone scans. The physician will need to assess the current stage of the lung cancer. Unfortunately the prognosis for this particular type of cancer is not good due to lung cancer symptoms not being present until the disease has spread. If one can detect the lung cancer early, then the prognosis is better and life expectancy longer.