SYMPTOMS OF METASTATIC LUNG CANCER
Firstly, metastatic cancer means the spread of the original cancer cells from an organ in the body to other parts of the body through the blood system. Hence such a metastasis (spread) from the affected tissues of the lungs to other parts of the body is called metastatic lung cancer. Symptoms of such a metastatic cancer depend on the extent to which the spread has occurred. In a recent study by the American Cancer Society it was found that about 35% of those having lung cancer suffer symptoms leading to the metastatic disease. The most common sites of metastasis for lung cancer are liver , brain and bones. When the liver gets affected it may lead to yellowing of the skin and eyes which is however not noticeable at the time of diagnosis. When the spread is to the bones, it may lead to bone pain. This is significant in the bones of the spine, thighs and ribs. When the lung cancer spreads to brain, it may cause problems with one’s vision, weakness associated with one side of the body and/or seizures.
Identification of Lung cancer
Early symptoms of lung cancer may differ for different people. Some may have NO early symptoms at all, which is about 25% of patients; including some people with advanced lung cancer. If primary symptoms are present, they may involve any of the following stuffs: A cough that hardly retreats away and gets terribly bad, Constant chest pain, totally Coughing blood, loss of breath or wheezing, or hoarseness, Inflammation of the neck and face, Damage of appetite, Fatigue, Fever, Mass loss which require Instantaneous attention in these cases. Sometimes other early lung cancer symptoms are possible: Repeated attacks of pneumonia, Changes in the features of the fingers, Inflated or engorged lymph nodes in the higher chest and lower neck. The possible symptoms described above aren’t complete signs of lung cancer and some people with the disease shows no indications of lung cancer. Other health problems are also possible, so a person must see his doctor about any of these possible lung cancer symptoms as immediately that is possible so it can be diagnosed and treated early.
Lung Cancer Symptoms
Provisional upon where and how prevalent the tumor is, lung cancer symptoms are varied. These kinds of symptoms may be present in a patient. No symptoms: The cancer is first uncovered only on a mundane ribs X-ray or CT scan in about 25% of patients. Cancer-related: Symptoms like cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, coughing blood, shoulder pain till the outside of the arm or vocal cords paralysis leading to hoarseness, difficulty in swallowing, collapse of a portion of lung possible. Metastasis-related: Cancer spread to bones produces unbearable pain at the sites of bone involvement and that to the brain causes many of brain related symptoms like blurred vision, headaches, seizures, or stroke symptoms like weakness or loss of sensation in body parts. Paraneoplastic symptoms: These include production of a hormone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) by the cancer cells, leading to over secretion of cortisol by the adrenal glands; production of a substance like parathyroid hormone, resulting in less calcium in the bloodstream. Nonspecific symptoms: It includes weight loss, weakness, fatigue, depression and mood changes.
LUNG CANCER: WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR?
Not everybody who has lung cancer experience the symptoms when the cancer is diagnosed. One fourth of those who have lung cancer fall under this category. For such people, the cancer is identified incidentally during a chest scan taken for some other purpose. The rest three-fourths of those having lung cancer experience various symptoms that are either due to the direct effects of the primary tumor or due to the spread of the tumor to other parts of the body (metastases) causing disturbances in hormones and blood system. Such symptoms of lung cancer include coughing up blood or rusty-colored phlegm, hoarseness leading to blockage or inflammation in the lungs, fatigue and unexplained weight loss. It also includes respiratory problems such as recurrent respiratory infections, new wheezing, and shortness of breath. A new cough that gets worse and does not go away in a smoker or a former smoker should be considered seriously. A person coughing up blood in any amount should be immediately taken to a doctor to check for lung cancer. Mild yet persistent pain in the chest area should also be evaluated immediately.
INDIRECT SYMPTOMS OF LUNG CANCER
Lung cancer, particularly small cell lung cancer is the most common malignancy that leads to Paraneoplastic syndromes. Paraneoplastic syndromes are indirect effects caused by the cancer cells at a site that is distant to both the primary site of cancer as well as the metastases. However these syndromes are found to occur only in 10% of the patients suffering from cancer and hence are considered as diagnoses of exclusion. This affects body systems such as neurological, endocrine, cutaneous, renal, hematologic, gastrointestinal, and other systems. An endocrine paraneoplastic syndrome called Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) is the most common paraneoplastic syndrome seen in as many as 40% of patients diagnosed to have small cell lung cancer. The symptoms of paraneoplastic syndrome due to lung cancer include new bone formation, high calcium levels in the blood and blood clots. The new bone formation usually occurs in fingertips which is very painful. The symptoms also include low sodium levels in the blood. These indirect, remote effects are not due to direct invasion hence it is difficult to diagnose the cause of this syndrome.
