About the Author
Dr. Kiran Paranjape
A Professional Orthopedic Surgeon.
"Recurrent Episodic Chest Pain" is the earliest symptom of Lung Cancer. However, the most frequent cause of chest pain is cardio-vascular insufficiency i.e. heart attack which needs to be ruled out by an electrocardiogram. The pain in lung cancer is constant dull aching type while in heart attack it has a sharp shooting nature. As the tumor grows and invades the healthy tissue, its ability to transfer oxygen in the air to blood decreases and patient develops "shortness of breath". Invasion by cancer cells makes the lung tissue non-functional. This dead tissue is invaded by air born bacteria causing "repeated episodes of pneumonia".
As the invading cancerous tissue irritates the bronchus i.e. the windpipe, the patient develops "cough which doesn't improve with medications". If the cancer tissue erodes through the bronchus damaging its blood supply, patient "coughs up blood". Metastatic spread of the cancer to distant places indicates failure of body defenses which leads to "loss of weight" and "tired feeling with lethargy".
Diagnosis of Lung Cancer
Medical History about
1> Lung cancer in the family
2> Exposure to occupationally hazardous substances or radiation
3> Smoking
Check my next article on "Investigations of Lung Cancer".
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for the general public awareness only. The patient is advised to take proper medical opinion before undergoing any treatment mentioned herein. The author and publisher are not responsible for any consequences thereof.
Published by Dr. Kiran Paranjape on December 9, 2005 04:23 AM
