Lung Cancer Symptoms

Are you in fear of having lung cancer?  Well relax for now, there is no reason to stress until you are diagnosed by your doctor.  Everyday people are in fear of having lung cancer because they have the symptoms, but it is simply something else.  So beware if you have the symptoms of lung cancer, and talk to your doctor, but do not fear until you are fully diagnosed.

Symptoms of lung cancer are a new, consistent cough, a change in “smoker’s cough,” or coughing up blood.  Even if you are coughing up blood is small amounts, it is still wise to talk to your doctor, especially if you smoke or have smoked.

Other symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, and hoarseness.  Do not be too scared if you are having these symptoms, there are other likely causes, but you may want to talk to your doctor about your symptoms.  You definitely want to talk to your doctor if you have any of the following risk factors, and you should tell your doctor about your risk factors, as well as your symptoms.

The risk factors of lung cancer are numerous, but some are avoidable.  You are at a higher risk factor if you are a woman or if you have a family history of lung cancer.  These factors cannot be controlled or avoided, but other risk factors can be.

Risk factors that can be avoided are smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, expose to radon gas, exposure to asbestos and other chemicals, or excessive alcohol drinking.  To avoid lung cancer you need to keep your body healthy by not smoking or drinking, and you should involve exercise in your life along with a healthy diet.  You also want to be sure that you are living and working in a safe environment.  If there are a lot of chemicals, make sure you know how to properly protect yourself.

Also, when you are in fear of having lung cancer, it is important to not only know the risk factors and symptoms, but also understand the causes.  There are two types of lung cancer, one in smokers and people exposed to secondhand smoke, and one that is found in people who have never been exposed to smoke.

Smokers cause damage to the cells that line the lungs.  This damage to the cells can be repaired at first, but as a person has repeated exposure to the cigarette smoke, the damage worsens and your body can not repair them fast enough.  Eventually, these damaged cells will turn into abnormal cells and cancer may develop.

While it is rare, people who have never smoke or never been around cigarette smoke may develop lung cancer as well.  In these cases the person’s environments are checked for radon and other dangerous chemicals.

Lung cancer is not something you want to take lightly.  If you feel you are at high risk for lung cancer, whether you have the symptoms or not, you should get checked regularly after the age of 40.  I only say this because normally the symptoms will not show up until the cancer is in the advanced stages.  You want to catch cancer early, like with all cancers, the earlier it is detected, the easier it is to cure.