health
When a cough is no longer 'just a cough': Dr. Tatjana Radosavljević warns of lung cancer symptoms
Lung cancer is one of the most insidious malignant diseases because it can develop for a long time almost without symptoms. When signs of the disease appear, patients often attribute them to smoking, fatigue, or transient ailments, which is why the disease is detected in a large number of people only in advanced stages. However, pulmonologist prim. dr sci. med. Tatjana Radosavljević warns that there are symptoms that should not be ignored, especially when they last a long time or change their character.
TL;DR
- Lung cancer often lacks early symptoms, leading to detection in advanced stages.
- Key warning signs include a persistent cough that changes character, coughing up blood, chest pain, and shoulder pain.
- A cough lasting over two weeks, regardless of treatment, warrants a lung scan.
- CT scans are crucial for early detection, while MRIs are not specifically used for lung cancer.
- Pancoast tumors can cause shoulder pain, often misdiagnosed as rheumatic or orthopedic issues.
- Advanced lung cancer can lead to neurological problems such as muscle weakness or seizures.
- Other potential symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, anemia, and enlarged lymph nodes.
- Diagnosis involves tissue sampling via bronchoscopy, needle biopsy, or VATS procedures.
- There are two main types: small cell (aggressive, rarely operable) and non-small cell (potentially treatable if caught early).
- Immunotherapy offers hope for adenocarcinoma and potentially other lung cancer types.
- Smoking is the primary risk factor; quitting significantly reduces risk.
- Smokers over 40 should have annual preventive lung scans.
- Patients should trust their oncologists, follow treatment plans, and attend regular check-ups.
- Beware of unproven 'miracle cures' that exploit vulnerable patients.