Lung cancer is cancer that starts in the lungs. Cancer is the condition in which your body cells divide uncontrollably. Normally, your cells grow and divide in a set pattern. When they become cancerous, they replicate uncontrollably.
Lung cancer affects your breathing, making it difficult for you to breathe on your own. When the disease progresses, you may need external support to breathe. The major risk factor for lung cancer is smoking. However, other factors may also play a role in causing it.
If you smoke cigarettes, try to quit them as soon as possible. Many people think that they have already smoked for a lot of years, so quitting smoking would not make any difference. However, this is wrong. No matter how many years you have smoked, it is never too late to quit it.
If you find it difficult to quit smoking, you must seek professional help. Your healthcare providers may prescribe you nicotine gum that can help you quit smoking.
In this article, we will tell you the symptoms, risk factors, and other essential information about lung cancer. You must know that so you can play a role in its prevention and early diagnosis.
If you have any symptoms of lung cancer, never delay the visit to the healthcare provider. Early detection can help in a better prognosis. Otherwise, when it is diagnosed too late, the condition may become too difficult to treat. If you have any symptoms of the respiratory tract, you can visit the Pulmonologist in Lahore.
What Are The Symptoms of Lung Cancer?
In the earliest stage, lung cancer may not cause any such symptoms. Therefore you may not know about it. However, as the condition progresses, the symptoms may become apparent.
The common signs and symptoms of lung cancer are:
- Occurrence of cough that does not go away
- Coughing up blood, even a small amount
- Bone pain
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Hoarseness
- Unexplained weight loss
What Are The Risk Factors For Lung Cancer?
Before we talk about anything else, you must know the risk factors for lung cancer. It is because if you know them, only then you will be able to quit them. Factors that can put you at risk of developing lung cancer are:
Smoking
The major risk factor for lung cancer is smoking. Cigarettes contain toxic chemicals that cause changes in your epithelial linings, eventually leading to the unorganized growth of cells that becomes cancer. Therefore the earlier you stop smoking, the chances of lung cancer are lowered. The more you smoke, the more your risk for lung cancer increases.
Exposure To Secondhand Smoke
Not just smoking on your own, but getting exposure to secondhand smoke also puts you at risk of developing lung cancer.
Previous Radiation Therapy
Getting exposure to radiation therapy in the chest area for some other cancer can also put you at risk of developing lung cancer.
Exposure To Carcinogens
Long-term exposure to carcinogens such as arsenic, asbestos, chromium, and nickel can increase the risk of lung cancer. The risk increases even more if you smoke cigarettes.
Family History
Having a family history of lung cancer can increase the risk for you. If you have a family history of lung cancer, you must attend visits to the healthcare provider frequently.
The Bottom Line
The risk of lung cancer is increased many times if you smoke cigarettes. Therefore you must quit it as soon as possible. If you have difficulty doing that, you can seek professional help.
Cigarette smoking and a family history of lung cancer can increase the risk of lung cancer. Therefore you should attend follow-up visits with your healthcare provider. To get an expert opinion, you can consult with a pulmonologist in Ittefaq Hospital.
