In the early stages of lung cancer, symptoms do not usually manifest – this is because the lungs do not have a significant amount of pain receptors. Many early lung cancers are diagnosed as an incidental finding with a test for a different purpose. When symptoms do appear, knowing the warning signs of lung cancer may allow you to get screened earlier. Finding lung cancer early allows for more personalized treatment options, with a much better success rate.
Having one of the following symptoms of lung cancer is generally not a cause for worry, but if you experience multiple symptoms for an extended amount of time, it’s time to see your doctor.
- Persistent Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Hoarseness
- Bronchitis, pneumonia, emphysema
- Chest Pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Bone pain
Risks:
- Smoking
- Exposure to second hand smoke
- Radon gas exposure
- Asbestos exposure
- Exposure to other carcinogens
- Arsenic in drinking water
- Air quality
- Previous radiation to lungs
- Previous diagnosis or family history
What are the benefits of lung cancer screening?
Because many lung cancer patients don’t have any symptoms associated with lung cancer before they are diagnosed, many diagnoses occur after the cancer has already spread outside of the lung. The stage the cancer is at the time of diagnosis determines the treatment options available to the patient.
What is Staging?
Staging is the process of defining the extent of the disease. Staging is essential in determining not only the first treatment but the treatment plan altogether.
According to the National Cancer Institute, the definition of stages of lung cancer are:
Stage 1: The lung cancer is found only in the part of the body where it started, ie the lung. This is called localized disease.
Stages 2-4: The cancer has spread to one or more different parts of the body. This is called regional or distant or advanced disease.
The earlier lung cancer is caught, the better chance the lung cancer patient has of surviving 5 or more years after their diagnosis. Unfortunately, less than 18 out of every 100 lung cancer cases are diagnosed before the cancer has spread. Above all, for those who are diagnosed at the local stage, the chance of surviving 5 years or more after diagnosis is nearly 60 out of 100.
By comparison, the overall 5-year survival rate for lung cancer is about 22 out of every 100 lung cancer patients. Additionally, for those whose lung cancer is not detected until the lung cancer has metastasized, that number is only 6 out of every 100.
Who should be screened for lung cancer?
The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual lung cancer scans for people who:
- Have a 20 pack-year or more smoking history, and
- Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years, and
- Are between 50 and 80 years old.
For more information visit www.lcfaamerica.org