Expert Lists Proactive Steps You Can Take Today To Lower Your Risk Of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer remains one of the most common and deadly forms of cancer worldwide, claiming the lives of millions of people every year. The risk factors for lung cancer can range from environmental influences like smoking and air pollution to genetic predispositions. While some of these factors, such as family history, are beyond our control, there are numerous proactive steps that individuals can take to reduce their risk of developing lung cancer. The key to prevention lies in understanding these risk factors and making lifestyle changes that can help mitigate them. 

In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr Mayank Saxena, Additional Director - Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital, Noida explained that most of the time Lung cancer symptoms may not appear until the disease has advanced. Moreover, few times patients can be detected for lung cancer in an asymptotic stage in incidental findings on health checkups. Still, there are some common signs and symptoms that can hint towards lung cancer.

Symptoms Of Lung Cancer

1. Persistent coughing
2. Coughing up blood or rust-coloured sputum
3. Chest pain or discomfort
4. Fatigue
5. Weight loss
6. Loss of appetite
7. Recurring lung infections (pneumonia or bronchitis)
8. Wheezing or whistling sounds while breathing

Atypical symptoms may not be specific to lung cancer but symptoms related to other body organs however they are due to the spread of the disease.

1. Difficulty swallowing
2. Hoarseness of voice 
3. Swelling in the face, arms, or neck
4. Pain in the bones (back, ribs, or hips)
5. Neurological symptoms (headaches, seizures, or confusion)
8. Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

Symptoms Of Lung Cancer (Image Credits: Canva)

Other symptoms which can be linked with disease progression can be

1. Pleural effusion (fluid buildup in the chest)
2. Pericardial effusion (fluid buildup up around the heart)
3. ⁠symptoms or X-ray findings showing signs of lung collapse 
4. ⁠worsening Pre-existing symptoms can also hint towards lung cancer

Problems happen when people tend to ignore the symptoms or misdiagnosis happens. As similar symptoms sometimes are confusing and can be seen with any infection like TB or cancer might be co-existing with tb so it is important to achieve proper diagnosis by proper diagnostic tests like biopsy which can help in differentiating between diseases and pinpointing the right diagnosis.

Also, one has to be aware of coexisting lung diseases like COPD asthma, ILD, and heart disease which may also coexist with lung cancer, sometimes lung symptoms may not be much but the patient gets diagnosed incidentally while management of the underlying problem is continued so a thorough assessment can help in right diagnosis moreover control of symptoms of the underlying disease can help in better toleration of medicine and improves the quality of life to an extent. 

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