What you must know about lung cancer

Long-time conservative talk-show host and icon, 69-year old Rush Limbaugh, recently announced that he is being treated for advanced lung cancer.  While he is in the fight of his life, his unexpected announcement should remind all of us to be educated and well-aware of lung cancer’s early signs and symptoms. We know Rush is a warrior and wish him the very best in beating back this disease and continuing his illustrious career.

What is lung cancer?

One of the most fragile organs in the human body is the lungs. Located in the chest, each lung is a cone-shaped organ of spongy tissue containing millions of tiny air sacs call alveoli. Blood circulates through the lungs releasing its carbon dioxide while picking up fresh oxygen to carry to the tissues throughout the body.

Lung cancer begins in the lungs as a tumor, which is a group of cells that grow and destroy surrounding tissue. While many of us reason that lung cancer could never happen to us – especially if you don’t smoke or are around others who do - lung cancer can and does affect all different types of people and is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the U.S. 

The survival outlook for lung cancer isn’t good.  Lung cancer’s five-year survival rate is 17.7 percent which is lower than many other leading cancers – colon has a five-year survival rate of 64.4 percent, breast – 89.7 percent, and prostate – 98.9 percent.  

The key to increasing survival rate for lung cancer is to be diagnosed at an early stage when the disease is still localized or within the lungs.  Generally, most people by the time they are diagnosed with it, their cancer has already metastasized or spread beyond the lungs making it very difficult to control at that point.

By being aware of and knowing possible signs of lung cancer may help save your life if detected early.  If lung cancer is caught before it spreads, the likelihood of surviving 5 years or more improves to 55 percent. 

Warning signs of lung cancer

Here are 8 warning signs that might possibly signal lung cancer. Anyone who has any of these symptoms needs to address them with their primary care physician as soon as possible to rule out the disease. The sooner a person can see their physician for further investigation, the greater the chance of catching it at an early, more survivable stage:

1.     Persistent cough or hoarseness

Anyone with a cough that just won’t go away needs to see their doctor.  Even if it started out as a result of a cold, if a person continues to have a dry or productive cough along with a raspy, hoarse voice lasting longer than eight weeks with no other apparent cause, it needs to be addressed.

2.     Shortness of breath and wheezing

When a person suddenly finds themselves short of breath or becoming winded when performing activities that normally haven’t been a problem, it should be interpreted as a warning sign of something wrong. 

Having shortness of breath can be due to many causes other than lung cancer.  But if a person is already at a high risk of lung cancer, the sooner it is checked out the better. 

Pay attention to your breathing.  If you have noticed wheezing or a whistling sound when you breathe, this might indicate lung cancer, however, there are also many other reasons for wheezing. When airways become constricted, blocked, or inflamed, the lungs can produce a wheezing or whistling sound while breathing.

3.     Plummeting weight loss and loss of appetite

Unexplained or unanticipated weight loss without trying to lose weight is always a warning sign of something not right.  It does not automatically mean lung cancer but unplanned weight loss needs to be addressed.  Usually a decrease in appetite tends to accompany weight loss and together this could be a sign of a cancer tumor. Even though everything else may be fine, the body is working hard to heal a tumor that keeps growing while causing a greater calorie burn.

Cancer-related weight loss is called cachexia and usually occurs when a person has made no significant dietary or exercise habits.  In extreme cases, it can cause the body to literally waste away as it uses up muscle mass and body fat in search of all possible sources of energy.

4.     Chest pain

Experiencing chest pain deep in the lungs particularly when lifting something, coughing or laughing could be a sign of lung cancer.  If the pain becomes persistent this could indicate a growing tumor pressing against surrounding tissues and nerve endings as it increases in size. 

5.     Coughing up blood or rust-colored sputum

It’s never a good sign when a person coughs up blood or blood in phlegm.  It may not necessarily be a sign of lung cancer but it does need to be brought to the attention of a doctor. 

Usually by the time a person may be coughing up blood, they have also been having symptoms of shortness of breath, pain in the chest or a persistent fever.

6.     Feeling tired or weak

Experiencing tiredness or weakness can mean a lot of different things.  But anytime one notices a dramatic reduction in energy levels to the point that it is a major struggle to get things done either at work or home, this does indicate something is going on and it could be a sign of cancer.

As cancer advances, it is taking a toll on the body’s energy system which leads to feelings of tiring easily and feeling weaker than usual.

7.     Reoccurring bronchitis or pneumonia

Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchi, the main air passages to the lungs.  It tends to occur after a viral respiratory infection and can be either short-lived (acute) or chronic.  Chronic bronchitis is where a person is producing excessive mucus when coughing and where it has lasted most days of the month for at least 3 months.  Pneumonia can develop from either acute or chronic bronchitis.

Suffering from either reoccurring bronchitis or pneumonia needs to be looked into as to why they keep coming back.  A doctor should do a thorough work up of labs and imaging testing to rule out lung cancer. 

8.     Shoulder pain

Once a lung tumor has grown large enough and begins to put pressure on the top of the lungs, this can affect the nerves in the armpit causing shoulder pain. The pressure felt can cause aches, tingling, and pain sensations that shoot down the shoulder, inner arm, and hands. The pain related to lung cancer can be tenderness and soreness of the rib cage, especially near the armpits.  Swollen lymph nodes, general body aches, and facial swelling may also be present once lung cancer has advanced.

David B. Samadi, MD, Urologic Oncology Expert and Robotic Surgeon located at 485 Madison Avenue on the 21st floor, New York, NY – 212-365-5000.  Follow Dr. Samadi at www.samadimd.com,  www.prostatecancer911.com, and www.roboticoncology.com