01. The Early Symptoms of Lung Cancer Are Not Obvious
Recently, the National Cancer Center released data on the burden of malignant tumors in China in 2022 in the National Cancer Center Journal. The report shows that lung cancer remains the most common cancer in China, with the highest incidence rate among all cancers, truly leading the way in cancer statistics.
The early symptoms of lung cancer mainly involve tumor compression and invasion and are generally not very noticeable. This is because the lungs have a large volume, so compression symptoms are not obvious. It's only when the tumor grows to a certain extent, usually entering the intermediate or late stage, that it begins to exhibit noticeable symptoms.
02. Eight Common Symptoms of Lung Cancer That Shouldn't Be Ignored
- Coughing: Often presents as paroxysmal dry cough caused by stimulation from the tumor and its secretions.
- Hemoptysis: Blood-streaked or blood-clot-like sputum, with severe cases leading to significant hemoptysis. Coughing up sputum is a common manifestation in almost all lung cancer patients, and when tumors ulcerate and cause blood vessel rupture, it can result in hemoptysis, appearing as repeated small amounts of blood in the sputum.
- Chest Pain: Described as a "choking" chest pain due to tumor invasion of the chest wall or obstructive pneumonia.
- Fatigue, Unexplained Weight Loss, Vague Chest Pain, Chest Tightness, Dyspnea: Common in central-type lung cancer, often caused by tumor obstruction of the trachea or pleural effusion.
- Fever: Typically around 38°C, more common in the afternoon and evening. It is often caused by secondary infections due to bronchial obstruction by the tumor, resulting in the inability to expel phlegm. While antipyretic therapy can reduce fever, it may recur.
- Symptoms of Metastasis: Brain, bone, liver, and adrenal glands are the most common sites of metastasis, presenting symptoms such as headaches, seizures, bone pain, and pain in the liver area.
- Paraneoplastic Syndromes: Including myasthenia gravis, dermatomyositis, paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis, and hyponatremia.
- Hoarseness: Hoarseness is often the first complaint, often accompanied by coughing, indicating that the cancer has reached an advanced stage (due to compression or invasion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve).
03. Six High-Risk Groups for Lung Cancer
- Long-term smokers, especially heavy smokers who typically smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day, are at high risk, especially women, whose incidence of lung cancer is more than four times that of non-smokers. This also includes passive smokers.
- People who have long-term exposure to cooking fumes, especially women who cook for long periods in kitchens exposed to cooking fumes, are also considered high-risk groups for lung cancer.
- Individuals with a history of occupational exposure. Those who have been exposed to radiation, such as workers in metal mines, are at higher risk of lung cancer due to long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic, nickel, etc., without protection. People with a history of exposure to dust or chemical agents (asbestos, beryllium, uranium, radon, etc.).
- Individuals with a history of malignant tumors (lymphoma, head and neck cancer, or smoking-related cancers).
- People with a family history, such as those with a family member who has had lung cancer or a close relative with lung cancer.
- Individuals with chronic lung diseases, such as those with a higher probability of developing lung cancer than normal individuals, such as tuberculosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pneumoconiosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.
Screening for high-risk populations is the main direction of early lung cancer screening.
04. What to Do If Lung Nodules Are Found During Physical Examination?
With the popularity of low-dose spiral CT in lung cancer screening in China, many people are found to have nodules in the lungs during physical examinations. Are they cancerous? What should you do if lung nodules are found during physical examination?
Lung nodules refer to well-defined round or irregular lesions with a diameter of less than or equal to 3cm in the lungs. Pulmonary nodules refer to lesions with a diameter of less than 1cm in the lungs as shown on imaging.
Related studies have shown that almost 90% of nodules are benign lesions; therefore, lung nodules are not synonymous with lung cancer. Whether it is benign or malignant depends on high-risk factors, family history, clinical symptoms, imaging features, and postoperative pathology.
If the doctor determines that the current nodules do not have malignant characteristics, clinical management mainly focuses on follow-up, with follow-up times set at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months depending on the patient's condition.
05. Nine Points to Note for Lung Cancer Prevention
- Quit smoking, which is the most effective way to prevent lung cancer.
- Consume fewer smoked foods.
- Limit consumption of strong alcoholic beverages.
- Avoid eating moldy or spoiled foods, and consume fewer pickled foods.
- Chew food slowly and swallow slowly, avoiding excessively hot foods.
- Eat more fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Avoid excessive fat intake, keeping fat intake below 30% of total calorie intake.
- Maintain regular sleep patterns, avoid staying up late, develop good habits of going to bed early and getting up early, maintain a happy mood, and balance work and rest.
- Engage in regular physical exercise, with daily exercise time not less than 1 hour, options including running, swimming, jogging, square dancing, Tai Chi, hiking, etc.