What are the symptoms of lung cancer and emphysema?
Jun 26, 2010 in
Mesothelioma FAQs
I have smoked for 14 years, and the last 3 years I have been coughing a lot and the mucus is there but I cant seem to cough it up, can someone tell me if this is cancer or emphysema?
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5 comments
Blossom on June 26, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Lung Cancer Symptoms
Lung cancer symptoms that suggest lung cancer include:
•Dyspnea (Shortness of Breath)
•Hemoptysis (Coughing Up Blood)
•Chronic Coughing or Change in Regular Coughing Pattern
•Wheezing
•Chest Pain or Pain in the Abdomen
•Cachexia (Weight Loss), Fatigue, and Loss of Appetite
•Dysphonia (Hoarse Voice)
•Clubbing of the Fingernails (Uncommon)
•Dysphagia (Difficulty Swallowing).
If the cancer grows in the airway, it may obstruct airflow, causing breathing difficulties. This can lead to accumulation of secretions behind the blockage, predisposing the patient to pneumonia. Many lung cancers have a rich blood supply. The surface of the cancer may be fragile, leading to bleeding from the cancer into the airway. This blood may subsequently be coughed up.
Depending on the type of tumor, so-called paraneoplastic phenomena may initially attract attention to the disease. In lung cancer, these phenomena may include Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (muscle weakness due to auto-antibodies), hypercalcemia, or syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). Tumors in the top (apex) of the lung, known as Pancoast tumors, may invade the local part of the sympathetic nervous system, leading to changed sweating patterns and eye muscle problems (a combination known as Horner’s syndrome) as well as muscle weakness in the hands due to invasion of the brachial plexus.
Many of the symptoms of lung cancer (bone pain, fever, and weight loss) are nonspecific; in the elderly, these may be attributed to comorbid illness. In many patients, the cancer has already spread beyond the original site by the time they have symptoms and seek medical attention. Common sites of metastasis include the brain, bone, adrenal glands, contralateral (opposite) lung, liver, pericardium, and kidneys. About 10% of people with lung cancer do not have symptoms at diagnosis; these cancers are incidentally found on routine chest radiograph.
Lung Cancer Causes
The main causes of lung cancer (and cancer in general) include carcinogens (such as those in tobacco smoke), ionizing radiation, and viral infection. This exposure causes cumulative changes to the DNA in the tissue lining the bronchi of the lungs (the bronchial epithelium). As more tissue becomes damaged, eventually a cancer develops.
•Smoking
Smoking, particularly of cigarettes, is by far the main contributor to lung cancer. Across the developed world, almost 90% of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking. In the United States, smoking is estimated to account for 87% of lung cancer cases (90% in men and 85% in women). Among male smokers, the lifetime risk of developing lung cancer is 17.2%; among female smokers, the risk is 11.6%. This risk is significantly lower in nonsmokers: 1.3% in men and 1.4% in women. Cigarette smoke contains over 60 known carcinogens, including radioisotopes from the radon decay sequence, nitrosamine, and benzopyrene. Additionally, nicotine appears to depress the immune response to malignant growths in exposed tissue.
The length of time a person smokes (as well as rate of smoking) increases the person’s chance of developing lung cancer. If a person stops smoking, this chance steadily decreases as damage to the lungs is repaired and contaminant particles are gradually removed. In addition, there is evidence that lung cancer in never-smokers has a better prognosis than in smokers, and that patients who smoke at the time of diagnosis have shorter survival times than those who have quit.
Passive smoking—the inhalation of smoke from another’s smoking—is a cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. A passive smoker can be classified as someone living or working with a smoker as well. Studies from the U.S., Europe, the UK, and Australia have consistently shown a significant increase in relative risk among those exposed to passive smoke. Recent investigation of sidestream smoke suggests that it is more dangerous than direct smoke inhalation.
What Are The Symptoms Of Emphysema?
The first sign of emphysema is shortness of breath when you are exerting yourself. Eventually, this shortness of breath may occur even when you are at rest.
As the disease progresses, the following symptoms which are related to one of the other major lung diseases also caused by smoking – bronchitis – may occur:
•Difficulty breathing (dyspnea – this can also be caused by emphysema)
•Coughing (with or without sputum)
•Wheezing (this can also be caused by emphysema itself)
•Excess mucus production
•A bluish tint to the skin (cyanosis)
Nice To Know:
If wheezing occurs, it helps to know whether it is found while breathing in or out (or both). Wheezing at the end of a complete exhalation is usually due to bronchitis. Wheezing that begins early in expiration is usually due to emphysema or the combination of bronchitis and emphysema – COPD.
If you only wheeze when you breathe in, you probably have asthma (or, very rarely, a narrowing of you
wiseman/guru on June 26, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Coughing and can’t breath, for both. Doctor could go deeper into a diagnosis and give you the good news. Pneumonia!
Peace.
P.S. After three years of coughing, you haven’t stopped smoking? You want to commit slow suicide?
LORI on June 26, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Maybe emphysema or that chronic bronchitis- which is the cause of ‘smokers cough’, sounds kinda like thats what you have?
It could also be lung cancer but I think that has different symptoms- weight loss, coughing up blood, etc. I am not sure if it has the same symptoms as the other two early on though.
You should talk to your doctor about it, they may want to run some tests? Also you may want to quit smoking at this point, most of the lung damage from all 3 of those problems will be irreversible but you don’t want it to get worse. The doc can help with that
magilacutty on June 26, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Shortness of breath is a sure sign that the lungs are damaged. Go see a doctor ASAP. He will listen to you breathe, and may order a x-ray. X-ray will show any spots caused by a lung problem. But the best thing you can do for yourself is to stop smoking; it’s a loaded gun to your head.
mamasan on June 26, 2010 at 2:48 pm
I had no signs. I had lung cancer. I do know that my les hurt real bad to where I went to the emergency room. Thats when I found out I had cancer. more than 8 hours later on a hunch. Go to the doctor and get a chest xray.