How to treat edema in late stage lung cancer

Lung cancer is a lung malignant tumor with a high incidence and mortality rate. Lung cancer cells in the late stage can metastasize to multiple parts of the body, causing a series of symptoms and causing great pain to patients, requiring timely intervention. Edema is a common symptom. In addition to physiological factors, it is often a manifestation of the disease and should not be easily ignored.

There are many reasons for edema in the late stage of lung cancer. Only by clarifying the cause can we treat it symptomatically. The common reasons are mainly the following four: First, patients with advanced lung cancer are weak and consume a lot, which can cause hypoproteinemia and edema symptoms, sometimes affecting the whole body, and more obvious in the sagging parts. Secondly, lung cancer tumors or metastatic lesions can compress the blood vessels in the corresponding parts, and the areas affected by blood circulation are prone to edema. Then, lung cancer tumors can invade large blood vessels, causing edema symptoms in the corresponding parts of the body. In addition, if cancer cells invade endocrine organs in the late stage of lung cancer, they can damage endocrine function and cause edema. It should be noted that edema in the late stage of lung cancer is likely to be caused by superior vena cava compression syndrome. Thoracic tumors such as lung cancer can compress the superior vena cava, causing congestion in the patient's head, neck, upper limbs, and upper chest, and upper limb edema is prone to occur. If it is not treated in time, it can endanger the patient's central nervous system and even threaten the patient's life. Edema in the late stage of lung cancer, if it is confirmed to be caused by superior vena cava compression syndrome, chemotherapy or radiotherapy should be carried out in time after the pathological examination confirms the condition.

In short, there are many possible reasons for edema in the late stage of lung cancer. It is best to be hospitalized for standardized treatment. The doctor will formulate a reasonable treatment plan based on the patient's specific condition. Pay attention to finding the cause of edema and carry out targeted treatment. In terms of nursing, you can reduce salt intake, supplement nutrition appropriately, and perform gentle exercises to raise the swollen limb under the guidance of a doctor to avoid infection in the swollen skin, which is conducive to alleviating the edema symptoms of patients with advanced lung cancer and improving their quality of life.