Symptoms caused by primary lung cancer tumors

The clinical manifestations of lung cancer are closely related to its location, size, type, stage of development, and the presence or absence of complications or metastasis. 5%-15% of people have no symptoms when they are diagnosed with lung cancer. The symptoms caused by the primary tumor of lung cancer include the following aspects.

1. Cough is a common early symptom. Tumors in the trachea may cause irritating dry coughs or a small amount of mucus sputum. Alveolar carcinoma may cause a large amount of mucus sputum. Tumors cause distal bronchial stenosis, aggravated coughs, often persistent, and high-pitched metallic sounds. It is a characteristic obstructive cough. When there is a secondary infection, the amount of sputum increases and becomes mucopurulent.

2. Hemoptysis Hemoptysis is often caused by the rich blood vessels in tumor tissue. It is more common in central lung cancer, and often presents as blood in sputum or intermittent blood in sputum, which often does not attract the attention of patients and delays early diagnosis. If large blood vessels are eroded, it can cause severe hemoptysis.

3. Stridor: Due to partial bronchial obstruction caused by tumors, about 2% of patients may experience localized stridor.

4. Chest tightness and shortness of breath Tumors can cause bronchial stenosis, especially central lung cancer, or tumors can metastasize to the hilar lymph nodes, causing the enlarged lymph nodes to compress the main bronchi or carina, or metastasize to the pleura, causing a large amount of pleural effusion, or metastasize to the pericardium, causing pericardial effusion, or adenocarcinoma paralysis, superior lacunar vein obstruction, and extensive lung involvement, all of which can affect lung function and cause chest tightness and shortness of breath. If there is existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or combined with spontaneous pneumothorax, chest tightness and shortness of breath will be more severe.

5. Weight loss is one of the common symptoms of tumors. When the tumor develops to the late stage, due to the tumor toxins and consumption, as well as infection and pain, the appetite loss may manifest as weight loss or cachexia.

6. Fever. Generally, tumors can cause fever due to necrosis. Most fevers are caused by secondary pneumonia caused by tumors, and antibiotic treatment is not effective.