Early symptoms and precursors of lung cancer

The early symptoms and precursors of lung cancer mainly include cough, hemoptysis or bloody sputum, chest pain, hoarseness, male breast hypertrophy, etc. The specific analysis is as follows:

1. Cough: Lung cancer patients may have repeated coughs in the early stages, which are mostly dry coughs with little or no sputum. The coughing time is not fixed and has nothing to do with posture. Sometimes the cough may be accompanied by a small amount of white foamy sputum. For dry coughs or little sputum, it is first recommended to keep the indoor air circulating and avoid smoke and dust stimulation.

2. Hemoptysis or bloody sputum: Lung cancer patients may have blood in their sputum. This is usually caused by the necrosis of cancerous tissue and the appearance of ulcers, which causes the rupture of capillaries. The amount of hemoptysis and the duration of hemoptysis are related to the degree of vascular damage in cancerous tissue. Hemoptysis or bloody sputum is a more serious symptom of lung cancer. Once discovered, you should seek medical attention immediately for hemostasis and sedation treatment.

3. Chest pain: Lung cancer may cause chest pain, which may manifest as chest tightness and dull pain in the early stage, and the pain location is not fixed. If the pain persists, it may mean that the cancer has affected the pleura. First of all, it is recommended to rest more and avoid excessive fatigue and strenuous exercise. You can apply hot compresses or massage appropriately to relieve pain.

4. Hoarseness: Hoarseness is an early feature of lung cancer. About 5%-18% of lung cancer patients have hoarseness as the first symptom. This is usually caused by tumor invasion or compression of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. You should quit smoking to reduce irritation to the respiratory tract.

5. Male breast hypertrophy: About 10%-20% of male lung cancer patients will have breast hypertrophy, most of which are bilateral, and the onset time is about one year earlier than lung symptoms such as coughing and hemoptysis. Male breast hypertrophy may be related to lung cancer, but it may also be related to other factors. When this symptom occurs, you should first see a doctor to rule out other causes. If breast hypertrophy is confirmed to be caused by lung cancer, treatment should be targeted at lung cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc.

The early symptoms of lung cancer are not obvious and may vary from person to person. When the above symptoms occur, you should seek medical attention in time and receive professional examinations and treatment. At the same time, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as quitting smoking and avoiding long-term exposure to air pollution, can also reduce the risk of lung cancer.