What are the early symptoms of lung cancer? How to prevent lung cancer in life

Why do we have to emphasize early screening, early detection and early treatment of lung cancer? It is estimated that many people do not take it too seriously, but if you know the difference in treatment between early-stage cancer patients and late-stage cancer patients, it is estimated that more people will pay more attention. For example, for non-small cell lung cancer, if the patient is discovered in the early stage, the median survival time after surgery may be 10 years, and the median survival time in the medium term may be 1-4 years. But if it is detected in the late stage, the median survival time may be 6-8 months. The early or late discovery of the disease is directly related to the length of life, which shows the importance of early detection and early treatment!

However, at present, the early detection of lung cancer in my country is not good. Most lung cancer patients are already in the late stage when they are diagnosed. There are very few who are in the middle stage, and even fewer who are diagnosed in the early stage.

The failure to detect lung cancer early is not entirely due to the patients’ lack of vigilance!

Lung cancer is not discovered early, but it cannot be entirely blamed on the patients’ lack of vigilance. Rather, it is difficult for patients to feel symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer, or the symptoms are so mild that they are not felt. In addition, the obviousness of early symptoms of lung cancer is also closely related to the location of the tumor. About 30-40% of lung cancer is located below the segmental bronchus and has almost no symptoms. In addition, if the patient does not have a targeted physical examination, it is difficult to detect it in the early stages.

However, about 60% of central lung cancer will show some symptoms in the early stage. However, because the early stage of the disease is not serious, the symptoms are also mild, and if the symptoms are not specific, they are easily ignored by patients. In normal times, we should learn more about health knowledge and have a certain understanding of major high-risk diseases, especially some high-risk groups.

What are the symptoms of early lung cancer?

1. Cough: This is also the most common early symptom of lung cancer. Patients often cough continuously, but with little or no sputum. Conventional cough treatment drugs have no effect on it. This type of cough is caused by tumor irritation of the bronchus.

2. Chest tightness: It is often confused with heart conditions and therefore ignored by patients. Since the tumor is in the trachea, the tracheal wall will be irritated and cause discomfort. As the disease becomes more serious and the tumor grows, chest tightness and shortness of breath will become more severe.

3. Bloody sputum: Bronchial lung cancer is another name for lung cancer. Most lung cancer patients develop lesions in the bronchial mucosal wall. In the early stages of the disease, there are fewer tumors and smaller wounds. The blood vessels are tiny, so patients will cough up blood along with sputum, or even bloody sputum.

In addition to understanding the early symptoms, quitting smoking, the most important means of prevention, still needs to be mentioned again. Tobacco is the primary risk factor for lung cancer, and quitting smoking is the most critical and effective way to prevent lung cancer. In addition, kitchen fumes and decoration pollution should also be avoided as much as possible. When the air quality is poor, try to wear a haze mask when going out to reduce the intrusion of various harmful factors of lung cancer.