Coughing.. which many people often overlook, sometimes letting it persist for weeks because they think it’s just a “common illness.” But in fact, chronic cough is also one of the warning signs of “lung cancer,” a disease commonly found in both Thai men and women, and is one of the leading causes of death among cancer patients. Knowing this… it seems we should pay more attention to chronic cough symptoms we have, right?
Indications for Early Lung Cancer Screening
- Individuals aged 55-74 years who are in good health
- Those who smoke or have quit smoking less than 15 years ago
- Those who have smoked 30 pack-years (or 1 pack per day for 30 years)
What Are the Risk Factors for “Lung Cancer”?
- Direct smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke
- Exposure to carcinogens or asbestos, radon gas, heavy metals such as arsenic, chromium, nickel
- Family history of cancer
Warning Signs.. That Indicate Risk of “Lung Cancer”
- Chronic cough
- Cough with sound
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest tightness
- Hoarseness
- Bone pain, headache
In some cases, there may be cancer-related symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, or if the cancer spreads to other organs, other symptoms may occur, such as:
- Spreading to lymph nodes causing swollen lymph nodes, or in some cases, blockage of blood vessels such as blockage of the neck veins causing blood congestion and facial swelling
- Spreading to the pleura causing fluid in the pleural cavity (Pleural Effusion)
- Spreading to the brain causing headaches, seizures, paralysis, drowsiness, unconsciousness
- Spreading to the liver causing jaundice and yellowing of the eyes
Meanwhile, some patients may have symptoms called Paraneoplastic Syndrome, the exact cause of which is still unknown, such as fever with chills, joint and muscle pain, swollen joints, high blood calcium levels, and elevated levels of certain hormones in the blood. These symptoms will disappear if the tumor is removed, and if the disease recurs, the symptoms may return.
Methods for Lung Cancer Screening
- Health examination starting with history taking, physical examination by a specialist, and blood tests
- Low-dose computed tomography (low-dose CT)
Lung cancer is considered a common cancer, and the chance of early detection is low. “Taking care of your health” is therefore an important prevention method, and if there are abnormal symptoms, you should see a doctor promptly before the disease progresses to a life-threatening stage.
Dr. Wichit Aphonwirat
Oncology Specialist
Cancer Center, Phyathai 2 Hospital
