Cancer Health

One of the challenges of successfully treating lung cancer is to identify the disease while it is still in its early stages. Unfortunately, symptoms rarely manifest until the cancerous cells have begun to spread. This is why many victims remain unaware they have the disease until a doctor performs tests for something else. The problem is, once the cancerous cells have metastasized (i.e. spread to other parts of the body), the condition is more difficult to treat. This is the reason it is critical to identify symptoms of lung cancer as early as possible.

This article will describe common warning signs of lung cancer – both while the disease is localized and after it has begun to spread. We’ll also explain how minimally invasive lung cancer surgery may be an appropriate solution.

Symptoms When The Disease Is Localized

A common early indication of the cancer is a persistent cough. It is often missed because there are many other possible factors to which it may be attributed. For example, during the colder months, a chronic cough may be blamed on a cold. If a patient suffers from asthma, the cough may be considered a side effect. Even in the event that a patient coughs up a small amount of blood, it is typically ignored or attributed to a temporary factor.

Another early sign is difficulty breathing, especially after strenuous activity. This too, is easy to miss. Patients often ascribe a shortness of breath to their being out of shape.

Tumors can often place pressure on nerves, even during early stage the desease. This pressure can cause shoulder and chest pain, which is present in nearly half of all patients who suffer the disease when it is diagnosed.

Warning Signs The Disease Has Spread

When cancerous cells spread throughout the lung tissue and threaten to metastasize to other organs, a new host of symptoms may manifest. Common sites of lung cancer metastasis include the brain, liver, and bones. If the disease spreads to your brain, you may experience vision problems, seizures, and persistent headaches. If the cancerous cells spread into your bones, you will feel pain throughout your back and ribs. The pain will eventually reach your hips.

Minimally Invasive Lung Cancer Surgery

Your doctor will likely recommend surgically removing the cancerous tissue. This has traditionally been done through open surgery during which the surgical team will make a long incision into your chest and spread your ribs to gain access to the lungs. An alternative approach is to use video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). This is a minimally invasive strategy that precludes spreading the ribcage. As a result, the recovery time is significantly shorter and there is usually far less pain following the operation.

While minimally invasive surgery is becoming more popular, many hospitals and surgical centers lack the tools and skills to perform it. If you are suffering from lung cancer and are a candidate for lobectomy, ask your doctor whether a minimally invasive approach is possible.