Lung Cancer Symptons

Hodgkins Disease is a form of lymph node cancer but is rare in its occurrence. It also statistically effects mostly men between the ages of fifteen and thirty-four and men over the age of fifty-four but is not exclusive to men only. Some of the most common symptoms of Hodgkins Disease are night sweats, unexplained wight loss, constant fatigue and unexplained fever. If you are experiencing any or all of these symptoms it is wise to have yourself examined by a doctor as these also could be the symptoms of another disorder.

Lung Cancer Symptons

All other remaining types of lymph node cancer are known as non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The majority of lymph node cancers treated are of the non-Hodgkins type. The symptoms of non-Hodgkins lymphoma are the same as Hodgkins Disease. Night sweats, unexplained fever, chronic fatigue and unexplained weight loss.Lymph node cancer is also known as lymphatic cancer. Those with a family history of lymph node cancer statistically fall within a higher risk group of contracting the disease. This is true for both men and women.

Lymph node cancer is a type of cancer that involves the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is an integral part of the bodies immune system. Statistically, the occurrence of lymph node cancer has increased approximately seventy-five percent since nineteen-seventy-three in the United States. Research has revealed that approximately one in fifty-two men and one in sixty-one women in the United States will contract non Hodgkin lymphoma within their lifetime. Studies have indicated that a greater exposure to herbicides and pesticides is greatly responsible for this increase.

Lymph node cancer is curable and if detected early and with effective treatment a person with lymph node cancer has a greater chance than ever before of being cured of this disease and if cured can expect to live a long and normal life. Many new and innovative treatments for lymph node cancer have been developed and are now available. The medical community has a greater understanding of lymph node cancer than in years past. Treatments that were once experimental and have been found to be effective are now being used to treat and cure lymph node cancer.

As a person ages it is to be expected that he or she will encounter medical challenges, it is part of the aging process. Lymph node cancer might be one of those challenges you encounter in your life's journey. How soundly these challenges are defeated depends greatly on how you approach them. A fighting spirit has been proven time and again to be a powerful weapon to have in your arsenal when battling cancers of all types. Accepting defeat in any challenge almost guarantees defeat. The will to fight and live on has carried so many cancer survivors to victory over the disease.

Over the last 25 years the incidence of this type of cancer in the western world has decreased by 50% and the resulting death rate is less than a third of what it used to be but in less developed countries it is still a major cause of death, probably because in these countries by the time the disease is diagnosed (usually by means of a Barium meal) the stomach cancer is at a very advanced stage.

Lung Cancer Symptons

TYPES OF STOMACH CANCER

There are several different types of stomach cancer, some of which are very rare. The most common types start in the glandular cells of the stomach lining (adenocarcinomas), this is where stomach acid and digestive enzymes are made, and where most cancers start. When the tumor becomes more advanced, it can travel through the bloodstream and spread to organs such as the liver, lungs, and bones. Cancers that start in the lymphatic tissue (lymphoma), in the stomach's muscular tissue (sarcoma) or in the tissues that support the organs of the digestive system (gastrointestinal stromal tumors) are less common and are treated in different ways.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Early clues to stomach cancer are chronic dyspepsia and epigastric discomfort, followed in later stages by weight loss, anorexia, a feeling of fullness after eating, anemia and fatigue. Blood in the stools may also be present and if the Cancer is in the Cardia (top) vomiting may occur.

CAUSATION
The exact cause is unknown although the presence of the Helicopter pylori bacterium seems to be a major factor. Predisposing factors include environmental influences such as smoking and high alcohol intake. Because stomach cancer is more common amongst those with a family history and with people with type A blood, genetic factors are also implicated. Dietary factors, particularly methods of food preservation such as pickling, smoking or salting also have an influence on the prevalence.

DIAGNOSIS
Stomach cancer is diagnosed through an examination that may include an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series; endoscopy or gastroscopy where a thin flexible tube is passed down the throat so the doctor can see into the stomach, esophagus and upper part of the bowel Barium meals and Barium swallows. Because the cancer can spread to the liver, the pancreas, and other organs near the stomach as well as to the lungs, the doctor may order a CT scan, a PET scan, an endoscopic ultrasound exam, or other tests to check these areas.

The cancer can spread (metastasize) to the esophagus or the small intestine, and can extend through the stomach wall to nearby lymph nodes and organs. Metastasis occurs in 80-90% of individuals with stomach tumors, with a five year survival rate of 75% in those diagnosed in early stages and less than 30% of those diagnosed in late stages.

TREATMENT
Although the cancer may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy, in many cases surgery is the treatment of choice. Even in patients whose disease is not considered surgically curable, resection offers a palliative effect and improves potential benefits from chemotherapy.

The nature and extent of the cancer determines what kind of surgery is most appropriate. Common surgical procedures include, partial and total removal of the stomach.
Antiemetics can control nausea, which increases as the cancer advances. In the more advanced stages, sedatives and tranquilizers may be necessary to control anxiety. Narcotics are commonly necessary to control sever and unremitting pain.
In some cases of advanced stomach cancer, a laser beam directed through an endoscope can vaporize most of the tumor and relieve obstruction without an operation.

PROGNOSIS
Stomach cancer is curable if detected early, but most people don't seek medical help until the disease is quite advanced, possibly because symptoms occur late and are often vague and non-specific. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidant vitamins (such as A and C) appears to lower the risk of stomach cancer. The rate of cancer is about doubled in smokers so the cessation of smoking is essential.

In the United States and most of the Western world, the 5-year survival rate ranges from 5-15%. In Japan, where stomach cancer often is diagnosed early, the 5 year survival rate is about 50%. Five year survival rates for more advanced stomach cancers range from, around 20% for those with regional disease to almost nil for those with distant metastases.

Treatment for metastatic stomach cancer can relieve symptoms and sometimes prolong survival, but long remissions are not common. The survival of inoperable stomach cancer is usually only a few months if untreated. With chemotherapy the average survival is about 12 months. If cancer is found before it has spread, the five-year relative survival rate is about 61%.

Shortness of breath - Are you frequently running out of breath? Can't you even go up one flight of stairs without panting or wheezing? Shortness of breath is frequently a symptom of asbestos illnesses. This is because the asbestos fibers inside your body have irritated your lungs to a point that scar tissue has already formed around the air sacs of your lungs. This means that oxygen can't travel from one air sac to another. This means that you are processing oxygen very inefficiently.

Lung Cancer Symptons

Because of this, you need to take breaths more frequently. A problem with this asbestos symptom lies in the fact that it increases over time. Let's say that today you can't manage to walk for 10 feet without getting shortness of breath. The next day, you won't even be able to accomplish 5 without stopping. If you experience this asbestos symptom then maybe it's time to go see a doctor for a thorough examination.

Coughing - Another common asbestos symptom would be coughing. This symptom is triggered by the fact that the small asbestos fibers which accumulate in your lungs do irritate the organ tissue. Because of this, you feel an irritation in every part of your respiratory system. You cough as a reflex action to try and clear your lungs of the asbestos fibers, but it is no use, and you just keep coughing and coughing without actually relieving the irritation. If you experience this, then you might want to get an x-ray to see if there are any asbestos fibers in your lungs. Although a lot of diseases include coughing in their list of common symptoms, exposure to asbestos and a cough should definitely be investigated thoroughly.

An asbestos symptom that could come with coughing would be coughing up blood. Bloody sputum would actually indicate that the irritation of your lungs has gotten to a point that the lungs are actually wounded. This actually happens when the asbestos fibers themselves get moved around and cut into the lungs. When you cough up blood, things are very serious and it is important to find a doctor immediately.

Chest pains - This asbestos symptom is also caused by severe irritation and wounding of the lungs. Although asbestos fibers do cause a lot of damage to the lungs, sometimes, the lungs cause the damage to themselves. This is because the lungs often try to alleviate the irritation automatically using the body's defense mechanism. However, with asbestos fivers, this has a different effect altogether. With asbestos fibers, the involuntary action of the lungs just causes the tissue to become even more irritated and could sometimes lead to wounding. Since the lungs become even more irritated, this triggers another round of reflexive actions and the cycle goes on and on. This type of asbestos symptom can be the most difficult to deal with as internal pain can be very unbearable.

Increased sputum - If you are experiencing an increase in the amount of your sputum, then you have to realize that this asbestos symptom too is caused by your body's efforts to alleviate its discomfort. By increasing the production of sputum, your lungs hope to wash away whatever the irritant is. Unfortunately, however, asbestos fibers tend to cling much tighter than that. Because of this, all that results is you having to spit a lot more often.

Weight loss - A sudden drop in weight could be very bad indeed if it is a symptom of asbestos illnesses. This is because sudden weight loss often indicates that the disease may have already spread out to other parts of the body. If a person who has been exposed to asbestos suddenly loses a lot of weight, then you really ought to get him or her to the hospital.

These are just some of the symptoms you should keep an eye out for if ever you have been exposed to asbestos in the past. Remember, however, that some asbestos symptoms only appear when the disease is in its advanced stages so just to be sure, try to get a regular check up.

It is important to note that any treatment for cancer should be discussed with the presiding physician. Some combinations of drugs and herbs can cause an adverse reaction.

Lung Cancer Symptons

It is also important to note that the information provided here should not be considered medical advice. It isn't intended to replace the advice offered by your physician. This is merely information.

Dong ling cao: Dong ling cao was not listed in herbal dictionaries of early dynasties. It became available only in 1972. Dong ling cao is being used to treat cancer of the esophagus, breast, and liver, as well as for swelling of throat, insect bites, snake bites, and inflammation of the tonsils.

Yi yi ren (also called semen coicis): Yi yi ren is typically used to invigorate the function of the spleen and to reduce pain and swelling caused by arthritis. It is also used to relieve diarrhea, to remove heat, and to facilitate the drainage of pus. Yi yi ren is used by Chinese herbalists to treat cancer of the lung or spleen.

Tu fu ling: In animal studies, tu fu ling has proven especially effective in treating cancers in the urinary tract (bladder) and the liver.

Ling zhi: Ling zhi is used to enhance the immune system. Specifically, ling zhi is known to increase monocytes, macrophages, T-lymphocyt cytokine, interleukin, tumor necrosis, and interferon.

Ren Shen: Ren Shen is a herb that is known to enhance the immune system, and it helps to relieve the side effects caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well.

Most of us think that the lung cancer is mostly common among the cigarette smokers and it is true that the vast majority of cases are or were smokers. But there are non-smokers do get lung cancer and smokers who don't get it.

Lung Cancer Symptons

Signs of lung cancer are often not apparent in the early stages. However it is better to identify lung cancer as possible.

The most common early symptom of lung cancer is haemoptysis (coughing up blood). Consider this early symptom a warning sign of a cancer, which may be curable.

If you find that you are coughing up blood, you should immediately contact your doctor , especially if you are 40 years of age, or older, with a long-term smoking habit.

Some of the primary signs include:

* Hacking, persistent cough

* Coughing up blood

* Shortness of breath

* Wheezing

* Chest pain

* Lost appetite

* Lost weight

* Recurring bronchitis or pneumonia

The above symptoms also being the symptoms of many other lung problems, so it is always advisable to see a physician to ascertain the cause

Secondary signs of simple cell lung cancer include:

* Weakness

* Difficulty swallowing

* Changes in nails

* Hoarse or raspy voice

* High fever

* Swelling of facial features

It's true that most symptoms of lung cancer do not show themselves until the disease is in its advanced stages.

However, sometimes people exhibit signs early in the disease's development. It is imperative that the first notice of symptoms or concern sends you straight to the doctor.

The sooner treatment is begun, the better. A cure is possible if caught early enough and, if not, then a better quality of life and more of it.

When lung cancer spreads to other parts of the body, organs and bones, referred to as 'metastasizing', signs and symptoms include:

* Aching and sharp bone pain

* Changes in the brain that exhibit themselves through weakness, numbness, dizziness, and seizure

* Jaundice (whites of eyes, nails, and skin yellow

* Masses near the skin's surface

* Headaches

* Numbness and loss of sensation in your extremities

All of these signs and symptoms of lung cancer may be caused by other health problems. The only way to know for sure is to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Lung cancer is almost always caused by cigarette smoking. Many times it's not diagnosed until the later stages of the disease which normally means that it has already spread to other tissue and organs. It's also the leading cause of cancer deaths in the US in both men and women which is sad as the risks of developing it significantly decrease if a person does not smoke.

Lung Cancer Symptons

What are the early warning signs?

Lung cancer has many symptoms however some of the earliest signs can be mistaken for common everyday illnesses. Many of the symptoms of lung cancer do not show up until the cancer is in a later stage. Some of the early warning signs can include:

o Persistent Cough
o Recurrent Bronchitis or Pneumonia
o Loss of Appetite, Weight Loss
o Chest Pain

Some of the additional symptoms of Lung Cancer are listed below. While having any of these symptoms does not mean you have cancer, a Dr. should be consulted if you are suffering from any of the following:

o Fever without a known reason
o Abnormal Chest X-ray
o Coughing Up Blood
o Hoarseness
o Chronic Shortness of Breath

If you are suffering from any or several of these symptoms and you are a current or former smoker, you should contact your physician and schedule an appointment to have an examination. There are tests that can be done to determine the cause of your symptoms and these tests can either diagnose or rule out lung cancer. Some of the tests available include a blood count test, X-ray as well as bone scan or sputum exam.

Conclusion

If you are a smoker and are concerned about any of the symptoms you are experiencing remember the sooner you are diagnosed the better. Cancer can spread very rapidly and by beginning treatments as soon as possible you can improve your chance of survival.

Lung cancer can either spread locally and involve nearby tissues, for example the cavity outside the lungs, layers around the heart, or may travel to distant locations like local lymph glands or the bones, liver, brain or the opposite lung. Other organs where cancer of lung tends to spread are the adrenal glands, which are the glands placed above the kidneys and which generate special hormones.

Lung Cancer Symptons

The most general tumor of the adrenal gland is in fact a benign tumor called an adrenal adenoma. In a good number of patients, these benign tumors never lead to a patient to have any symptoms and do not require to be treated. They are typically found when a patient has a CT (or CAT) scan of the body for an unconnected reason, and are hence sometimes called "incidentalomas".

The most general malignant tumors located in the adrenal gland are tumors that originate from cancer cells that have metastasized from other areas of the body to the adrenal gland by means of the blood stream. Some different kinds of cancer may spread to the glands of adrenal, most usually melanomas, lung cancers, and breast cancers.

In short, If cancerous cells break away from the original tumor, travel, and develop within other body parts-like the brain, liver, the opposite lung, bone, adrenal glands, or lymph nodes of the chest or collarbone (clavicle) regions-the process is recognized as metastasis.

Symptoms of metastatic lung tumors rely on the location and size. About 30%-40% of people with cancer of lung have a number of symptoms or signs of metastatic disease. Metastatic lung cancer in the glands usually causes no symptoms by the time of diagnosis as well.

How far the small cell cancer has spread is determined by means of staging. Your treatment will be planned and implemented based on the stage of the disease. One way of finding out is by the clinical staging system which is based on the results of imaging tests such as the CT scan, MRI, chest x-ray, PET scan, biopsies and physical exam. If you underwent surgery, your doctor can discern based on a pathologic stage. You may have already heard or are aware of stage 1,2,3,4 in describing cancer. This is the TNM staging system which uses roman numerals 0 to IV (4) to describe the growth and spread of lung cancer. Under this system, the higher the number, the more serious is the spread of the cancer.

Lung Cancer Symptons

With the small lung cancer or oat cell, it can either be limited or extensive. Since diagnosis of this disease is usually detected when the cancer has already spread, majority of people have the extensive type. What it means is that the cancerous cells have invaded other parts of the body to include even the brain. Survival outlook or prognosis for small cell lung cancer is bad news for most of the cancer victims. According to the NCI's statistics, survival rate is very low for all stages of people with small cell lung cancer.

There are many stories of people who lost hope, went into depression and self blame after being diagnosed of lung cancer. They blamed their condition to smoking addiction. Aside from tobacco smoking, medical findings conclude other causes such as pollution, exposure to dangerous chemicals like asbestos, uranium, radon, etc. Your lungs are responsible for bringing oxygen into the body as you inhale and take out carbon dioxide as you exhale. When your lungs get affected with lung cancer, you experience shortness of breath, chest pain, etc.

How do you cope up with life as a cancer fighting survivor? There are many ways that you can fight it out if this will be your posture. Your belief, self-confidence, determination to wage a battle against your adversary and strong faith in whatever is the Creator's will is very important. So, first thing you need to do is know the weakness and strength of your enemy. You need to educate yourself about the intricacies of lung cancer, latest hi tech laser or cell treatments and alternative remedies. Try to research as many success stories you can find from all sources in the web through Google search, internet sites of cancer research organizations like American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute.

You have to change your lifestyle. Get plenty of fresh air and sunshine, eat plenty of fruits, nuts and vegetables, and take lots of vitamins and natural nutritional supplements like maqui berry, pomegranates and green barley. Drink plenty of purified water every day, engage in regular moderate simple exercises, yoga and meditation. For your spiritual well being, commune and pray daily to your God.

Do this passionately with the support of your doctors, friends, relatives and loved ones. Despite the negative prognosis for small cell lung cancer, the lifestyle change can improve the quality of your life, and possibly even the victor. Join social networking cancer survivor clubs. There are more than 400,000 lung cancer survivors in the United States. Participate in forums and read blogs. In short, take an active stand and face your battle standing up with your own army of fighters and supporters from all over the world hoping, urging, encouraging, inspiring, motivating, pushing and praying for you to fight it out all the way win or lose! Believe that you will win!

Therefore it is of utmost importance that you determine the signs and symptoms of the disease so that further evaluation can be ordered.

Lung Cancer Symptons

Some of the most common signs and symptoms that are experienced by a lung cancer patient are:

• Chest pain which is constant and is evident during coughing or breathing

• Dyspnea or difficulty in breathing which may be due to nagging cough and constriction of the bronchioles

• Wheezing most likely heard upon exhalation

• Cough out of bloody sputum or hemoptysis

• Swelling of the face and neck which can be caused by a tumor which presses on the large blood vessels just near the lung

• Muscle weakness which may be caused by a pressing tumor on the different muscle sites

• Fever which has an unknown cause

Once these signs and symptoms are now present, the person may then experience weight loss, fatigue, headache, fracture to the bones, distant pains, anorexia, confusion which can further lead to coma.

Though definite, none of these symptoms are positive signs of having lung cancer unless a doctor has made diagnostic findings on it. That is why, it is of top priority that when a person experiences two or more of the above mentioned signs and symptoms, one must seek the advice of a doctor.

In diagnosis, the doctor explores the different areas of possibility that the patient may or may not have lung cancer. Some of the diagnostic procedures which can determine the possibility of the disease are:

1. Chest x-ray - this is usually the first test that is ordered by the physician. Chest x-ray has the capacity to detect tumors of the lung and to what extent it has reached, although this test may miss out on the smaller ones and can only detect the more visual ones.

2. CT scan - known as computed tomography, CT scans has the capacity to show the different characteristics and patterns of a lung cancer cells which can help doctors come up with a possible diagnosis. CT scans also have the capability to show the tiniest tumors which are not shown on x-rays. These small tumors may reveal if the cancer cell has already reached the nearby lymph nodes and if it has grown.

3. Bronchoscopy - using a scope to view the inside of the lungs. The microscopic examination of tissues inside the lungs is enough to confirm the possible existence of cancer cells inside the lungs. Here the doctor would do an invasive procedure which will help him view the inside of the lungs for further visualization of the tumor and at the same time take samples of the specimen.

4. Needle biopsy - this is done when the sample is too far away for the bronchoscope to reach. Specimen is obtained through insertion of a needle inside the chest skin and uses a CT to serve as a guide in maneuvering the needle to the affected part.

Together with the signs and symptoms and diagnostic procedures interpreted by the doctor, you will now know if you have lung cancer or not.

Usually, a lung cancer is not detected on its early stage. Most symptoms start to manifest only at the later stage of the disease. Some stage 4 lung cancer symptoms are persistent coughing and sometimes with bloody mucous, shortness of breath, hoarseness of voice, difficulty in swallowing, tenderness of muscles with intolerable muscle pains, repeated occurrence of pneumonia or bronchitis and fatigue. Affecting the brain, the symptoms are severe headaches, vision changes and seizure attacks. For the liver and adrenal glands, a cancer patient may experience abdominal pain, fever, yellowish skin, swollen legs, weight loss and loss of appetite. Bone breakage occurs even when there is no injury that took place. Note however that different people may show different symptoms as this will depend on the other organs affected.

Lung Cancer Symptons

One should undergo multiple tests when most of the symptoms manifest. Stage 4 lung cancer can be diagnosed through various tests like chest x-rays, bone scans, CT scans or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound and other blood tests. After taking all the necessary tests and a diagnosis has been made, an individual who is said to have this disease is entitled to get a second opinion, after all, its his life that is at stake. Note however that this lung cancer has no more cure but there are treatment methods that an individual may undergo to reduce pain at a certain level, slow down the growth of cancer cells and extend his life.

The common treatments recommended to slow down the spread of cancer cells for stage 4 lung cancer are chemotherapy, radiation therapy and in some cases the combination of both. Why not surgery? Surgery at this point in time is not recommended because as stated, this stage is characterized with the spread of tumors in various organs. The purpose of surgery is to remove the organ affected with tumor. To remove all the organs with tumor will just make the cancer patient weaker and may even be the cause for him to pass away sooner than he should. Chemotherapy, as a treatment, makes use of chemical agents to destroy the cancer cells. There are three ways to take this treatment. It can be taken orally, through injection or through the veins. What is important is the dosage of administering this treatment. But there is a setback. The treatment can also destroy non-cancer cells. Chemotherapy can not distinguish a good cell from a cancer cell. Radiation therapy on the other hand use radioactive substances to target and destroy the DNA of the cancer cells. An external machine can be used or a radioactive material can be inserted into the body and position it close to the area affected by the tumor. Like chemotherapy, radiation therapy can also damage normal body cells.

In consideration of the family of a cancer patient, they will also experience agony as they witness the physical hardships that their love one is going through. The cancer patient with so much effort will try not to show how much physical pain he is experiencing because he knows that his love ones will also suffer. In reciprocity, family members will try hard not to show how much they sympathize and empathize for their cancer patient. For most families, a disease such as stage 4 lung cancer has brought the family members closer to each other. One concern that brings the family together is the fact that this is a terminal case. It is but human nature to want to spend time with a love one who you know will be gone soon. Another reason concerns family decisions and support that need to be made. When a patient decides that he wants to undergo treatment, he will be needing all the support that his family can give.

Stage 4 lung cancer is a dreadful disease that no one wants to have but there are ways not to reach this stage if you already have lung cancer.