Lung cancer has one of the lowest cancer survival rates in the UK. Each year, 48,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer and 35,000 die from the disease.
Dr Rupa Parmar , GP and Medical Director at Midland Health, is sharing both the most common and lesser-known symptoms of the disease and spreading awareness of the risk factors and causes.
Swollen fingers
One of the more unexpected symptoms of lung cancer is a change in your fingers or fingernails. Known as finger clubbing, it is a condition where the ends of your fingers enlarge, with the nails curving over the tip. It happens in stages and can sometimes take some months to develop.
Hormonal symptoms
Some rarer types of lung cancer produce hormones into the bloodstream. Symptoms of this include nausea, headaches, confusion, drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, and seizures. Though less common, it’s still important to be aware of these symptoms
Shoulder or arm pain
People with lung cancer may experience arm or shoulder pain, especially if the tumour is higher up in the lung and presses on nerves in the neck or arm. The pain could also be a sign of the cancer starting to spread, so if you’re concerned, it’s a good idea to talk to your GP as soon as possible.
Coughing
Having a new persistent cough, coughing most of the time, or coughing up bloody phlegm are common symptoms of lung cancer, caused by inflammation or a tumour irritating your airways.
Breathlessness
Experiencing breathlessness is a common symptom of lung cancer, which can be caused by tumours physically blocking airways or pressing on the lungs, causing a fluid buildup.
Loss of appetite
Feeling less hungry than usual is common as the cancer releases cells that interfere with the body’s usual hunger signals. It can also come in combination with fatigue, nausea, and pain, which all exacerbate a loss of appetite.
Unexplained weight loss
If you are losing weight rapidly or without meaning to, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor to investigate if it could be a sign of lung cancer. Some causes are a lack of appetite, the fact that cancer can make the body burn more calories than usual, or an increase in chemicals released by the cancer that disrupts regular hormones.
Dr Rupa Parmar said: “There are two main types of lung cancer. The most common type, non-small-cell lung cancer, and the rarer small-cell lung cancer, which spreads faster. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health. If you’re experiencing a combination of symptoms, being proactive and talking with your GP to check if you have lung cancer is hugely important, as the sooner a cancer is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can start.
“Although around 80% of cases of lung cancer are preventable, we still see huge numbers of people diagnosed with this terrible disease each year. Stopping smoking is the most effective way of minimising your risk of lung cancer, as most cases are caused by smoking or breathing in second-hand cigarette smoke for a long period of time. Previous lung diseases, generally caused by smoking, can also contribute to an increased risk of lung cancer. So, quitting sooner rather than later is crucial.
“Other risk factors are harder to avoid and include air pollution, radiation exposure, genetics and exposure to certain workplace carcinogens like asbestos.”
