The facts on lung cancer are sobering. Currently, lung cancer ranks as the second most common cancer in both men and women and is the leading cause of cancer death for men and women.
Every year, more people die of lung cancer than breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined. Maybe you are wondering, “Is there anything that can be done to prevent it?”
Lung Cancer Prevention
Many lung cancers can be prevented by saying no to smoking, passive smoking and exposure to radon and environmental factors. Yet some individuals get lung cancer without any known risk factors. No solutions are known for preventing these forms of lung cancer.
By the time the cancer is discovered, it is often at an advanced stage and has spread to other organs in the body. At this stage, cancer can be very difficult to treat.
In recent years, doctors discovered that CT scans could screen lung cancer in high-risk individuals. These scans can help locate lung cancer early and reduce the risk of dying from it.
Pay attention to the warning signs of lung cancer and take advantage of preventative tests when available. Consider the following information and learn how early detection could save your life, or the life of someone you love.
Warning Signs of Lung Cancer
Signs and symptoms of lung cancer may not be apparent until it has spread; nonetheless, some people notice these signs early.
Early detection may catch lung cancer at an earlier stage when treatment is more effective. Common symptoms of lung cancer include:
- Coughing up blood or rust-colored phlegm
- A continuous cough that gets worse
- Chest pain when coughing, laughing, or deep breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Tiredness or weakness
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Infections (bronchitis or pneumonia) that keep coming back
When lung cancer spreads to different parts of your body, other symptoms may result:
- Bones–bone pain such as in the back or hips
- Liver – jaundice causing yellowing of the skin and eyes
- Brain or Spinal Cord – headache, dizziness, loss of balance, weakness or numbness, seizures
- Lymph Nodes – lumps near the surface of the skin, possibly above the collarbone or in the neck
Early Detection with CT Scans
Are you or someone you know at a higher risk for lung cancer? While paying attention to the warning signs is critical, early detection can be done via diagnostic imaging with CT scans.
CT scans use rotating x-rays to take images of the body. These tests can be used to locate tumors in the body and determine the size of them.
The scan is typically completed within five minutes with only 30 seconds of actual scanning. If you’re at risk for lung cancer, ask your doctor about early detection through CT scanning.
For preventative scans, choose a provider who has experience in using the latest technologies available. Healthcare solutions providers, such as Vidius Healthcare Solutions, care about early detection and provide doctor’s offices and clinics with innovative radiology business solutions so they can effectively offer diagnostic services to patients.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
