In the previous article, we have discussed some of the symptoms that are associated with asbestos-caused lung cancer. Here, we would like to show you the same symptoms, in greater lens.
- Pain in the shoulder or suddenly weak hands or arms or numbs. Oftentimes if cancer is detected towards the top of a lung (typically towards the collarbone), it will be likely to grow into the nerve supply of the arm which causes pain, as well as numbness and weakness of arms. The combination of these symptoms is termed Pancoast syndrome.
- The loss of appetite or anorexia. You may also find hard time swallowing or you feel like that you are tasting or smelling things in different way. For example, you may experience a metallic taste in your mouth or suddenly dislike foods which were normally your favourite ones.
- The tips of your fingers or toes may seem swollen suddenly and curve downwards. The nail beds will be soft, thick, and shiny. In addition the skin right around the nail beds look pulled tight.
- Unexplained weight loss. In spite of eating well and not trying to lose weight. This might be the cause of malignant cells which utilize all of the available energy supply in the body or generating changes in your body metabolism.
- Swelling of the face, arms, and neck. This is usually the sign of a condition which is called superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) in which a tumor is pressing on large, short vein situated in the chest which carries de-oxygenated blood to the heart from upper body. The other symptoms which can accompany swelling include droopy eyelid as well as pupillary constriction.
Some symptoms of lung cancer can be mistaken for the other common illnesses and may not necessarily alert you to some serious issue. Often these are named nonspecific or general symptoms. Some of these include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Bone pain, also known as achiness
- Fatigue
More hardly seen in lung cancer patients, paraneoplastic syndromes denote a group of symptoms in organs that do not contain and are not usually obstructed by cancerous tumor. It is assumed that these symptoms are generated by the malignant tumors which release hormones and proteins in blood, which then eventually flows to various organs. In certain cases, these syndromes may occur very early in the development of lung cancer and can aid in diagnosis process.
Some lung cancer tumors generate substance which can disturb the normal growth of blood cells and platelets and generates such symptoms as anemia, abnormal blood protein functions and levels, and the excess platelets in blood which can trigger too few platelets, or alternatively, blood clots, which can generate tiny visible bruises and blood blisters which are called pupura. Finally typical types of lung cancer tumors can really affect circulatory system, cause skin conditions, effect organs in the brain itself such as the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. As you see, the effect of asbestos lung cancer can really various.
