Early Symptoms of Lung Cancer - the Stages and Causes

Lung cancer is a horrible disease that affects the cells of the lungs and surrounding areas. While it can be terminal, in many cases it can preventable. In this article we'll not only look at the symptoms of lung cancer, but the causes and its 4 stages.

Lung Cancer symptoms include the following:

• Weight loss
• Breathlessness
• Constant chest pain
• Chronic cough
• Coughing up blood

Of these symptoms, coughing up blood may be one of the earliest signs of cancer. If you experience any of these symptoms you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

The sad truth is that over 50% of all patients wait too long to seek treatment. Many times it's too late. Don't let this happen to you. Make sure you get the diagnosis early before it becomes life threatening.

What are the causes of lung cancer?

Most of the causes are related to tobacco use:

• Cigarettes: Tobacco smoke contains a substance called carcinogens. Over time the carcinogens damage the cells and cause cancer. The age when a person starts smoking and the length of time the person has been a smoker are the major factors in determining wither someone will develop cancer.
• Cigars and pipes: Many people think it's safer to smoke a pipe or cigar, because they're generally not inhaled. However the smoke given off by these are just as dangerous. Mouth and throat cancer are the major dangers here.
• Second hand smoke: Also known as environmental tobacco smoke, it is actually worse for you. This is why it's so important to not smoke around others.
• Radon: This is a radioactive gas that's invisible, odorless and tasteless. Since it can be found naturally in soil and rocks people who work in mines are especially at risk.

The 4 stages of lung cancer

Lung cancer has been divided into 4 stages which refer to how far it has spread. It's important to note that over the years these stages have been subdivided into smaller groups; however the 4 main stages are as follows:

Stage 1: No cancer can be found in any lymph nodes. This means that it's localized.

Stage 2: It has spread to the lymph nodes closest to the effected lung. It's also possible that it may have spread to the chest wall.

Stage 3: Now the cancer can be found further away from the effected lung; however it's still on the same side of the chest.

Stage 4: Now the cancer has spread to another part of the body, like your liver.

As stated above, smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer. However cancer isn't the only negative result of smoking. For more information please visit our: Effects of Smoking page.