Lung cancer is frequently referred to as a silent disease since it can build up silently over time and typically does not exhibit detectable signs until the advanced stages. In comparison to most cancers that can seem obvious with huge lumps or altered body sections, lung cancer typically establishes symptoms that commonly resemble typical respiratory diseases. Early diagnosis is essential in enhancing the possibility of treatment and survival. Identifying the signs of early warning successfully might have been very important at the moment.The Indian Journal of Cancer recently published that more than 50% of lung cancer patients in India are non-smokers. Decades ago, most lung cancer cases were tobacco caused. It is disturbing that only 3.5% and 7.2% of lung cancer patients in India are diagnosed at an early stage, severely limiting their chances of treatment success.These are seven early warning signs of lung cancer that must never be overlooked.
1. Chronic cough
It should be noted that a chronic cough that doesn’t subside for three weeks needs to be taken seriously. All respiratory infections may have cough associated with seasonal allergies or infection but a chronic, dry or productive cough not subsiding, or a change in character and increasingly worsening cough could be an early warning sign of lung cancer.
2. Coughing up blood
Even a minimal presence of blood in your phlegm (sputum) is a serious red flag and needs to be checked out right away. The bleeding may be from inside the airways and resulted from an underlying possible tumor. Coughing up blood should never be dismissed or delayed in diagnosis. Hemoptysis is observed in about 20–30% of lung cancer cases and is considered one of the strongest early predictors of the disease
3. Shortness of breath
Being able to perform your normal activity (walking, walking up stairs) and then suddenly finding it hard to breathe might be an early indicator of lung cancer. This can occur when a tumor is taking space up in your airway and/or fluid has built up around the lungs. It is important to note difficulty breathing when at rest, especially in a healthy individual.
4. Chest pain
Unexplained chest pain or discomfort, especially with deep breathing or while laughing or coughing, may indicate pressure (or irritation) from a mass or tumor. It may also be due to radiating pain (shoulders or back) from the mass. Chest pain persisting for more than a few days needs to be assessed.
5. Voice or hoarseness change
If your voice changes or you experience unexplained hoarseness that persists for over two weeks, you should worry. Lung cancer can affect the nerves that regulate the vocal cords and result in a raspy or weak voice.
6. Weight loss and fatigue/symptoms of lung cancer
As with most cancers, lung cancer may cause unexplained weight loss and fatigue, with no dietary or activity changes. This is as the cancer takes over the body’s metabolism and immune system within your body. Although the above symptoms might be mild, they can proceed rapidly.
7. Persistent chest infections
Repeating episodes of pneumonia or bronchitis – particularly in the same lung – may be due to an airway obstruction or tumor blocking some part of the airway. If you experience repeated infections within the chest not responding to treatment, this may need further investigation to exclude lung cancer.
Why early detection is important
If lung cancer is recognized in the initial stages, the possibilities for treatment are more and opportunities of healing significantly better. It’s tough to get diagnosed early because the initial symptoms are so non-specific. This often delays diagnosis, although that may foreshadow an unfortunate event in the future as chances of recovering from lung cancer decrease the longer it takes to diagnose — which is why the public need to be aware of this, especially in a country like India, where the air is polluted, smoking is technically allowed, people are exposed to second hand smoke and carbon monoxide fumes while cooking with fuel inside. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) notes that lung cancer accounts for nearly 10% of all cancer deaths in India, with rising cases attributed to air pollution — particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5) — which is now considered a significant risk factor in non-smokers.Anyone with any single one of these symptoms or especially anyone who has had symptoms that have persisted longer than a few weeks should contact their physician as soon as possible! Don’t forget, even non-smokers can develop lung cancer because they can still have environmental exposure and/or occupational exposure. Knowing the red flag symptoms and getting in early is the best option for catching lung cancer before it becomes devasting. Getting diagnosed and screened earlier is linked to better outcomes, treatment and overall survival.Lung cancer does not shout about its arrival; however, attention given to the body at the right time is a game-changer. Despite this, awareness remains low. A study found that only about 20% of lung cancer patients in India are diagnosed when the disease is still operable — underscoring the urgent need for symptom education and timely screening