Lung cancer, one of the four most common types of cancer in the UK, sees over 49,000 new cases each year, according to Cancer Research UK. This disease is triggered by an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs, which are crucial for oxygen intake and carbon dioxide expulsion.
Lung cancer in its early stages may not exhibit any noticeable symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, symptoms can appear throughout the body. In rare instances, people might experience pins and needles or numbness in their fingers or toes if lung cancer cells release hormones into the bloodstream.
"These hormones can cause symptoms that don't seem related to the lung cancer. Doctors call them paraneoplastic syndrome," said Cancer Research UK. The primary symptoms of lung cancer include:. The main symptoms of lung cancer are:. Should any symptoms reminiscent of lung cancer arise, such as breathlessness or a continuous cough, the NHS recommends consulting a GP, reports the Express.
The NHS website explained: "The GP will ask about your general health and your symptoms. They may examine you and ask you to breathe into a device called a spirometer, which measures how much air you breathe in and out. You may be asked to have a blood test to rule out some of the possible causes of your symptoms, such as a chest infection.".
A chest X-ray is often the first step in spotting lung cancer, as tumours typically show up as a white-grey area on the image. It varies from person to person, but puffing on cigarettes is the top culprit. Cancer Research UK found that 60% of lung cancer cases are tobacco-related, including passive smoking.
