How Does Lung Cancer Affect the Body?
Lung Cancer Causes Excessive Coughing
When a patient develops lung cancer, a tumor grows inside the lung and presses on the chest. This causes the patient to develop a frequent and severe cough. Lung cancer patients tend to produce a lot of sputum during coughing. In severe cases, lung cancer patients may cough up blood. If the tumor puts pressure on the nerves controlling the voice box, the patient may experience voice hoarseness. The tumor may also block the windpipe and lead to wheezing.
Lung Cancer Causes Chest Pain
The tumor can also invade other organs in the chest. For instance, lung cancer patients often experience chest pain due to the tumor pressing on the walls of the chest. The tumor can also fill the chest cavity and surround the heart with fluid.
Lung Cancer Metastasizes Quickly to Other Organs
Compared with other cancers, lung cancer tends to metastasize much earlier. In fact, a significant number of lung cancer cases are detected due to symptoms of metastatic lung cancer. The most frequent metastatic sites for lung cancer are glands, the brain, bone and the liver.
The spreading of lung cancer to the bones causes tremendous pain and can make affected bones break more easily. Lung cancer that metastasizes in the brain causes several neurological disorders including seizures, reduced vision, loss of control and sensation in certain body parts. Due to its ability to metastasize quickly, lung cancer is very challenging to treat. The survival rate of patients with metastatic lung cancer is 2 percent to 5 percent at five years after diagnosis.
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