Surprising signs you might have lung cancer

See the following symptoms to determine if you have lung cancer.

Is it lung cancer: In its early stages, lung cancer is typically asymptomatic. Later, it often causes coughing, wheezing, and chest pain.

Fatter fingertips: Lung tumours produce hormone-like substances. One pushes more blood and fluid to your fingertips, making them thicker or larger. Your nails may curve more than usual or have shiny skin next to them. Around 80% of people with finger clubbing also have lung cancer.

Tummy troubles: Hypercalcemia affects 1 in 10 cancer patients. Too much blood calcium can cause stomach-aches, nausea, and constipation.

Mental health issues: In a Danish study, people who first saw a mental health professional in the past year for anxiety, depression, or dementia had a higher risk of small-cell lung cancer. Cancer can affect your immune system, hormones, or brain.  leading confusion, muddled thinking, and depression.

Back or shoulder pain: Pancoast tumours grow in the upper lung and spread to the ribs, spine, nerves, and blood vessels. They are more likely to make your shoulder blade, upper back, and arm hurt.

Fatigue: Lung cancer frequently causes anaemia. Anemia causes fatigue because body tissues lack oxygen and suck off nutrition. With the condition, you may feel sluggish.

Being off-balance: Small-cell lung cancer may tell your immune system to attack your nervous system, which can impair your muscles. It may be hard to rise up when seated, or you may feel shaky and dizzy.

Weight change: Cushing's syndrome can accompany small-cell lung carcinoma. This condition may lead your body to produce ACTH (a hormone), which boosts cortisol, causing weight gain. Conversely, hypercalcemia can occur that affects your kidneys and leads to weight loss.

Eye problems: Pancoast tumours impair eye and face nerves. Symptoms also include a small pupil and droopy eyelid. This side of your face will not sweat as much. Small-cell lung cancer that attacks the neurological system causes vision problems.

Swollen breasts in men: Lung cancer can sometimes induce gynecomastia. Large-cell lung cancer can induce male breast tenderness and swelling.

Headaches: A tumour might squeeze your superior vena cava, limiting blood flow. Therefore, blood build-up might cause headaches and you might faint.

Heart problems: Hypercalcemia and anaemia both produce fast or irregular heartbeats. Hypercalcemia can cause severe heart problems, including a heart attack or coma. Severe anaemia can induce chest discomfort and breathlessness.

Puffy face, neck, or arms: When a tumour blocks your superior vena cava, blood gets stuck in your upper body. Extra fluid may bloat your neck, arms, and cheeks.

Weakness and achiness: When lung cancer spreads (metastasises), cells migrate to the bones and form new tumours. These lesions weaken and hurt bone.

Blood clots: Lung cancer patients are more likely to suffer DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and pulmonary embolisms (pulmonary embolism). Cancer inflammation or tumour substances may induce clots. If you have a blood clot and cancer symptoms like unexplained weight loss, your doctor may test you.

Depending on how far the cancer has spread at diagnosis, survival rates vary widely. Early diagnosis can make a big difference.

Source: WebMD