Lungs cancer symptoms

Lung cancer spread (metastatic) to the liver is sadly too common. Nearly 40% of people with lung cancer have metastases to a distant region of the body at the time of diagnosis. What can you expect if your lung cancer has spread to your liver? The answer is changing rapidly as medicine advances, so it's important to be aware of newer treatment options now available. Uncertainty of Liver Findings Is Common It is important to note that abnormal findings are quite common when scans are done of the liver, and sometimes it can be hard to determine if a spot or spots on the liver are due to the spread of cancer or another (benign) cause. If your healthcare provider is uncertain whether or not an abnormality in your liver is related to your cancer, and the treatment approach would vary depending upon the results, he or she may recommend a liver biopsy in order to look at the tissue to be certain of your diagnosis. Treatment Historically, the treatment of lung cancer that has spread to the liver was mainly palliative, meaning that the goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms rather than to attempt to cure the disease. This is changing, and there are now several options that may both reduce symptoms and extend life for many people with liver metastases. General Treatments for Metastatic Cancer General treatments for metastatic lung cancer (stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer or extended stage small cell lung cancer) may reduce the size of a tumor in the lungs as well as liver metast...

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the lungs. Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. To learn more about how cancers start and spread, see Normal structure and function of the lungs Your lungs are 2 sponge-like organs in your chest. Your right lung has 3 sections, called lobes. Your left lung has 2 lobes. The left lung is smaller because the heart takes up more room on that side of the body. When you breathe in, air enters through your mouth or nose and goes into your lungs through the trachea(windpipe). The trachea divides into tubes called bronchi, which enter the lungs and divide into smaller bronchi. These divide to form smaller branches called bronchioles. At the end of the bronchioles are tiny air sacs known as alveoli. The alveoli absorb oxygen into your bloodfrom the inhaled air and remove carbon dioxide from the blood when you exhale. Taking in oxygen and getting rid of carbon dioxide are your lungs’ main functions. Lung cancers typically start in the cells lining the bronchi and parts of the lung such as the bronchioles or alveoli. A thin lining layer called the pleura surrounds the lungs. The pleura protects your lungs and helps them slide back and forth against the chest wall as they expand and contract during breathing. Below the lungs, a thin, dome-shaped muscle called the diaphragm separates the chest from the abdomen. When you breathe, the diaphragm moves up and down, forcing air in and out of the lungs. Types of lung...

The two major types of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SCLC accounts for However, SCLC is the more aggressive form of lung cancer. With SCLC, the cancer cells tend to grow quickly and travel to other parts of the body, or metastasize, more easily. As a result, the condition is usually only diagnosed after the cancer has spread throughout the body, making recovery less likely. If SCLC is detected early, however, it may be treated effectively before the cancer advances. SCLC may also be referred to as: • oat cell cancer • oat cell carcinoma • small cell undifferentiated carcinoma SCLC is a very aggressive form of cancer that often goes undiagnosed until it’s more advanced, so the survival rate tends to be low. However, if the cancer is detected in its early stages, the chances of making a recovery are much higher. Talk with your doctor and treatment team about the details of your cancer and the treatment options that are best for you. Each person is different, and your treatment will be tailored to fit your needs. SCLC is usually asymptomatic, which means it doesn’t cause symptoms. Once symptoms do appear, it often indicates that the cancer has reached other parts of the body. The severity of symptoms usually increases with increased cancer growth and spread. Symptoms may include: • bloody mucus from the lungs • shortness of breath • wheezing • chest pain or discomfort • a persistent cough or hoarseness • a loss of appeti...

Doctors use chest X-rays, CT scans, and PET scans to diagnose lung cancer. Identifying the type of lung can help decide suitable treatment options. A range of tools can help diagnose lung cancer, including lung imaging scans. The scans can show the location and severity of the cancer and may even indicate its type. In this article, we discuss what lung cancer can look like on an X-ray or otherwise. We also look at the various types and the differences between them. The two main types are small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SCLC grows faster and is harder to treat. Within NSCLC, there are also subtypes, such as The characteristics of lung cancer will depend on the type, which will in turn affect the way cancer develops and the outlook. Below are some characteristics of various types of lung cancer. SCLC SCLC accounts for around There are two subtypes: small-cell carcinoma, or oat cell cancer, and combined small-cell carcinoma. A person with limited stage SCLC will have cancer in or near the area where it started. If a person has extended stage SCLC, it will have spread to other parts of the body, and it will be harder to treat. SCLC tends to grow more quickly than other types of lung cancer and can be hard to treat. Even so, around On a chest NSCLC There are several types of NSCLC. The type will depend on where it starts in the lungs. NSCLC refers to any cancer affecting lung cells that is not SCLC. Examples include: • adenocarcinoma • squa...

Verywell /Ellen Lindner Depending on the type of lung cancer developing, early signs of lung cancer might include referred pain (pain perceived in an area of the body other than the lungs, such as the shoulder), chronic cough, breathing issues, and weight loss. Some of these symptoms are dependent on the type of cancer, and not every early case of lung cancer has all of these symptoms. Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer for people of any sex in the United States, but it’s the number one reason that people die from cancer. Sadly, the fact that early lung cancer symptoms are difficult to detect means that by the time about half the people with it are diagnosed, it has already spread to other organs. This makes it very difficult to treat. Detecting lung cancer early by noting early warning signs and symptoms can save lives, especially if someone is at high risk for developing this type of cancer. People at high risk include smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke. Tobacco smoke is responsible for about 90% of lung cancers. Still, lung cancer can affect anyone. Coughs are a regular part of life, and the vast majority of the time they are not due to lung cancer. Ninety percent of all cases of chronic cough are caused by postnasal drip, asthma, and While a persistent cough that appears out of nowhere is important to get checked out, there are a lot of reasons other than lung cancer that might be causing it. • Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone...

The lungs are a common area where esophageal cancer can spread. It’s not uncommon for esophageal cancer to have already spread to the lungs at the time of diagnosis. Like other cancers, esophageal cancers can spread to other organs and tissues of the body. This is called This article reviews treatment options and the outlook for people with esophageal cancer that has spread to the lungs. How does esophageal cancer spread to the lungs? Esophageal cancer can spread in several ways. These include: • locally through surrounding tissue • via the bloodstream • by the lymphatic system A Tumor location may also play a role. A Researchers note that the lungs and liver are both richly supplied with blood, and that blood from the upper esophagus first drains into the lung. This could explain the correlation between upper esophageal tumors and metastasis to the lung. When is esophageal cancer typically diagnosed? Esophageal cancer is an Only About Indeed, a Esophageal cancer that has spread to the lungs is Treatment typically involves one or a combination of the following: • • • The However, a Palliative treatments may include: • endoscopic procedures to help open an esophagus that’s narrow or blocked • chemotherapy to help control the growth and symptoms of the cancer • • • • draining fluid that’s collected around the lungs Overall, the The table below shows the 5-year relative survival rates for people with esophageal cancer according to the A relative survival rate is an estimate o...