Lung Cancer Symptoms

Many symptoms of lung cancer are non-specific, leading to further delays in diagnoses.

Since there is no widely recognized method of early lung cancer detection, unlike PSA for prostate cancer or mammography for breast cancer, 85% of lung cancer is found symptomatically.

Unfortunately, by the time symptoms are apparent and properly diagnosed, the lung cancer tends to be in an advanced stage—that is one of the reasons why the 5 year survival rate is only 15%, with nearly half of newly diagnosed patients not surviving thefirst year.

Here are some common lung cancer symptoms:

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Bone and joint pain

Tumors in the apex (called pancoast's tumors, pancoast's tumor, pancoast tumor or pancoast tumors) of the lung may invade in to the surrounding nervous structures causing pain in the shoulders or arms. Tumors in these areas are difficult to be seen on a chest X-ray, hence patients who has symptoms suggestive of pancost's tumors. Tumors infiltrating into the diaphragm may also produce shoulder pain.

85% of lung cancer is found symptomatically, which includes various types of bone and joint pain. Like many other lung cancer symptoms, bone and joint pain are often associated with other illnesses. However, if you are experiencing bone and joint pain and are at high risk for lung cancer, it is important to talk to your physician about the pains you are experiencing.

The America Cancer Society says that the early detection of cancer is your best defense. Therefore, finding lung cancer before these symptoms appear can be important in extending the survival rate.

To learn more about EarlyCDT-Lung, the blood test to aid in early lung cancer detection, click here or call their Client Services team at 1-888-583-9030.

If you think you or a loved one may be at risk for lung cancer, visit our lung cancer risk assessment to see if you are at an increased risk for the deadly disease.

If you would like to submit yourself or a loved one to the Awareness Wall, honoring lung cancer survivors and those lost to the disease, please click here.


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Do you think you're at risk for lung cancer? Use this free Lung Cancer Risk Assessment to find out your personal risk or the risk of a loved one.

 

According to the NCI, if found early in Stage I or II the 5-year survival rate triples from 15% to 53%!

For more information on EarlyCDT-Lung, the blood test to aid in the early detection of lung cancer, click here.