Lung cancer: Signs and symptoms to look out for
Lung cancer is one of the most serious types of cancer to be diagnosed, as the symptoms tend to start when the cancer is quite advanced. But you may be able to reveal your risk of lung cancer by checking the colour of your phlegm.
Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer to be diagnosed in the world.
Every year, almost 50,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK.
Most people that have lung cancer are over the age of 40, with almost half of those older than 75 years old.
It can be difficult to know if you have lung cancer, because the symptoms are very subtle at first.
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One of the most common early warning signs of lung cancer is a persistent cough.
The cough may not go away after a few weeks, and it could develop into a chronic cough.
If you’re coughing up any mucus or phlegm, it’s crucial that you check its colour.
Rust-coloured phlegm could be a sign that you should see a doctor straight away.
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“Many early lung cancers are diagnosed as an incidental finding with a test for a different purpose,” said the Lung Cancer Foundation of America.
“But when they do appear, knowing the warning signs of lung cancer may allow you to get screened earlier.
“Your body induces itself to cough in order to protect any particles from entering your airways and the lungs. A cough that doesn’t go away or worsens into a chronic cough, is one of the most common symptoms of lung cancer.
“If you are coughing up blood or rust-coloured spit/phlegm, see your doctor immediately.”
But just because you’re coughing up phlegm, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have lung cancer.
Most people with a chesty cough produce phlegm to help clear the airways.
Phlegm is a type of mucus that’s made in the lungs, and is produced even when you’re feeling healthy.
But you’re more likely to notice it when you’re not feeling well, or if you’ve got a bad cough.
Other warning signs of lung cancer include having chest infections that keep coming back, difficulty breathing, and unexplained weight loss.
Some patients have also reported an ache or pain in their chest when breathing or coughing.
If you’re worried about the warning signs of lung cancer, you should speak to a doctor straight away.
Diagnosing the disease early is crucial for treating the cancer.
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