How does lung cancer impact the body?
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons answered:Small lung cancers do not usually cause any symptoms and are occasionally found accidentally on a chest x-ray or CT scan done for another purpose. However, most lung cancers are symptomatic when they are discovered.Small lung cancers do not usually cause any symptoms and are occasionally found accidentally on a chest x-ray or CT scan done for another purpose. However, most lung cancers are symptomatic when they are discovered. More -
Dr. Alla Gimelfarb of NorthShore University HealthSystem answered:Lung cancer has multiple ways of impacting a body. This depends on the stage of lung cancer and at which point it becomes diagnosed. At early stages, lung cancers are often asymptomatic and most patients are unaware that they have the disease. As the disease becomes more advanced, variable symptoms can develop. They often present with respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, or blood with coughing. If the lung cancer is metastatic, it can also present with other issues outside of the respiratory system such as neurological symptoms, weight loss, loss of appetite, seizures and other multiple complications. Lung cancer can spread to multiple sides of the body and, therefore, its impact on one's body is very individual based and is often variable between patients.
Lung cancer has multiple ways of impacting a body. This depends on the stage of lung cancer and at which point it becomes diagnosed. At early stages, lung cancers are often asymptomatic and most patients are unaware that they have... More -
Lung cancer impacts all parts of your body in a negative way. Cancer can spread to different systems, causing weight loss, poor energy, infections, shortness of breath, nausea, and numerous other negative problems.Lung cancer impacts all parts of your body in a negative way. Cancer can spread to different systems, causing weight loss, poor energy, infections, shortness of breath, nausea, and numerous other negative problems. More -
Dr. Vijay Nuthakki of Aurora Health Care answered:The effects lung cancer has on your body are associated with the location of the cancer and the degree to which the disease has advanced. General features may include unexplained weight loss and night sweats. If it has spread to other parts of your body, it can cause pain at those sites or neurological changes if metastatic to the brain. If the cancer is in one of the tubes that lead to the lungs, it may be harder for air to pass into and out of the lungs. If this occurs, the decreased air movement can result in a wheezing noise upon breathing, as well as difficulty breathing. In more advanced lung cancer, the tumor may affect neighboring tissues and cause problems with your heart and nerves that run to the face and arms, vocal cords, or diaphragm. The cancer may also grow to the point of invading the esophagus (a tube which carries food from the mouth to the stomach, causing difficulty swallowing. Lung cancer eventually prevents the lungs from doing their job of providing oxygen to the body, and low oxygen levels occur.The effects lung cancer has on your body are associated with the location of the cancer and the degree to which the disease has advanced. General features may include unexplained weight loss and night sweats. If it has spread to other parts of your... More -
Healthwise answered:Lung cancer can start anywhere in the lungs and may affect any part of the respiratory system. This can cause breathing or heart problems such as:
- Pleural effusion, which is the buildup of fluid between the outer lining of the lungs and the chest wall. This is a common condition with lung cancer.
- Coughing up large amounts of bloody sputum.
- Collapse of a lung (pneumothorax).
- Blockage of the airway (bronchial obstruction).
- Recurrent infections, such as pneumonia.
- Pericardial effusion, which is the buildup of fluid in the space between the heart and the sac around the heart (pericardium). This condition is not common with lung cancer.
As lung cancer grows, it may spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Lung cancer is classified in stages which describe how far the cancer has grown and spread.
Your doctor determines the stage of your lung cancer by gathering information from a variety of tests, including bone scans, PET scans, CT scans, and X-rays. The stage of your cancer is one of the most important factors in choosing an effective treatment.
The long-term outcome (prognosis) for lung cancer depends on how much the cancer has grown and spread.
Lung cancer can start anywhere in the lungs and may affect any part of the respiratory system. This can cause breathing or heart problems such as: Pleural effusion, which is the buildup of fluid between the outer lining of the lungs and the chest... More
