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Signs of lung cancer in women

20 October, 2024

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Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer affecting women worldwide, accounting for more than 10% of cancer deaths in India. Are you seeking the best medical assistance for coping with lung cancer? You can consult Dr. Harsh Vardhan Puri from Medanta The Medicity Hospital, one of the best thoracic surgeons in India with more than 12 years of experience! Here, you can seek the most reliable and assured solutions for your lung cancer with collaborative care and empathy. Book a consultation session at Medanta today and get enhanced insights into your health condition and suitable treatment approaches.

Women affected with lung cancer might undergo various symptoms, which can be further classified into early symptoms, advanced symptoms, and rare symptoms. This blog will provide you with a comprehensive overview of lung cancer symptoms in detail. So, get to reading right away and get accurate knowledge regarding all the symptoms associated with it.

Lung Cancer Symptoms in Women: Complete Overview

The symptoms of lung cancer in women may be classified into early symptoms, advanced symptoms, and rare symptoms. Here’s a brief guide on the following symptoms:

Early Symptoms

The early symptoms of lung cancer in women are as follows:

Persistent Coughing

One of the most common early symptoms of lung cancer in women is persistent coughing throughout the day. So, if you suddenly start to experience persistent coughing for a long time, you should seek medical guidance without delay.

Coughing Blood

Another common and early symptom women might experience when suffering from lung cancer is coughing blood. You might spot drops of blood or rust-colored sputum in your cough, along with a tightness in your throat.

Shortness of Breath

Women suffering from lung cancer might experience shortness of breath in the initial stages. It includes feeling winded or suffocated all of a sudden, affecting daily activities.

Chest Tightness

A tightening sensation in the chest is a major indication of lung cancer. Consult Dr. Harsh Vardhan Puri from Medanta The Medicity Hospital and receive assured treatment plans and management programs for lung cancer.

Recurring Lung Infections

When lung cancer initially germinates, it comes with infections like pneumonia, bronchitis, etc. The recurrence of these infections often indicates lung cancer.

Advanced Symptoms

The advanced symptoms of lung cancer in women are as follows:

Neurological Symptoms

When lung cancer has advanced, you will start to experience multiple neurological symptoms like severe headaches, seizures, confusion, etc, making it much more difficult to live an enhanced quality of life.

Unusual Weight Loss

Experiencing sudden weight loss without any explainable cause is a major symptom indicating lung cancer in women. It will be accompanied by loss of appetite and lethargy. If you want to get the best medical assistance to cope with such symptoms, you can consult Dr. Harsh Vardhan Puri as soon as possible.

Yellowing of Skin and Eyes

Another common and advanced symptom of lung cancer in women is experiencing frequent jaundice characterized by the yellowing of skin and eyes. It may be accompanied by abdominal cramps as well.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes in the body, along with sudden hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats, etc., are highly usual in the advanced stages of lung cancer. You might also experience irregularities in the menstruation cycle.

Breast Tenderness

As the lung cancer advances, you will feel a tenderness in your breasts, therefore making it painful to touch. You might also experience some swelling in the breasts.

Difficulty Swallowing

A woman suffering from lung cancer will face severe difficulties in swallowing in the advanced stages. It includes difficulty in both swallowing solids and liquids. Therefore, the patient will face severe complications even if they are on a liquid diet. You should proceed to get immediate medical supervision to prevent the symptoms from becoming much worse.

Less Common Symptoms

The following are the less common symptoms of lung cancer in women:

Finger Clubbing

This is one of the rarest symptoms of lung cancer in women. In this symptom, your fingertips will be enlarged, providing an unusual shape to your hands. However, if you ever experience finger clubbing, you should seek medical attention from a trusted medical professional at the earliest.

Shoulder or Arm Pain

Lung cancer in the advanced stages might come with symptoms like arm or shoulder pain, making it difficult to move around freely. Your mobility might be affected.

Fevers and Chills

Although fevers may be an indication of multiple health complications, if you are experiencing recurring fevers with severe hoarseness in your voice, it may be a symptom of lung cancer. Consult a trusted doctor to get the best analysis. Therefore, you can rely on Dr. Harsh Vardhan Puri, one of the best thoracic surgeons in India.

Risk Factors

The major risk factors for lung cancer in women are provided below:

Family History

Individuals with a family history of lung cancer are more likely to suffer from it than candidates with no record.

Smoking

Smoking tobacco is one of the most common reasons for developing lung cancer.

Previous Radiation Therapy

Individuals undergoing Radiation Therapy earlier, especially in the chest area, are more prone to this health condition.

Radon Exposure

Getting exposed to radon for longer periods can be a leading cause of developing lung cancer in women.

Screening and Diagnosis

The screening and diagnostic procedures for lung cancer are:

Chest X-rays

Chest X-rays are primarily used for the screening of lung cancer in women.

LDCT

LDCT, also referred to as Low-dose Computed Tomography, is used for the annual screening of lung cancer for more than 50% of women.

Imaging Tests

Lung cancer in women can be diagnosed through imaging tests like CT Scans, PET Scans, and MRIs.

Biopsy

It is a diagnostic procedure that examines the sample cancer cells extracted through surgical or needle biopsy.

Treatment Approaches

The following are the treatment approaches for lung cancer in women:

Surgical Procedures

The following surgical procedures are used to treat lung cancer in women:

Lobectomy

In this surgical procedure, the affected lobe is completely removed from the lungs to avoid the spread of cancer further in the body.

Wedge Resection

In this surgical procedure, the surgeon removes the tumor and the affected tissues surrounding it.

Segmentectomy

This surgical treatment can be classified as the technique of removing the affected segment entirely. Dr. Harsh Vardhan Puri from Medanta The Medicity Hospital can perform the most efficient and reliable surgical procedures to remove lung cancer in women.

Non-surgical Procedures

Lung cancer in women can be treated by the following non-surgical procedures:

Radiation Therapy

An external beam of radiation is induced to destroy all the cancer cells in the lungs.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy can be induced both before and after the treatment. It might also be combined with radiation therapy for better effectiveness.

Targeted Therapy

EGFR inhibitors, ALK inhibitors, and VEGF inhibitors are induced to target the cancer cells and destroy them without affecting surrounding tissue.

Final Words

If you are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above, you might be in need of immediate medical assistance since early detection can improve survival rates, increase treatment success, and contribute to a better quality of life. Consult Dr. Harsh Vardhan Puri for the best cure. Book a consultation session at Medanta today and get enhanced insights into the existing condition of your lung cancer and the suitable treatment approaches.

Category : Lung Cancer

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