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10 Little-Known Signs of Lung Cancer

posted by Mel, selected from Caring.com Sep 9, 2009 5:02 pm

By Melanie Haiken, Caring.com

In early July, Danish researchers published a new study, showing many cases in which cancer patients, particularly those with lung cancer–discovered they had a tumor after being referred for psychiatric care. The study, published in the June 25th issue of the International Journal of Cancer, got almost no attention. But it was actually an important finding because it gives us a new way to look at one of the hot issues in cancer treatment right now, which is the problem of lung cancer going undiagnosed until it’s well advanced and nearly impossible to cure.

The study, which followed 4,320,623 people in Denmark for ten years, showed that when people ages 50 to 64 were referred to a psychiatrist for the first time in their lives, the reason often turned out to be an undetected malignancy.

“Our study illustrates the importance of making a thorough physical examination of patients with first-time psychiatric symptoms,” lead author Michael E. Benros, MD, was quoted as saying. According to Benros, the overall cancer incidence was highest in those over 50 years of age admitted with a first-time mood disorder–one out of 54 patients turned out to have a malignant cancer diagnosed within the first year. Among those 50 to 64, the overall incidence of cancer was increased almost four fold, and the incidence of brain tumors was increased 37 times.

One of the most common–and saddest stories–I hear is from those with non-small cell lung cancer, which is the most common kind and often isn’t diagnosed until it’s Stage 3 or 4. A common site for this type of lung cancer to metastasize, or spread, is to the brain.

Next: What other early signs should you watch for to try to catch lung cancer as early as possible?

More on Elder Care (51 articles available)
More from Mel, selected from Caring.com (75 articles available)

25 comments

25 comments

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25 comments add your comment
Dawn C.
  • Dawn C. says
  • Sep 16, 2009 7:16 AM

This article is priceless. I wish I had read this about a year ago. A friend has never been sick a day in His life. Last year, He came down with Bronchitis twice. A few months ago, He was diagnosed with late stage lung cancer and is now dying. This article really shed a lot of light on this situation that is going on with my friend. I just wish it was not too late to help Him. Thank you for taking the time to share this article with us.

Shandell Moss

Julie, thanks for letting me know about the test. I've smoked for 24 years now and most of the time I feel fine but I know lung cancer usually sneaks up on people. I wish I could quit, I did once for 6 months. I never stopped wanting one though. What is Sjogren's Syndrome?

Janice Drabble

My Father-In-Law had a persistent cough so he went to the Doctor for a check-up. After being examined, he was told there was nothing wrong. Another two months passed and Ron still had this persistent cough. He made another appointment at the Health Centre and told the Doctor his symptoms and the reply Ron got from the Doctor was " I hear what you are saying but I haven't got time to listen to your chest. Come back if it doesn t clear up". Ron went back several times. It was almost eighteen months before the doctor thought it might be a good idea to do a few tests.
To cut a long story short, Ron died five months later of lung cancer and it had spread to eight different places in his body. He didn't deserve to suffer like that. He might have had a chance of recovering if only this incompetent Doctor had taken the time and sent Ron for tests sooner.

Dianne Garcia-dotson

Blessings to all,

Have read the comments and for the life of me wonder why so many are being "lead to the slaughter". Allopathic doctors are one of many options to wellness. Have been a healer for 25+ years. I do not "Practice" medicine. I Heal. If wellness, wholeness is what one seeks, then ALL methods of achieving it should be pursued. There are "Qualified" healers, everywhere. Do your own due dilligence. Read. Pray and seek guidance. Cancer and everything else, is "Curable". It requires "Lifestyle Changes". Only those willing to make the changes "Heal". Look at Cancer as a "Huge red flag". It is saying "You Must Stop ---- Right Now". For the record, MD's have a less that 2% success rate of healing Cancer. Don't think I'd trust my future to those odds. Lung Dis-ease is indicative of "Grief". Find the source of the grief and remove it. Then the Cancer can heal.

Glorious Light,

Dr. Dianne Garcia-Dotson
certifiedrofeh@gmail.com

Julie H.

Yes Shandell there is a lung test. You must have a Dr's request for this test in the US. It is a non-invasive test and it takes about 3 hours. It can also check your liver as well. I am sorry I cannot recall the name of this test, but I will try to remember it for you. In 2002, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Sjogren's Syndrome. There is currently no cure for this. As a result, I now have many other things wrong as well. They too can only be treated with meds as they have no cure. This has caused me to be placed on many meds. I try to lead a full life, but this is not always possible :) One day at a time. Interestingly my regular Dr. has not asked for any of these tests nor my neurologist. It was my Opthomologist who asked for this!

Chana B.

Soft Furry, we all frequently have cancer cells in our body but a healthy immune system repeatedly fights them off. If the immune system is compromised whiich can occur due to an emotional trauma, the cancer may not be stopped by the immune system. People with HIV/AIDS frequently develop cancer as an "opportunistic infection." The drug companies may be guilty of a lot, but they're not keeping this information hidden.

Soft Furry

Google German New Medicine! Dr Gerd Hamer! and see what you think. He says all cancers start with a trauma or emotional conflict. Makes sense re Vanessa's mother. The drug companies don't want you to know this of course.
Kay

Vanessa Favero

(Continued from the previous post)

My mother (age 77) was devastated (by the death of my sister) and took to her bed for a while, her life force seriously impaired. Then her allergies seemed to worsen: since she regularly went for allergy shots, everyone assumed it was allergies, and she continued to be treated by the allergist. When she didn't improve she went to another doctor who diagnosed a respiratory infection and gave her several rounds of antibiotics, which also didn't help. Her voice became weak, and she sounded like she was fading away. Then her temperature spiked and she was rushed to the hospital, where tests revealed a tumor in her left lung, which was deemed inoperable. She started radiation treatments, but couldn't tolerate them, so stopped after 2 or 3. She died four months later, eight months after my siser.

Vanessa Favero

My sister and my mother, both former smokers, both died from lung cancer. I hope that the following information can help someone else to recognize some early signs of possible lung cancer and aggressively pursue a diagnosis, before it's too late.

My sister's first symptom, at age 44, was severe pain in her lower back teeth (just one side I think), leading to a couple of root canals, despite the absence of tooth decay. She hadn't been feeling well for awhile, but attributed it to stress from work - longer hours and a new boss who was a jerk. A couple of months later the lining around one lung filled with fluid, which was removed with a needle and tested. She was told that it was NOT cancer, and likely a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis, so an appointment was made with a rheumatologist. But, before that could take place, the fluid returned around her lung, so it was decided to surgically implant a drain. The surgery revealed that she had stage 4 small-cell lung cancer, and then her lung collapsed a day or two later. She started chemo a week later (a waste of precious time spent trying to figure out what doctor/hospital to go to, based on who her insurance would cover), and died a month later from a lung infection (in her "good" lung) that her weakened immune system couldn't fight.

My mother (age 77) was devastated and took to her bed for a while, her life force seriously impaired. Then her allergies seemed to worsen: since she regularly went for allergy shots, everyone a

Meredith H.

Does anyone know why there are so many stories of misdiagnoses here, and they sem to be predominantly women? How do we get mostly male doctors to take us seriously may be the question. Another thing I noticed is to always get a copy of your xrays and the report and look at them and if your doctor doesn't want to see them, get a new doctor. Since when did they trust some guy who doesn't know the history nor the patient to read something so important that it may cost you your life?
I have xrays where the radiologist is saying there was nothing wrong when they didn't even get an xray of the right area. Makes me look like a hypochondriac.
I hope you all suffering with this disease find some peace and have an advocate. It is so sad.

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