What Are Symptoms And Diagnosis For Lung Cancer?

The symptoms of lung cancer do not usually appear during early stages of the disease. The first symptoms to appear often resemble those of nonmalignant respiratory ailments. The patient may develop a continual cough, or their chronic smoker's cough gets worsened. Among other symptoms are chest pain, shortness of breath, hoarseness, bloody sputum and frequent bouts of bronchitis or pneumonia. Other first symptoms include bone pain, headaches and dizziness.

A physician uses a chest X ray to view the lungs and locate any tumors. Other methods such as computed tomography, a series of X-ray images combined by a computer, are used to pinpoint the tumor's approximate size and location. Cancerous cells are examined through a microscope. The biopsy is employed to remove a small tissue sample from the tumor. Microscopic analysis of the sputum cell also helps confirm a diagnosis.

Another diagnostic technique called bronchoscopy enables the physician to examine the patient's bronchial tubes. In this procedure, a bronchoscope, a thin, fiber optic tool equipped with a light and magnifying device, is inserted through the patient's mouth into the trachea and bronchial tubes to view the lungs. The bronchoscope is usually fitted with a tiny cutting tool to help obtain samples of cells for later microscopic examination.