The second most common cancer in men and women is lung cancer (after prostate for men and breast for women). Its symptoms and warning signs wary as men and women suffer from different lung cancer types, thus it is significant to look for symptoms specific to your sex.
Lung cancer in women
It is named adenocarcinoma which spreads on the outer part of the lungs and thus the symptoms are less obvious than the other types of lung cancer. The tumor in many cases can become large and spread throughout the body before being detected.
Early symptoms are:
Back and shoulder pain;
Shortness of breath while exercising;
Once the cancer grows the following symptoms appear:
Increased mucus and change in color;
Chest, shoulder, and back pain;
Persistent cough;
Coughing blood;
Coughing up phlegm or mucus with blood;
Harsh sound while breathing;
Shortness of breath.
This cancer type is hard to detect, thus spreads to other body parts and may be noticed only when it reaches the most advanced stages. Once it is spread in such a manner, the symptoms can be felt in different body parts like bones, liver, lymph nodes, and the adrenal glands, causing different symptoms like:
Headaches;
Fatigue;
Loss of muscle mass;
Appetite loss and unexplained weight loss;
Blood clots;
Neck or face swelling;
Loss of memory;
Bone fractures that are not caused by accidental injury;
Joint or bone pain.
Lung cancer in men
They develop squamous cell carcinomas known as non-small cell lung cancer. It develops in the central part of the lungs, near the main airway (bronchus), resulting in obstruction of air and leading to symptoms which are related obviously to lung cancer compared to the most commonly experienced by women.
These are some of the symptoms:
Wheezing;
Repeated lung infections like bronchitis or pneumonia;
Chronic cough.
The symptoms of lung cancer in men obstruct the airway more than the condition in women, however, many studies suggest that men overlook the symptoms because of the smoking habits.
The symptoms of lung cancer may seem obvious, thus it is highly significant not to overlook the warning signs. Moreover, it is important to reduce the risks of lung cancer at all costs and this includes smoking.