symptom of lung cancer?

mrcsbud2
mrcsbud2 Member Posts: 21

 

 

For the past 3 days I've noticed blood when I spit, its not constant but I notice it in the morning and random times throughout the day, including after eating. Its usually normal spit with traces of blood and in the morning it tends to be a rusty color. Again its more random times. I don't have any other symptoms, no coughing, no chest pains, no cold. May have a drip in the back only throat and I do have a little heartburn. 24 y/o male non smoker.

 

 

 

Comments

  • dennycee
    dennycee Member Posts: 857 Member
    Its rare that someone your

    Its rare that someone your age develops lung cancer but it is not unheard of.  If you have a regular doctor, make an appointment.  Ask for a lung X-ray.  There are other conditions beside cancer.  You might ask for a low dose ct also.  

    If your dr won't order an x-ray than take yourself to the emergency room and explain coughing up blood.  They will likely get the X-ray done.  

  • mrcsbud2
    mrcsbud2 Member Posts: 21
     
     
    well I went to my doctor

     

     

    well I went to my doctor and he has no clue what it can be so he will be referring me to a gastro doctor. I was able to get blood work which I should know soon and will be getting chest xrays hopefully sometime this week. I feel uneasy about this because idk if it fits lung or esophageal at this point. I really hope it neither cancer as my doctor doesn't believe it is due to age and lifestyle

  • jay_rogers
    jay_rogers Member Posts: 14
    Symptoms of lung cancer

    Hey mrcsbud2,

    Bad to hear this about you.

    Blood in vomit or cough is not a symptom of lung cancer. Do you have a strong cough that don't go away, chest pain or weakness? These are the main symptoms of lung cancer. If not, then you may have any other issue, but please visit hospital as soon as possible. Don't take a week.  

    Hope there is nothing serious, stay connected.

  • IAmYusufSidi
    IAmYusufSidi Member Posts: 12
    Possible Symptoms of Lung Cancer

     It is always said that "PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE". Please read all the possible symptoms, before amke any decisions:

     

    Signs and symptoms of lung cancer 

    Most lung cancers do not cause any symptoms until they have spread too far to be cured, but symptoms do occur in some people with early lung cancer. If you go to your doctor when you first notice symptoms, your cancer might be diagnosed at an earlier stage, when treatment is more likely to be effective. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are: 

    1. A cough that does not go away or gets worse 
    2. Chest pain that is often worse with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing 
    3. Hoarseness 
    4. Weight loss and loss of appetite 
    5. Coughing up blood or rust-colored sputum (spit or phlegm) 
    6. Shortness of breath 
    7. Feeling tired or weak 
    8. Infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia that don’t go away or keep coming back
    9. New onset of wheezing 


    If lung cancer spreads to distant organs, it may cause: 

    Bone pain (like pain in the back or hips) 

    Nervous system changes (such as headache, weakness or numbness of an arm or leg, dizziness, balance problems, or seizures), from cancer spread to the brain or spinal cord 

    Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), from cancer spread to the liver 

    Lumps near the surface of the body, due to cancer spreading to the skin or to lymph nodes (collections of immune system cells), such as those in the neck or above the collarbone 

    Most of the symptoms listed above are more likely to be caused by conditions other than lung cancer. Still, if you have any of these problems, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed. 

    Some lung cancers can cause a group of very specific symptoms. These are often described as syndromes. 

    Horner syndrome 

    Cancers of the top part of the lungs (sometimes called Pancoast tumors) may damage a nerve that passes from the upper chest into your neck. This can cause severe shoulder pain. Sometimes these tumors can affect certain nerves to the eye and part of the face, causing a group of symptoms called Horner syndrome: 

    1. Drooping or weakness of one eyelid 
    2. Having a smaller pupil (dark part in the center of the eye) in the same eye 
    3. Reduced or absent sweating on the same side of the face 
    4. Conditions other than lung cancer can also cause Horner syndrome. 


    Superior vena cava syndrome 

    The superior vena cava (SVC) is a large vein that carries blood from the head and arms back to the heart. It passes next to the upper part of the right lung and the lymph nodes inside the chest. Tumors in this area may push on the SVC, which can cause the blood to back up in the veins. This can cause swelling in the face, neck, arms, and upper chest (sometimes with a bluish-red skin color). It can also cause headaches, dizziness, and a change in consciousness if it affects the brain. While SVC syndrome can develop gradually over time, in some cases it can become life-threatening, and needs to be treated right away. 

    Paraneoplastic syndromes 

    Some lung cancers can make hormone-like substances that enter the bloodstream and cause problems with distant tissues and organs, even though the cancer has not spread to those tissues or organs. These problems are called paraneoplastic syndromes. Sometimes these syndromes may be the first symptoms of lung cancer. Because the symptoms affect organs besides the lungs, patients and their doctors may suspect at first that a disease other than lung cancer is causing them. 

    Some of the more common paraneoplastic syndromes associated with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are: 

    SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone): In this condition, the cancer cells make a hormone (ADH) that causes the kidneys to retain water. This causes salt levels in the blood to become very low. Symptoms of SIADH can include fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle weakness or cramps, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, and confusion. Without treatment, severe cases may lead to seizures and coma. 

    Cushing syndrome: In some cases, lung cancer cells may make ACTH, a hormone that causes the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol. This can lead to symptoms such as weight gain, easy bruising, weakness, drowsiness, and fluid retention. Cushing syndrome can also cause high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels (or even diabetes). 

    Neurologic problems: Small cell lung cancer can sometimes cause the body’s immune system to attack parts of the nervous system, which can lead to problems. One example is a muscle disorder called the Lambert-Eaton syndrome. In this syndrome, muscles around the hips become weak. One of the first signs may be trouble getting up from a sitting position. Later, muscles around the shoulder may become weak. A rarer problem is paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration, which can cause loss of balance and unsteadiness in arm and leg movement, as well as trouble speaking or swallowing. SCLC can also cause other nervous system problems, such as muscle weakness, sensation changes, vision problems, or even changes in behavior. 

    Again, many of the symptoms listed above are more likely to be caused by conditions other than lung cancer. Still, if you have any of these problems, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

  • Vickyc1206
    Vickyc1206 Member Posts: 2

    Possible Symptoms of Lung Cancer

     It is always said that "PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE". Please read all the possible symptoms, before amke any decisions:

     

    Signs and symptoms of lung cancer 

    Most lung cancers do not cause any symptoms until they have spread too far to be cured, but symptoms do occur in some people with early lung cancer. If you go to your doctor when you first notice symptoms, your cancer might be diagnosed at an earlier stage, when treatment is more likely to be effective. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are: 

    1. A cough that does not go away or gets worse 
    2. Chest pain that is often worse with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing 
    3. Hoarseness 
    4. Weight loss and loss of appetite 
    5. Coughing up blood or rust-colored sputum (spit or phlegm) 
    6. Shortness of breath 
    7. Feeling tired or weak 
    8. Infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia that don’t go away or keep coming back
    9. New onset of wheezing 


    If lung cancer spreads to distant organs, it may cause: 

    Bone pain (like pain in the back or hips) 

    Nervous system changes (such as headache, weakness or numbness of an arm or leg, dizziness, balance problems, or seizures), from cancer spread to the brain or spinal cord 

    Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), from cancer spread to the liver 

    Lumps near the surface of the body, due to cancer spreading to the skin or to lymph nodes (collections of immune system cells), such as those in the neck or above the collarbone 

    Most of the symptoms listed above are more likely to be caused by conditions other than lung cancer. Still, if you have any of these problems, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed. 

    Some lung cancers can cause a group of very specific symptoms. These are often described as syndromes. 

    Horner syndrome 

    Cancers of the top part of the lungs (sometimes called Pancoast tumors) may damage a nerve that passes from the upper chest into your neck. This can cause severe shoulder pain. Sometimes these tumors can affect certain nerves to the eye and part of the face, causing a group of symptoms called Horner syndrome: 

    1. Drooping or weakness of one eyelid 
    2. Having a smaller pupil (dark part in the center of the eye) in the same eye 
    3. Reduced or absent sweating on the same side of the face 
    4. Conditions other than lung cancer can also cause Horner syndrome. 


    Superior vena cava syndrome 

    The superior vena cava (SVC) is a large vein that carries blood from the head and arms back to the heart. It passes next to the upper part of the right lung and the lymph nodes inside the chest. Tumors in this area may push on the SVC, which can cause the blood to back up in the veins. This can cause swelling in the face, neck, arms, and upper chest (sometimes with a bluish-red skin color). It can also cause headaches, dizziness, and a change in consciousness if it affects the brain. While SVC syndrome can develop gradually over time, in some cases it can become life-threatening, and needs to be treated right away. 

    Paraneoplastic syndromes 

    Some lung cancers can make hormone-like substances that enter the bloodstream and cause problems with distant tissues and organs, even though the cancer has not spread to those tissues or organs. These problems are called paraneoplastic syndromes. Sometimes these syndromes may be the first symptoms of lung cancer. Because the symptoms affect organs besides the lungs, patients and their doctors may suspect at first that a disease other than lung cancer is causing them. 

    Some of the more common paraneoplastic syndromes associated with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are: 

    SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone): In this condition, the cancer cells make a hormone (ADH) that causes the kidneys to retain water. This causes salt levels in the blood to become very low. Symptoms of SIADH can include fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle weakness or cramps, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, and confusion. Without treatment, severe cases may lead to seizures and coma. 

    Cushing syndrome: In some cases, lung cancer cells may make ACTH, a hormone that causes the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol. This can lead to symptoms such as weight gain, easy bruising, weakness, drowsiness, and fluid retention. Cushing syndrome can also cause high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels (or even diabetes). 

    Neurologic problems: Small cell lung cancer can sometimes cause the body’s immune system to attack parts of the nervous system, which can lead to problems. One example is a muscle disorder called the Lambert-Eaton syndrome. In this syndrome, muscles around the hips become weak. One of the first signs may be trouble getting up from a sitting position. Later, muscles around the shoulder may become weak. A rarer problem is paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration, which can cause loss of balance and unsteadiness in arm and leg movement, as well as trouble speaking or swallowing. SCLC can also cause other nervous system problems, such as muscle weakness, sensation changes, vision problems, or even changes in behavior. 

    Again, many of the symptoms listed above are more likely to be caused by conditions other than lung cancer. Still, if you have any of these problems, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

    Thank you for the information

    Than you for such a well researched list of possible symptoms. If more people knew of these symptoms, the sooner they will go to the Dr and hopefully get scanned!  I have had symptoms such as shoulder and chest pain, dizziness, severe fatigue, sudden high blood pressure and high sugar levels out of no where.  From my left eye to my left shoulder as well as left chest pain and swelling. Feeling exhausted and going from a highly  motivated person to no energy and anemia as well. Previous scans though showed nothing, even when I couldn't move my left shoulder. Within 8 months I was taken to the ER with terrible chest pain. It was then on another scan that showed a over 2  cm entity in the upper left lobe of the lung. I do not know what it is as the biopsy is next week but researching  the symptoms after they found it was of course par for the course. You really did a great job listing them all for us!  Thanks again !