Lung cancer and its symptoms

Lung cancer starts at the lungs (two sponge like organs) as shown above. Most lung cancer begins at the bronchus (see diagram); however, it can also begin at alveoli, trachea, or bronchioles.

Lung cancer starts out as where precancerous changes occur in the lungs. These changes do not form tumor but as newly born cancer cells, which can not be detected by x-rays and no apparent symptoms.

As precancerous changes progresses, tumor begins to emerge to invade other areas of lungs or other organs. Tumors can be detected by x-ray.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of lung cancer do not appear until it is in an advanced stage. Sources say that, "Only about 15% of lung cancer found in early stage. The rest implies that it could not be cured or too late to do anything. For people with lung cancer, they have only 14% to live up to five years."

Common signs or symptoms of lung cancer:

chest pain (usually from deep breathing)
hoarseness
weight loss and loss of appetite
bloody phlegm (spit)
shortness of breath
spontaneous fever
recurring infections in lungs such as bronchitis and pneumonia
onset of wheezing
bone pain (spreading lung cancer)
neurologic changes (dizziness, numbness in limb, or sudden weakness)
juandice (yellow eyes)
masses of lumps on body

back