Symptoms of bronchial cancer depend on the growth of the tumor

In the overwhelming majority of cases, bronchial cancer is called central lung cancer, in which the tumor is located in the bronchus of a sufficiently large caliber and gradually fills its lumen, causing the appearance of signs of bronchial obstruction and respiratory failure.

Atypical case for oncological disease - the causes of this tumor are known, and their establishment in a particular case, as a rule, is not difficult. The average age of those suffering from this pathology is 40-50 years, often the disease occurs in the older age group.

Causes of bronchial cancer

If there is a suspicion of bronchial cancer, the symptoms of the disease( cough, sputum with blood veins, seizures of hypoxia) resemble manifestations of inflammation in the respiratory system. One of the most common causes of bronchial cancer is smoking.

This harmful habit is dangerous not only because of regular irritation of bronchial mucous membranes and lungs with harmful substances in high concentration, but also because the increased temperature of tobacco smoke is also capable of initiating the process of changing the tissues of the respiratory system. Exposed to oncological diseases of the respiratory system are also persons who are passive smokers.

Nicotine exerts its negative effect only on the body of a person who smokes, while volatile carcinogens that are in the tobacco smoke can get into the organisms of people who have to be near the smoker - the probability of malignant neoplasms of bronchuses in passive smokers is almost the same. An important factor is ecological conditions and regular contacts with volatile harmful substances, for example, when working in hazardous production.

Cancer can also appear as a complication after chronic respiratory diseases.

Symptoms of bronchial cancer

It is remarkable that the time of onset and the brightness of symptoms depends on the size of the affected bronchus. If the bronchus is sufficiently large, disturbances in its functioning will be noticeable almost immediately after the appearance of the formation.

During growth, the tumor worsens the oxygen exchange and irritates the inner shell of the bronchi. That's why there is a cough - it is often the first manifestation of the disease, and at the initial stage of the disease the cough remains dry, but very quickly, when the outflow of the secretion of their bronchi located below the tumor site is broken, sputum appears.

Some time after its appearance, sputum is swollen( if it gets infected), or it can begin to depart with blood veins or even blood clots - with the germination of the blood vessel wall. Often at this stage the patient discovers signs of bronchial cancer and seriously thinks about the need for qualified medical care.

In the future, bronchial cancer symptoms can have a variety of - it all depends on which direction and how fast the tumor grows. It is possible to exclude a part of the lung from the act of breathing, which is manifested by the onset of dyspnea and the increase in signs of hypoxia.

Cough in lung cancer can occur at any time of the day, regardless of the patient's posture, external conditions. As with any other inflammatory process, with suppuration of sputum, there may be an increase in body temperature, fever, chills.

Among the additional symptoms - fast fatigue, drowsiness, decreased mood and constant weakness.
Bronchial oncology can also be accompanied by the appearance of pain and a feeling of heaviness in the chest. In the event that the tumor spreads in the direction of the heart, there may be pain in this area.

In case of damage to the vagus nerve, voice distortion is possible. If the malignant cells spread in the direction of the diaphragmatic nerve, partial or complete paralysis of the diaphragm may develop.

Treatment of oncology

It should not be forgotten that in the initial stages, bronchial cancer symptoms are the same as most common viral and respiratory diseases of the respiratory system. Without a comprehensive examination of the body, even an experienced doctor can make a mistake and diagnose acute bronchitis, which will be treated accordingly.

Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial therapy really alleviates the patient's condition, because suppuration and partial obstruction of the bronchus is eliminated, and expectorant medication allows normal sputum outflow from the respiratory tract, but this treatment gives only a temporary result. At the end of taking medicines after a short period of time, the bronchi are hurt again, cough and sputum are returned.

For diagnosing oncological tumors of the bronchi and lungs the following types of studies are used:

• ultrasound,
• X-ray,
• bronchoscopy.

Once diagnosed with bronchial cancer - treatment should be selected, given the size of the tumor and its structure.

The patient can be fully recovered by applying a radical surgical method or a conditionally radical one. In the first case, we are talking about surgery and complete removal of the affected area. A conditional-radical method involves chemotherapy in combination with a subsequent operation.

In some cases, chemotherapy is sufficient for the disappearance of the tumor, while in others, the course of drugs only leads to a decrease in the size of the affected area. If squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchi does not respond to treatment, the task of doctors is to maximize and improve the patient's quality of life.

The patient is prescribed painkillers and the best methods are selected to eliminate breathing disorders and purify the bronchi from sputum. For the prevention of cancer of the respiratory organs, it is necessary to stop smoking, use protective masks and respirators when exposed to harmful volatile substances.

It is recommended to be more often in the open air, monitor the condition of the immune system. If there are any signs of bronchial cancer, it is not recommended to postpone treatment to a doctor. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the more chances for a successful cure for the disease.