| One of the challenges of successfully treating lung | | | | even during early stage the desease. This |
| cancer is to identify the disease while it is still in its | | | | pressure can cause shoulder and chest pain, which |
| early stages. Unfortunately, symptoms rarely | | | | is present in nearly half of all patients who suffer |
| manifest until the cancerous cells have begun to | | | | the disease when it is diagnosed. |
| spread. This is why many victims remain unaware | | | | Warning Signs The Disease Has Spread |
| they have the disease until a doctor performs | | | | When cancerous cells spread throughout the lung |
| tests for something else. The problem is, once | | | | tissue and threaten to metastasize to other |
| the cancerous cells have metastasized (i.e. spread | | | | organs, a new host of symptoms may manifest. |
| to other parts of the body), the condition is more | | | | Common sites of lung cancer metastasis include |
| difficult to treat. This is the reason it is critical to | | | | the brain, liver, and bones. If the disease spreads |
| identify symptoms of lung cancer as early as | | | | to your brain, you may experience vision |
| possible. | | | | problems, seizures, and persistent headaches. If |
| This article will describe common warning signs of | | | | the cancerous cells spread into your bones, you |
| lung cancer - both while the disease is localized | | | | will feel pain throughout your back and ribs. The |
| and after it has begun to spread. We'll also explain | | | | pain will eventually reach your hips. |
| how minimally invasive lung cancer surgery may | | | | Minimally Invasive Lung Cancer Surgery |
| be an appropriate solution. | | | | Your doctor will likely recommend surgically |
| Symptoms When The Disease Is Localized | | | | removing the cancerous tissue. This has |
| A common early indication of the cancer is a | | | | traditionally been done through open surgery |
| persistent cough. It is often missed because there | | | | during which the surgical team will make a long |
| are many other possible factors to which it may | | | | incision into your chest and spread your ribs to |
| be attributed. For example, during the colder | | | | gain access to the lungs. An alternative approach |
| months, a chronic cough may be blamed on a | | | | is to use video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery |
| cold. If a patient suffers from asthma, the cough | | | | (VATS). This is a minimally invasive strategy that |
| may be considered a side effect. Even in the | | | | precludes spreading the ribcage. As a result, the |
| event that a patient coughs up a small amount of | | | | recovery time is significantly shorter and there is |
| blood, it is typically ignored or attributed to a | | | | usually far less pain following the operation. |
| temporary factor. | | | | While minimally invasive surgery is becoming more |
| Another early sign is difficulty breathing, especially | | | | popular, many hospitals and surgical centers lack |
| after strenuous activity. This too, is easy to miss. | | | | the tools and skills to perform it. If you are |
| Patients often ascribe a shortness of breath to | | | | suffering from lung cancer and are a candidate |
| their being out of shape. | | | | for lobectomy, ask your doctor whether a |
| Tumors can often place pressure on nerves, | | | | minimally invasive approach is possible. |