Lung cancer is one of the two most common cancers in the world. In India alone, it constitutes about 6.9% of all new cancer cases and 9.3% of all cancer-related deaths in males & females.
Lung cancer begins in the cells of the lungs. It is nothing like cancer that starts somewhere else and spreads to the lungs. The primary symptoms of lung cancer involve the respiratory system, but in later stages, it can spread to distant organs as well.
In all it’s stages, lung cancer is treatable by specialists like Dr. Manish Singhal, the best lung cancer doctor in Delhi NCR.
However, the question we’re answering here relates to lung cancer’s effect on the body as a whole.
Lung cancer’s effect on the body
Lung cancer does not just affect your lungs. It is cancer after all, and it can spread. Once you have a tumor in your lung/s, the cancer cells can easily break off, forming new tumors nearby or anywhere in the body if it enters the lymphatic system or bloodstream. They can travel anywhere then, and this is called metastasis.
Commonly lung cancer spreads to:
-Lymph nodes
-Bones
-Brain
-Liver
-Adrenal Glands
Depending on where the cancer migrates, different organs/systems are affected.
An in-depth look:
- Respiratory system
Most lung cancer patients do not have any symptoms at first. However, if they do, they might have frequent bouts of bronchitis or pneumonia. They can sound hoarse or notice other changes in their voice.
Then comes persistent cough which will eventually become intense and produce mucus. With disease progression, mucus can change color or have blood in it. A hacking cough can cause chest pain which worsens with breathing or cough.
Shortness of breath, wheezing, becoming breathless even on little exertion is seen.
The respiratory system is the first system to be affected by lung cancer, and that is why this is where the primary symptoms are seen, according to top cancer doctors.
- Circulatory and cardiovascular systems
Cancer cells can make their way into the bloodstream and spread through the circulatory system throughout the body.
People with lung cancer can cough up blood, have fatal blood clots, can cause pulmonary embolism, etc. Lung cancer can also spread to the heart or the pericardial sac. (Rare) Radiation toxicity due to lung cancer can damage the cells of the heart.
Ask any oncologist in Noida, pan India, or worldwide, they’ll confirm.
- Immune & excretory systems
If lung cancer has metastasized to nearby lymph nodes, it can form lumps and bumps around your collarbone, neck, or armpits and cause neck or facial swelling. According to experts, some types of lung cancer can cause hormone-like substances to enter the bloodstream and cause “paraneoplastic syndromes.”
If it has spread to the liver, it can cause jaundice or liver pain.
- Central nervous system
Lung cancer, if it has spread to the brain, can cause memory problems, visual changes, dizziness, seizures, numbness of the limbs, weakness of the limbs, an unsteady gait, balance problems, etc. Not only that, but it can also cause Horner’s syndrome, which affects the face & the neck.
- Skeletal and muscular systems
If lung cancer has spread to the bones, it can cause bone and muscle pain, weakened bones, and an increased risk of fracture. If a cancer doctor performs an X-ray, he/she can detect it easily.
Some types of lung cancer are associated with an autoimmune disorder that interrupts the signals from the nerves to the muscles, Lambert-Eaton syndrome.
These are only a few examples. Lung cancer can also affect hormonal balance, weight, appetite, and more.
Winding up
Lung cancer affects more than the lungs. But today, with the advent of modern medicine, it can be treated and managed very well. The best way to do it is to consult an expert of repute like Dr. Manish Singhal, a leading cancer specialist in Delhi NCR.
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