Lung cancer comes from the uncontrolled growth of cells in the lungs. Typically, the process of cell division and death occurs regularly. However, the normal functioning of this process becomes disrupted in the event of cancer. The cancer cells will keep growing and then divide uncontrollably.

Lung cancer complications

Lung cancer can lead to a number of complications, such as:

Difficulty breathing

Blockage of the airways can result from the growth of cancer in the lungs. This cancer has the potential to induce inflammation in the respiratory system and put pressure on the airways. As a result, you may experience shortness of breath.

The recommended actions for relieving difficulty breathing are to stop smoking, limit exposure to cigarette smoke, consume adequate water, practice breathing exercises, and get enough sleep.

Coughing blood

Hemoptysis, or coughing blood, is one of the complications associated with lung cancer. Frequently, a bronchoscopy or other endoscopic procedure will be required to identify and stop the source of bleeding in the respiratory tract.

It is common practice to apply radiotherapy to manage bleeding, reduce the tumor, and slow its progression to control bleeding.

Chest pain

As the tumor expands within the lungs, it puts pressure on the nerves, resulting in chest pain and decreased breathing capacity. The pain increases when you inhale deeply or do specific activities that impact the lungs.

As the tumor size increases, the risk of the tumor pressing on the surrounding structures and tissue in the lung also increases. The doctor would typically assess the severity of the symptoms and decide on a suitable therapy plan to manage both the pain and the cancer.

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Pleural effusion

Pleural effusion is the accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, which is the space between the layers of the pleura that line the inner chest wall. Pleural effusion can be a severe complication for those with lung cancer. The lungs cannot completely expand when excessive fluid accumulates, resulting in discomfort and shortness of breath.

For this purpose, the doctor will need to use a needle to drain the excess fluid accumulated in the chest cavity. This can help reduce pressure in the lungs, relieve shortness of breath, and reduce the risk of further complications.

Pericardial effusion

Tumor growth in the chest or near the heart may disrupt the heart's function and induce pericardial effusion. A pericardial effusion is a fluid accumulation in the sac that covers the heart (pericardium).

This condition disrupts heart function, resulting in abnormal heart rhythms and difficulty pumping blood. In certain cases, the doctor must perform a chest incision to help remove fluid from the pericardial sac.

Read more: Causes Of People With Lung Cancer Reject Treatment

Blood coagulation

Thrombocytosis, an elevation in platelet count in the blood, is commonly observed in several types of cancer, such as lung cancer. The condition may increase the risk of blood clots that eventually release and travel to vital organs, including the brain or heart.

Metastasis

Through a process known as metastasis, lung cancer can spread to several tissues and organs throughout the body. This requires treatment to relieve symptoms, minimize tumor growth, and enhance quality of life.

Typically, lung cancer is non-treatable once it has progressed to the metastatic stage. Nevertheless, medical treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and other therapies, can still be given to patients to improve their quality of life and relieve discomfort.

If you are experiencing symptoms that are indicative of lung cancer, including persistent coughing, shortness of breath, or blood in the sputum, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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