Every year about 1.3 million people die from lung cancer. Luckily, however, lung cancer is not always fatal and many people do live long, healthy lives after diagnosis. The earlier that an individual is diagnosed, the better their prognosis. Those who are diagnosed with lung cancer early are at a 50% higher chance of surviving than those who are diagnosed after metastasis has occurred (the spread of the cancer to another area). Keep reading to learn what to be on the look out for in order to diagnose lung cancer before it is too late.
Labored Breathing
There are a variety of different reasons that someone might be experiencing shortness of breath or wheezing. It is so common that it often is not considered to be a serious symptom. However, it is always better to be safe than sorry. If you happen to experience shortness of breath that is unusual for you (for instance, if you always get winded when running on the treadmill this doesn’t count) speak to your doctor as it could be an indicator that something is not working as is. This is especially important if there are other factors that may put you at a higher risk of lung cancer, such as a history of smoking. Don’t be afraid of thinking that you will be wasting your doctor’s time, it is better for everyone in the long run to either rule out lung cancer as a cause or catch it earlier than later.
