10 Little-Known Signs of Lung Cancer
By Melanie Haiken, Caring.com
In early July, Danish researchers published a new study, showing many cases in which cancer patients, particularly those with lung cancerdiscovered they had a tumor after being referred for psychiatric care. The study, published in the June 25th issue of the International Journal of Cancer, got almost no attention. But it was actually an important finding because it gives us a new way to look at one of the hot issues in cancer treatment right now, which is the problem of lung cancer going undiagnosed until its well advanced and nearly impossible to cure.
The study, which followed 4,320,623 people in Denmark for ten years, showed that when people ages 50 to 64 were referred to a psychiatrist for the first time in their lives, the reason often turned out to be an undetected malignancy.
Our study illustrates the importance of making a thorough physical examination of patients with first-time psychiatric symptoms, lead author Michael E. Benros, MD, was quoted as saying. According to Benros, the overall cancer incidence was highest in those over 50 years of age admitted with a first-time mood disorderone out of 54 patients turned out to have a malignant cancer diagnosed within the first year. Among those 50 to 64, the overall incidence of cancer was increased almost four fold, and the incidence of brain tumors was increased 37 times.
One of the most commonand saddest storiesI hear is from those with non-small cell lung cancer, which is the most common kind and often isnt diagnosed until its Stage 3 or 4. A common site for this type of lung cancer to metastasize, or spread, is to the brain.
Next: What other early signs should you watch for to try to catch lung cancer as early as possible?
10 Little-Known Signs of Lung Cancer originally appeared on Caring.com.
