Coughing helps in the removal of potentially harmful germs and particles from the airway. There are several causes of coughing, many of which are minor and will resolve on their own. While a cough does not always indicate the presence of lung cancer, a persistent cough is a common symptom of lung cancer at the time of diagnosis. A cough that lasts for weeks or even months could be a sign of something more serious. Let us look into the link between coughing and lung cancer.
How to know if a cough is lung cancer?
There is no way to diagnose lung cancer based on the presence of a cough. According to a study about lung cancer that the severity of the cough did not correlate with the severity of the disease. A persistent cough is not the only symptom of lung cancer. However, some characteristics of a cough are linked to the risk of lung cancer, including:
a persistent cough that gets worse over time
coughing up blood or brown or red mucous
cough in a person with a history of smoking
frequent respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis
cough associated with wheezing or shortness of breath
a cough that produces lots of thin mucous
Some additional symptoms of lung cancer along with the cough are:
difficulty swallowing or speaking
loss of appetite
unexplained weight loss
wheezing and difficulty breathing
hoarseness
fatigue
swelling in the face or neck
Diagnosis of lung cancer
During the diagnosis of the disease, a doctor looks down your throat, listens to your cough, and asks about any other symptoms such as signs of an infection or postnasal drip. Doctors may ask about:
family and personal medical history
how long the cough has lasted
what type of cough it is
when it is most likely to occur
any other symptoms
The doctor may order additional tests, such as:
Imaging tests: a chest X-ray, a CT scan, and an MRI scan.
Blood tests: a complete blood count to assess other cancer markers in the blood.
Sputum test: The person may have to provide sputum samples.
Biopsy: pathologist may take tissue samples by inserting a needle into accessible tumors.
Bronchoscopy: In this test, insert a small tube down the nose and into the lungs and take a small sample of tissue for analysis.
A pathologist will look at cell samples under the microscope to see whether cancer is present and, type of cancer. In cases, your cough is expected to resolve without treatment, doctors may prescribe cough suppressants.
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