SYMPTOMS that seem trivial, such as a prolonged cough and shortness of breath, can actually be early signs of dangerous lung cancer.
Pulmonology and respiratory medicine specialist at Pasar Minggu Regional General Hospital, Ririen Razika Ramdhani, reminded of the importance of early detection to prevent the condition from getting worse.
The first symptoms to look for are cough and shortness of breath that cannot be explained by another medical condition.
This usually occurs because the tumor has affected the lining of the lungs or airways.
“If the tumor grows large enough or fluid begins to collect in the chest cavity, the patient will experience shortness of breath due to the spread of the tumor to other parts of the lungs,” said Ririen as quoted from Between.
In addition to coughing and shortness of breath, coughing up blood can also be a sign of lung cancer.
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This occurs when a tumor grows in the more central airway areas of the lung, causing damage to the surrounding blood vessels.
Chest pain is another symptom that patients often complain of. This pain is caused by the pressure of the tumor on the nerves and blood vessels around the lungs.
“You also need to be alert if there is swelling in the face and arms, which may be caused by the tumor getting bigger and pressing on the blood vessels,” added Ririen.
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Unfortunately, in Indonesia, most patients come with tumors that are already severe and at an advanced stage, making treatment more difficult.
According to data from hospitals that treat lung and thoracic cancer, 92 percent of lung cancer cases occur in people aged 40 to 60 years, with the majority of patients being male.
Early detection and screening are essential to detect lung cancer early.
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The public is encouraged to carry out independent checks and control preventable risk factors, such as avoiding smoking, exposure to pollution, and risky jobs such as exposure to asbestos.
“We must try to reduce the number of new cases of lung cancer by paying attention to controllable risk factors,” said Ririen.
For those who have been exposed to risk factors, the program screening like Low Dose CT Scan is needed to increase life expectancy through early detection. (Z-10)
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