Most people may feel that a diagnosis of lung cancer is a death sentence. Well, this thought is reasonable because lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women and men.
Over 1.3 million people die of lung cancer every year. However, it is important to understand that just like any other type of cancer, if diagnosed early enough, lung cancer is treatable and, in most cases, curable.
In its early stages, this cancer may not present any obvious signs and symptoms. A number of lung cancer diagnoses are made after the cancer has advanced, making treatment quite complicated.
As such, pay attention to the following warning signs, some of which will surprise you. This will help you to bring to your doctor’s attention any suspicious symptoms. Early screening will help in the treatment of the disease.
11Thickened and painful fingertips
The most common causes of thickening or clubbing of the fingertips is lung cancer. Clubbing and thickening of fingertips are also symptoms of arthritis. Surprisingly, most people associate the symptoms with arthritis, and never think that they could be a symptom of lung cancer. This problem occurs because lung tumors may release chemicals such as cytokines, which spur tissue and bone growth.
As you can see, there are symptoms that you couldn’t associate with lung cancer. Usually, some of the symptoms may be related to other causes, including a common cold and bronchitis. However, your doctor should be in a position to examine any symptom that may be worrisome or unusual. The signs and symptoms of this type of cancer may take several years to develop. In other cases, they may only appear after the disease has advanced.