Various other risk factors and accompanying symptoms needs to be investigated to suspect lung cancer. Nevertheless, chronic cough needs special attention. This means, chronic cough can be benign and related to lung conditions other than lung cancer. For example, lung cancer is the cause of chronic cough only in about 2% of all patients who have chronic cough. Other common risk factors: such as Cigarette smoking, air pollution, bronchitis, pneumonia How to assess if the cough is related to lung cancer?Ĭough is a common illness that people encounter, and it is not always related to lung cancer. Other illnesses: such as Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Asthma or Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Other medications: such as Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) or Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) Lung cancer that causes other lung problems: such as infection, pleural effusion, pulmonary embolismĬancer treatments: such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy (due to their side effects) and surgery (that can cause inflammation or scarring) can trigger cough. What can be the causes of cough in patients with lung cancer?Ĭough in patients with lung cancer can be related to the cancer itself or treatment of the cancer or it can be due to reasons other than these, as detailed below.Ĭancers that impact lungs or respiratory tract: lung cancer or any other cancer that has spread to the lungs or chest Additionally, other pathological changes due to lung cancer such as obstruction of airways by tumor that leads to diminished lung capacity to expel mucus, make it vulnerable to infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis, and even pleural effusion (accumulation of fluid between the lungs and chest), all these can also cause cough. In lung cancer, tumor that develops in the lungs can irritate airways and trigger cough reflex. How lung cancer triggers cough?Ĭoughing is a protective reflex to throw harmful things out of the lungs. Cough does affect the quality of life and other aspects such as socializing, embarrassment due to coughing in public places and related psychologic impact. Despite the fact that, 50% of these patients feel their cough needed treatment and other 23% reported it to be painful, it has received less attention. Prevalence of cough in lung cancer patientsĬough is present in more than half (>65%) of the patients at the time of lung cancer diagnosis (which is generally at the late stage of lung cancer as the early stage is mostly asymptomatic).
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