Lung Cancer is a state of malicious tumor in the lungs, characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells in lung tissues. It begins in the lungs and might spread to other organs of the body. This process of cancer cells spreading from one body part to another is known as metastasis.

The symptoms of lung cancer can be different in different people. Many a time, people get to experience the symptoms only after the condition has become quite serious. One can diagnose the disorder when he/she experiences chest pain, regular coughing, breathing problem, wheezing, etc. In addition, if you are losing weight without any reason, do not wait to visit a physician, suggests a cancer expert at AMRI Hospitals.

Detecting lung cancer

Low dose CT scan, nasal swabs, blood testing, etc. are some of the basic levels of testing methods recommended by physicians in the primary stage. In the next level, doctors suggest multiple kinds of tests to detect cancerous cells:

• X-ray: An X-ray image of the lungs reveals the extra mass of cells that might have developed in the lungs. If the bruises are not detected in an X-ray image, a CT scan can be done. Image testing is an extremely important step for testing lung cancer, since it can tell a lot about the condition of your lungs and other nearby parts.
• Sputum Cytology: It is about testing of phlegm to discover cancerous cells in the lungs. In many cases, a patient coughs up sputum (the mixture of saliva and mucus). It can be scanned through the microscopic lens to reveal the presence of infected cells.
• Biopsy: Biopsy is the process of examining a sample of defective cells under a microscope. There are a number of ways of conducing a biopsy, such as bronchoscopy, mediastinoscopy, needle biopsy, etc. In bronchoscopy, the doctor inspects the affected regions of the lungs with a lit tube that goes into the lungs through the patient’s throat.

Being careful about your lifestyle is the most important way to be healthy in life. It is recommended that you visit a doctor as soon as you experience any symptoms in your body.