Lung cancer is common among men and women, and like most forms of cancer, there is no currently known cure, which makes it more important to recognize the symptoms as early as possible. A hoarse voice is one uncommonly known symptom to look out for.
What is Lung Cancer?
When abnormal cells in the lungs begin to cluster and form tumors, they are diagnosed with lung cancer. Unlike healthy cells, cancer cells grow uncontrollably, destroying healthy lung tissues around them called malignant tumors, says the American Lung Association.
When the cells spread, they prevent different organs of the body from functioning properly.
There are two main branches of lung cancer. Lung cancer can happen to anyone with varying factors that cause mutations to happen to the lungs' cells. Most commonly, these forms of mutation happen to people who breathe toxic substances.
In a report by the American Lung Association, lung cancer is the leading killer for men and women in the U.S.
Symptoms of lung cancer often don't show in the early stages. However, as the condition progresses, some become more recognizable. One of the most recognizable symptoms that develop is a cough that lasts for two to three weeks or coughing up blood.
The main symptoms of lung cancer often include:
Long-standing cough
Recurring chest infections
Ache or pain when breathing or coughing
Breathlessness
Loss of appetite
Unexplained weight loss
But it is important to watch out for lesser-known symptoms.
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Lesser-Known Lung Cancer Symptoms
One symptom that people are often unaware of is a hoarse voice or changes in the voice. Only 1% of people can identify the symptom in a survey by the Global Lung Cancer Coalition.
"We all experiences hoarseness at some point in our lives. However, if you are experiencing hoarseness or a weakening of your voice----it could be a sign of lung cancer," says the Roy Caste Lung Cancer Federation.
According to experts, hoarseness of the voice can be due to the presence of tumors pressing on the laryngeal nerve that causes paralysis or weakening of the nerve, leading to paralysis of a vocal cord.
Although hoarseness can be a symptom of lung cancer in the right lung, it is more common for lung cancer patients on the left lung.
Lung cancer rapidly grows and spreads throughout the body as it progresses; hence, detecting and noticing symptoms, like hoarseness of voice, as early as possible is key.
There are various treatments for lung cancer, depending on where it has grown and how it spread. That is why people need to be on the lookout for even the most uncommonly known symptom, such as hoarseness of voice.
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