Systemic Consequences of Pulmonary Hypertension and Right-Sided Heart Failure | Circulation
The Little Known Lung Cancer Sign That Appears In Your Voice
Lung cancer kills around 35,000 people in the UK every year- making it the most common cause of cancer death in the country. That means 95 people will lose their lives to the cruel disease every day with less than half surviving for a year or more after diagnosis.
However the earlier it is detected the better the chance of survival. Cancer Research UK says your chance of successful treatment depends on a number of things but one key one is how advanced it was when it was spotted.
According to the charity more than two out of three (65%) of those caught early with Stage 1 lung cancer will live for five years or more after diagnosis. This falls to 4 out of 10 (40%) at Stage 2, dropping significantly to 15% at Stage 3 and just 5% at Stage 4.
Explaining what affects survival they say: "Your outlook depends on the stage of the cancer when it was diagnosed. This means how big it is and whether it has spread.
"The type of cancer can also affect your survival. The type means which type of cell the cancer started from.
"Your general health and fitness also affect survival. The fitter you are, the better you may be able to cope with your cancer and treatment.
"For lung cancer, gene changes (mutations) can also affect survival. You will have a test called the FISH test to look for any gene changes."
But this shows how essential it is to be aware of the symptoms to watch for and while many people know the main ones of a cough and breathlessness there are several lesser known ones. One of these is a hoarse voice.
According to the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation it is something to watch for. It says: "Hoarseness is a less-known symptom of lung cancer.
"It is often caused by an irritation or injury to the vocal cords. In most instances, the problem will go away on its own after a short period. However, if you are experiencing longer episodes of hoarseness, you should contact your GP practice."
The charity's warning is echoed by lung expert Dr. MeiLan Han. The pulmonologist at the University of Michigan Health System and author of "Breathing Lessons: A Doctor's Guide to Lung Health" said it's not uncommon to have a hoarse voice as a symptom of lung cancer.
She explained: "This is due to the cancer impinging on or invading the recurrent laryngeal nerve, which actually travels down into the chest cavity, under the arch of the aorta and back to the larynx."
There are 14 symptoms of lung cancer, according to the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. It advised people to look out for them saying: "Some people with lung cancer may experience multiple symptoms, whilst others may only have one symptom.
"If you are aware of any changes in your health or spot differences in family and friends, don't ignore them. See your GP if you have any lung cancer signs and symptoms. Chances are everything will be ok, but it is important to get checked out." These are the symptoms it advises people to keep an eye on.
The most common lung cancer symptoms Less common signs of lung cancer include:
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