Could This Cough Be Something Serious?

By: Sandeep Singh, MD

What Is Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer starts when cells in the lungs grow in an abnormal way. Your lungs are the two soft organs in your chest that help you breathe. They take in oxygen when you inhale and release carbon dioxide when you exhale.

When healthy lung cells start to grow too fast and do not stop when they should, they form a lump called a tumor. These cancer cells can spread to other parts of your body.

Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer around the world. Many people who get lung cancer have a history of smoking. But some people who have never smoked can still get it. The longer and more often someone smokes, the higher the risk.

 

Common Signs to Watch For:

In the early stages, lung cancer usually does not cause any noticeable problems. Symptoms often show up when the cancer has already spread.

These may include:

• A cough that will not go away
• Chest pain
• Coughing up small amounts of blood
• A hoarse voice
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing

If the cancer spreads to other areas of the body, symptoms might include:

• Pain in the bones
• Headaches
• Losing weight without trying
• Not feeling hungry
• Swelling in your face or neck

*If you have any of these signs and they do not go away, talk to your doctor.

 

What Causes Lung Cancer?

Cancer starts when something damages the DNA in a cell. DNA is like an instruction book that tells your cells how to behave. When cancer develops, the instructions go wrong. Cells grow too fast and do not die when they should. This causes a buildup of cells, leading to a tumor.

Most lung cancers are caused by smoking. Cigarette smoke contains harmful chemicals that damage lung cells. Each time you smoke, your lungs are exposed to more of these chemicals. Over time, this damage adds up and can lead to cancer.

Even if you do not smoke, being around smoke from others (secondhand smoke) can also raise your risk. Other causes include breathing in dangerous substances like radon gas, air pollution or chemicals.

 

Two Main Types of Lung Cancer

Doctors group lung cancer into two major types:

1. Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)
   • Often found in people who have smoked heavily
   • Grows and spreads quickly

2. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
   • The most common type
   • Includes subtypes like squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma

*Knowing the type helps doctors plan the best treatment.

 

What Increases the Risk?

Some things can make a person more likely to get lung cancer:

• Smoking (even just a few a day)
• Breathing in secondhand smoke
• Past radiation to the chest
• Radon gas in the home or workplace
• Breathing in cancer-causing substances like asbestos or arsenic
• Family history of lung cancer

 

Possible Problems from Lung Cancer

Lung cancer can cause other health issues, such as:

• Shortness of breath: If the tumor blocks the airway or causes fluid buildup
• Coughing up blood: Caused by bleeding in the lungs
• Chest pain: Especially if cancer spreads to the lining of the lungs or bones
• Fluid around the lungs: This fluid makes breathing harder
• Cancer spreading to other parts: Like the brain or bones, which can cause pain or other symptoms

 

Can It Be Prevented?

You can not always prevent cancer, but you can lower your risk:

• Do not smoke: Never starting is best
• Quit smoking: Even if you have smoked for years, stopping helps
• Avoid secondhand smoke: Stay away from places where people smoke
• Check for radon: You can buy a radon test kit for your home
• Protect yourself at work: Wear safety gear if you are exposed to chemicals
• Eat fruits and vegetables: A healthy diet supports your body
• Exercise regularly: Stay active most days of the week

 

How Doctors Diagnose Lung Cancer

If your doctor thinks you might have lung cancer, they may order tests such as:

• X-ray or CT scan: Shows pictures of your lungs
• Sputum test: Checks mucus you cough up for cancer cells
• Biopsy: A small piece of tissue is taken and looked at under a microscope

There are different ways to do a biopsy:

• Bronchoscopy: A thin tube goes down your throat to collect a sample
• Needle biopsy: A needle goes through your chest into your lung
• Surgery: Sometimes it is needed to take a bigger sample

Lab tests on the cancer cells help confirm the diagnosis and guide treatment.

 

Finding the Stage of Cancer

After diagnosis, doctors find out how far the cancer has spread. This is called staging.

• Stage 1: Small and limited to the lungs
• Stage 2 & 3: Larger and may have spread to nearby areas
• Stage 4: Cancer has spread to distant organs

In small cell lung cancer, the stages are:

• Limited: Only in one lung or nearby areas
• Extensive: Has spread to the other lung or far away

*Staging helps your doctor choose the right treatment.

 

Treatment Options

Treatment depends on your type of lung cancer, its stage and your health.

Common treatments include:

1. Surgery: Doctors remove part or all of a lung. Types of surgery:

• Wedge resection: Removes a small part of the lung
• Lobectomy: Removes the whole lobe of the lung
• Pneumonectomy: Removes one entire lung

*Surgery might also remove lymph nodes to check for cancer spread.

 

2. Radiation Therapy: Radiation uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells. It can:

• Be used before surgery to shrink tumors
• Be used after surgery to kill remaining cells
• Help relieve pain or breathing issues

3. Chemotherapy: These are strong medicines that kill cancer cells. They might:

• Be given before surgery to shrink the tumor
• Be used after surgery to prevent cancer from coming back
• Help relieve symptoms in later stages

4. Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT): A focused form of radiation, often used for small tumors or for people who cannot have surgery. It delivers high doses with fewer treatments.
5. Targeted Therapy: Some drugs attack cancer cells with certain gene changes. These medicines only work if your cancer cells have those changes. Lab tests will check for these.
6.  Immunotherapy: This treatment helps your immune system fight cancer. It is often used when surgery is not an option or after other treatments.
7. Palliative Care: Focuses on comfort and quality of life. It helps with pain, breathing problems and emotional support. You can receive palliative care alongside cancer treatments.

 

Final Thoughts

Lung cancer is a serious illness, but early detection and treatment can make a big difference. Quitting smoking, having regular check-ups and knowing your risks are important steps to protect your health. If something does not feel right, do not wait—see your doctor.

 

Get Expert Care for Lung Cancer or Breathing Problems

If you think you may have lung cancer or trouble breathing, I am here to help. As a hematologist and oncologist, I specialize in diagnosing and treating blood disorders and cancer.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Sandeep Singh:

Call: 601-518-7054   Referral Email: ashli.palmer@scrmc.com

Your health is important. Let’s work together to manage it.