Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lung. In early stages it often causes no symptoms; later it can cause a long cough, blood in cough, chest pain, breathlessness and weight loss. Smoking is the biggest risk, but non-smokers can also get it. Finding it early gives more treatment options. Dr A. Ashok Kumar in Chittoor evaluates warning signs and lung spots and guides patients to the right cancer care team.
Common symptoms of lung cancer
- A cough that does not go away or changes
- Blood in phlegm
- Chest pain
- Breathlessness or hoarse voice
- Loss of weight and appetite
- Repeated pneumonia in the same part of the lung
Get urgent care if you have
- Coughing up blood
- Severe breathlessness
- Swelling of face and neck
Emergency? Call 093448 53689 or 108, or go to the nearest hospital.
Causes and risk factors
Smoking and beedi, second-hand smoke, indoor smoke, radon, asbestos and other dust, air pollution and family history.
Tests that help
Chest X-ray and HRCT chest
Pictures of the lungs. A high-resolution CT (HRCT) shows fine detail and is important for ILD, bronchiectasis, unexplained cough and lung spots. Dr Ashok arranges the right scan and explains the report with you.
Bronchoscopy and BAL (selected cases)
A thin flexible camera is passed through the nose or mouth into the airways, under sedation and local anaesthetic, to look inside, take samples (BAL) or a small biopsy. It is used when tests are needed for infection, TB, ILD or a lung spot.
Pleural fluid tap (thoracentesis)
When fluid collects around the lung, a needle is used, under local anaesthetic and often ultrasound guidance, to drain it. This eases breathing and the fluid is tested to find the cause.
How Dr Ashok manages it
- Clinical review and CT scan of the chest
- Bronchoscopy or biopsy to confirm the diagnosis
- Coordinated referral to oncology for staging and treatment
- Care for breathlessness, fluid around the lung and infections along the way
Living well
- Stop smoking
- Do not ignore a long cough or blood in phlegm
- Keep all scan follow-ups for lung spots
Questions patients ask
Does every lung spot mean cancer?
No. Most small spots are old infections or scars. The doctor decides whether a spot needs follow-up scans or tests.
Can non-smokers get lung cancer?
Yes. Second-hand smoke, indoor smoke, air pollution and family history are risks, so warning signs matter for everyone.