What are the Symptoms of Stage 1 Lung Cancer?

Recognizing Stage 1 Lung Cancer

Lung cancer, medically termed bronchogenic carcinoma, originates within the bronchi or in the respiratory system. It happens due to unchecked cell divisions in the lungs. Medical experts state that even though earlier, the number of people suffering from lung cancer was rare, now, it has become prevalent. One of the most significant reasons is rampant smoking habits.

What is Stage 1 Lung Cancer?

Stage 1 lung cancer is the earliest phase of the disease, where the cancer is confined to the lungs and has not spread to lymph nodes or other organs. It is typically small in size and may not cause noticeable symptoms. Early detection offers a high chance of successful treatment, often through surgery or targeted therapies.

What are the Symptoms of Stage 1 Lung Cancer?

Most of the time, stage 1 lung cancer starts like any other less severe disease, making it hard to diagnose until it leads to an advanced stage. However, here are some of the early symptoms:

• Coughing persists and worsens over time.
• Wheezing or high-pitched whistling that happens from obstructed airways.
• Regularly recurring Pneumonia.
• Consistent shortness of breath or Dyspnea.
• Regular or intermittent chest pain.
• Hoarseness or a strained and raspy voice.
• Feeling the loss of appetite.
• Unexplained weight loss and fatigue.
• Drooping eyelids or a smaller appearance of the pupil in one eye.  
• Back and shoulder pain.
• Coughing blood or Hemoptysis.
• Swelled up arms, face and neck.

What are the Probable Causes of Stage 1 Lung Cancer?

The following are some of the probable causes of stage 1 lung cancer:

1. Smoking

• Smoking contributes to the highest percentage of deaths due to lung cancer. The chemicals present in tobacco damage lung cells, leading to genetic mutations. These mutations divide cells abnormally, creating a mass or tumorous tissue that interrupts the proper functioning of other organs.

2. Radon

• Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas primarily found in soils and rocks, resulting from the decay of uranium. Sometimes, radon can seep into basements and cellars through groundwater. Exposure to high levels of radium can cause DNA damage and then lead to stage 1 lung cancer.  

3. Passive Smoking

• Passive smoking, meaning when someone is present in a smoking zone, exposes non-smokers to harmful carcinogens. These carcinogens damage the DNA present in the lung cells heavily, causing lung cancer.

4. Occupational Hazards

• Certain industrial occupations, such as construction, mining, and manufacturing, expose workers to silica, asbestos, diesel fumes, and chemicals like cadmium, beryllium, nickel, and chromium. These workers run a high risk of having lung cancer.

Diagnosis of Stage 1 Lung Cancer

Diagnosing stage 1 of lung cancer will help to determine how big the tumour is and how much it has spread. The following tests assist in diagnosing stage 1 lung cancer:

1. Imaging Tests

• Health professionals initially suggest doing a chest x-ray followed by a CT scan of the chest for a detailed visualisation. It helps to locate and measure the size, shape and type of the tumour.

2. Sputum Cytology

• Sputum is the mucus that comes out at the time of coughing. The sputum test helps to detect cancerous cells.

3. Biopsy

• A medical expert extracts a tissue sample from the lung. Then, it is tested in the lab to detect if cancerous cells are present or not.  

Treatment of Stage 1 Lung Cancer

The following are the usual treatments for stage 1 lung cancer or Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer:

1. Surgery

• Doing surgery at an early stage will ensure that the lobe or the tumour has been removed. Segmentectomy and sleeve resection are the most effective options.  

2. Chemotherapy

• Since people suffering from stage 1 lung cancer have the potential to get it back even after the surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy are conducted to reduce those chances.

Smokers have the highest probability of suffering from stage 1 lung cancer. Therefore, quitting is the best option. Since stage 1 lung cancer has similar symptoms to a common cough and cold, it becomes harder to diagnose until it has reached an advanced stage. The symptoms surface based on the tumour's location. The diagnostic tests vary from one patient to another, depending on the initial symptoms.