Is hoarseness a sign of lung cancer?

According to 2022 statistics from the Global Cancer Organization GLOBOCAN, in Vietnam, lung cancer ranks third among common cancers. The disease is divided into two types: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Depending on the location of the tumor in the lung, the extent of spread and the location of metastasis, the symptoms of the disease vary. In many cases, patients go to the doctor or are hospitalized for another illness, only to discover suspected lung damage.

In addition to symptoms caused by the tumor itself, sometimes patients have accompanying paracancerous syndromes such as endocrine, neurological, hematological, and bone and joint symptoms. Possible symptoms of lung cancer include:

Persistent cough, coughing up blood due to tumor growth, accompanied by increased blood vessel proliferation, spreading into capillaries and blood vessels; Accompanying this is inflammation and frequent irritation of the bronchial mucosa, causing prolonged coughing and hemoptysis.

Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing due to the tumor narrowing the bronchial lumen or bronchial obstruction leading to lung lobe collapse. Symptoms can also be the result of pleural effusion or pericardial effusion when the tumor invades these structures.

Chest pain, shoulder and arm pain Due to the tumor invading the chest wall, the invasion causes destruction of the number one rib and puts pressure on the brachial plexus.

Hoarseness Occurs when a tumor in the chest compresses nerve X, the ileal-laryngeal branch.

Unexplained weight loss is a loss of body mass that occurs when the patient does not try to lose weight. Unusual weight loss not caused by exercise or diet can be a sign of many types of cancer, including lung cancer.

You have suspected symptoms such as a persistent cough, hoarseness… however, it is currently impossible to confirm whether you have lung cancer or not. Normally, doctors need to do some other clinical tests such as blood tests, chest CT with contrast, bronchoscopy, and biopsy of the lesion if in doubt to make a definite diagnosis. You should go to an Oncologist for the most accurate examination and diagnosis, avoiding unnecessary anxiety