EARLY CLINICAL SYMPTOMS OF LUNG CANCER IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

Background. The steady increase in the incidence of lung cancer (LC) causes the need to increase cancer alertness of doctors to identify the early stages of the process to improve treatment results and survival rate. Aim. To present the main clinical symptoms of localized lung cancer in a structured way to improve the skills of medical diagnosis and to increase the alertness to oncological diseases. Materials and Methods. 30 patients with localized lung cancer (stage I-IIB) were examined. All patients were taken anamnesis and underwent physical examination; and the results of laboratory data were analyzed. Results. Primary or local symptoms were observed in 15 (83%) patients with central-type lung cancer (CTLC). 5 (42%) patients with peripheral-type lung cancer (PTLC) did not present with complaints, two noted inspiratory dyspnea and one noted permanent low intensity chest pain. Secondary symptoms were absent in supervised patients. General symptoms like weakness, fatigue were observed in 6 (33%) patients with CTLC and in 3 (25%) with PTLC. In 2 cases, fever of the irregular type and weight loss were recorded. Most of the examined patients were exposed to occupational hazards. All examined men and one woman were tobacco smokers, three did not smoke. 7 Patients had relatives with malignant neoplasms of various localizations. In 6 cases of CTLC in the anatomical zone of the lesion signs of atelectasis were seen. In 3 patients with PTLC with spread of the process, syndromes of local lesions of the airways were revealed. In 9 cases signs of the underlying lung disease (COPD) were found. Conclusions. Data of physical examination were more informative in patients with CTLC and achieve significant level only with appearance of the syndrome of local lesions of the airways due to spread of the process to the subsegmental bronchi (centralization of cancer). The described early clinical symptoms of lung cancer are quite common in the practice of a doctor. However, recognition of them by a doctor is mandatory that, with proper cancer alertness, will permit detection of LC in the early stages and, accordingly, improve the results of treatment.