Strange sound when speaking warns that lung cancer is approaching, need to be monitored

Lung cancer is considered the deadliest cancer in the US, causing more than 130,000 deaths each year.

Smokers have the highest risk of lung cancer, however, anyone can develop the condition without any risk factors. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are two important factors that help patients increase their chances of survival. Therefore, it is very important to recognize the signs and symptoms of lung cancer.

So, what are the signs that you should get checked for lung cancer?

Check for lung cancer when the voice is hoarse

Most noticeable symptoms of lung cancer are respiratory. It is for this reason that patients often overlook a lesser-known symptom of non-respiratory nature – a hoarse voice.

“Hoarseness is a lesser known symptom of lung cancer“, experts from the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, UK said. “If you are experiencing persistent episodes of hoarseness, you should contact your doctor to check“.

Hoarseness from lung cancer can manifest in many different ways, so it’s important to watch out for anything that’s different from how you normally feel. You may notice that your voice sounds “hoarse” with stress, shortness of breath, weakness, inconsistency, or fatigue with lung cancer.

Causes of hoarseness

In addition to lung cancer, some problems health Others can also cause a hoarse voice. According to the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, laryngitis, swelling of the larynx, acid reflux and soft tissue buildup on the vocal cords from smoking can all cause hoarseness.

Environmental factors such as humidity and air pollution also increase this risk. In some cases, laryngeal cancer — disease that directly affects the cells lining the inside of the larynx — can also cause hoarseness.

Experts say that if hoarseness is caused by irritation or damage to the vocal cords, the condition should clear up in a relatively short time.

Why does lung cancer cause hoarseness?

Compared with laryngeal cancer and hoarseness, the link between lung cancer and hoarseness seems less clear. According to Health Union, lung cancer patients can develop hoarseness due to paralysis or weakness of the laryngeal nerve. This condition is called laryngeal nerve palsy.

“The recurrent laryngeal nerve controls the activity of the larynx and is divided into left and right nerves”, their experts explained.

“The recurrent laryngeal nerve travels indirectly through the body, to the left passing through the chest cavity close to the left lung. Tumors in the left lung may press on the nerve, causing hoarseness or recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis. Although less common, right-sided lung tumors can also recur, causing paralysis of the laryngeal nerve“.

Other symptoms of lung cancer

If you find yourself having persistent hoarseness despite trying many methods, go to the hospital to have it checked. Talk to your doctor about your concerns. In addition, recognizing other symptoms of lung cancer is also very useful, helping you to control your health situation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms of lung cancer can include a persistent cough that gets worse, coughing up blood or rust-colored sputum, chest pain, shortness of breath, and wheezing. wheezing, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.

“Other body changes that can occur with lung cancer include repeated episodes of pneumonia and enlarged lymph nodes (glands) inside the chest, the area between the lungs.“, the CDC said.