Lung cancer happens when the cells in your lungs grow out of control. This type of cancer is one of the most common types of cancer around the world. Lung cancer can be fatal but can be treated if caught early on and treatment is started immediately after diagnosis.

Doral Health and Wellness Pulmonary Center has a lung cancer clinic that can help you with your condition. Contact us to talk to our pulmonologist.

It is widely believed that smoking is one of the major risks for having lung cancer, but not everyone who has lung cancer is a smoker or has a history of smoking. Exposure to smoke, inhaled chemicals and other toxins also increases your risk of developing lung cancer.

Symptoms

If you have lung cancer, you may not know that you have the disease until it reaches its late stage. Lung cancer’s first signs can resemble that of a common respiratory infection. Your symptoms can include:

• Voice hoarseness
• A cough that doesn’t go away
• Having trouble breathing
• Chest pain/discomfort
• Wheezing
• Blood in the sputum
• Trouble swallowing
• Swelling in the face or veins in the neck
• Appetite loss
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue

Risk Factors

There are several factors that can increase your risk of having lung cancer.  Some of these risks can be controlled, such as smoking, while other factors can’t be controlled, such as your family history and genetics.

Some of these factors can include:

• Smoking – the earlier in life that you start smoking and the frequency of your smoking habits, increases your risk of having lung cancer
• Secondhand smoking – when you are around someone who always smokes, and you inhale the smoke, you are exposed to the same cancer-causing agents as that of the smoker
• Occupational exposure and pollution – exposure to certain chemicals and substances that are found in several occupations and industries can also increase your risk of developing lung cancer. These chemicals can include asbestos, coal and coke fumes, silica, arsenic, chromium, and nickel.
• Family history of lung cancer – if you have a blood relative, such as your parents or siblings that has lung cancer, you have a very high risk of developing this disease too.

Treatment

Treatment for lung cancer can vary depending on various factors. Some of the treatment options can include:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Immunotherapy
• Palliative therapy

Prevention

It is impossible to prevent lung cancer, but there are several steps that can lower your risk of developing lung cancer.

• Quit smoking
• Avoid secondhand smoke
• Follow balanced diet
• Avoid exposure to harmful chemicals

If you have a high risk of developing lung cancer, you may want to undergo regular screening to detect early signs of this disease.

If you notice signs and symptoms, consult our pulmonologist immediately. At Doral Health and Wellness Pulmonary Center, we offer the best possible expertise and care in all aspects of lung health. Our pulmonologists make sure that you are well taken care of and are involved in every step of the decision-making process. We offer the best pulmonologist with an unrivaled pulmonary clinic in the heart of East New York.

To schedule an appointment, you can visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212 or call us at 1-347-384-5690. You can also check and visit our website at https://pulmonologistbrooklyn.com  to schedule an appointment online.