Is coughing up blood lung cancer?

Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

Updated on November 10, 2024

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Everyone knows that lung cancer can cause coughing up blood, but does coughing up blood necessarily mean one has lung cancer? It should not be interpreted this way. Although lung cancer can cause coughing up blood, there are many reasons for coughing up blood, and it is not only caused by lung cancer. Reasons for coughing up blood can also include bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, lung abscess, and many others. Therefore, if coughing up blood occurs, it doesn't necessarily mean one has lung cancer, and there is no need for excessive worry. If coughing up blood occurs, it is important to visit a hospital in a timely manner, where a doctor can conduct checks like chest X-rays to further investigate the cause.

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Written by Gong Chun

Oncology

1min 34sec

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What are the symptoms of lung cancer?

The most common symptoms of lung cancer include coughing, particularly irritating coughs, and symptoms of coughing up blood. The blood in the sputum may appear as spots, streaks, or intermittent small amounts. Other symptoms include difficulty breathing and chest pain, as well as potential tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, and fever. Secondly, if lung cancer grows within the thoracic cavity and spreads, invading nearby tissues and organs, it can produce secondary symptoms. For example, paralysis of the phrenic nerve on the same side may lead to difficulty breathing and belching. Compression of the recurrent laryngeal nerve may cause hoarseness; compression of the superior vena cava can lead to distended veins in the face, neck, and upper limbs; subcutaneous edema; and if the pleura is invaded, it can cause pleural effusion, among other symptoms. If lung cancer metastasizes through the bloodstream, it may spread to the brain and potentially lead to symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Metastasis to different regions of the brain might cause various symptoms, including seizures, mental confusion, and vision impairment. In a minority of cases, lung cancer may produce endocrine substances, possibly leading to symptoms like severe muscle weakness, bone and joint pain, and other such symptoms.

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Written by Gong Chun

Oncology

1min 13sec

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What tests are conducted for lung cancer?

Diagnosis of Lung Cancer: The first method can be through chest X-ray and CT scan; The second is sputum cytology examination; The third involves using a bronchoscopy; The fourth is mediastinoscopy, which allows direct observation of the enlargement of lymph nodes on both sides of the mediastinum; The fifth is to perform PET-CT, which is Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography; The sixth requires a biopsy; it can be done through a transthoracic needle biopsy, or via a bronchoscopic biopsy; The seventh is the biopsy of metastatic lesions, such as subclavian lymph nodes, and lymph node metastases in the neck or axillary areas can be examined; The eighth can involve drawing cancerous pleural effusion; if there is pleural effusion, pleural fluid cytology examination can be performed; The ninth method is thoracotomy exploration; if lung nodules or lung tumors cannot be definitively diagnosed through various other methods, thoracotomy exploration can be performed.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

52sec

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How to stop coughing and wheezing in the late stage of lung cancer

Lung cancer is a relatively common type of malignant lung tumor clinically. Due to the different specific types of lung cancer in different populations, the symptoms experienced by patients also vary. In the early stages of lung cancer, symptoms are generally characterized by irritative dry cough, hemoptysis, breathlessness, and chest tightness. As the tumor grows and metastasizes, patients in the later stages may experience varying degrees of coughing, wheezing, and expectoration. For such patients, the first step is to provide appropriate anti-infection treatment and oral administration of antispasmodic drugs. Inhalation of medications that relieve bronchospasm can also be chosen, both of which can achieve a certain effect in relieving cough and easing breathing.

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Written by Gong Chun

Oncology

47sec

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Early stage lung cancer symptoms

The most common early symptom of lung cancer includes coughing, coughing up blood, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. However, when the tumor grows in the larger bronchi, it often causes an irritating cough, leading many people to mistake it for a cold. Therefore, if an irritating cough occurs, it should be taken very seriously. The second point is that as the tumor continues to grow and affects the drainage of the bronchi, there is often an increase in purulent sputum, and the amount of sputum may also increase from before. The third commonly seen symptom is bloody sputum, which might be spots of blood in the sputum, streaks of blood, or intermittent small amounts of coughed-up blood. Large amounts of blood in the sputum are very rare.

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Written by Yuan Qing

Pulmonology

49sec

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What should I do if lung cancer causes coughing up blood?

Lung cancer refers to a condition where, due to genetic mutations in human cells, cells grow disorderly or wildly, forming a solid mass-like lesion primarily known as lung cancer. Due to the uneven growth of lung cancer, local necrosis can occur, leading to bleeding, making coughing up blood a very common clinical manifestation in lung cancer. The severity of coughing up blood is classified into mild, moderate, and severe. Generally, if a single instance of coughing up blood is less than five milliliters, it can be managed with Yunnan Baiyao. However, if the amount exceeds 100 milliliters, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly to prevent life-threatening risks from massive hemoptysis. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)