Certain chronic conditions that affect the lungs, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), can have symptoms that mimic lung cancer. A recent study found that this could delay a timely lung cancer diagnosis. The study was published in the British Journal of Cancer.
The study focused on people already living with chronic conditions that have symptoms similar to those of lung cancer. The researchers found that people with only 1 chronic condition were diagnosed with lung cancer about a month later than people who did not have a chronic condition. People who had 2 or more chronic conditions were diagnosed more than 2 months later.
For some people, the delay in diagnosis could be explained because they had symptoms of another condition that masked the early signs of lung cancer. This can make it harder for doctors to identify when cancer has developed.
“For people with asthma or COPD, it is critically important that they talk with their doctor about monitoring and screening for potential lung cancers. The sooner a patient is diagnosed, the sooner they can start treatment. And the sooner they start treatment, the more likely they are to have a good outcome,” said Charu Aggarwal, MD, MPH, FASCO, an American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) expert and the Leslye M. Heisler Professor for Lung Cancer Excellence at Penn Medicine.
Asthma, COPD, and lung cancer all start in the respiratory system. They all can cause breathing problems. But how are they different?
For people with asthma, symptoms often appear during an asthma flare-up or attack. A flare-up can be triggered by things like pollen, dust, exercise, or an allergy. Flare-ups can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. Symptoms of asthma include wheezing and tightness in the chest.
For people with COPD, symptoms tend to get worse over time. Symptoms of COPD include coughing up mucus and having trouble breathing during physical activity.
For people with lung cancer, symptoms often don’t show up in early stages and can get worse over time, too. This makes it hard to tell the difference between COPD and lung cancer symptoms. However, lung cancer has several key signs and symptoms that are different from those of asthma or COPD, including:
“If you experience any new symptoms or a change in symptoms, it’s important to let your doctor know right away,” said Dr. Aggarwal. “They can help you determine the cause of any new or changing symptoms.”
Having either asthma or COPD can increase the risk of developing lung cancer. If you have one or both conditions, talk with your doctor about your lung cancer risk. They can tell you what symptoms to watch for that may signal lung cancer. They may also recommend yearly lung cancer screening if you are eligible for it.
Some questions to ask your doctor include:
Dr. Aggarwal is an Associate Editor on ASCO’s Patient Information Editorial Board.
Developed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
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