All persistent body aches are worrisome and deserve medical attention as they can be symptoms of serious health problems. Progressive pain in the shoulder, for example, is the main symptom of an aggressive cancer known as a Pancoast tumor.
The Pancoast tumor is a specific lung cancer, which occurs at the top of the organ and, due to its growth, compresses nerves and arteries in the region, causing especially pain in the shoulders.
Symptoms
“The highest part of our lung is between vertebrae, ribs and in a region where many arteries and nerves pass. When lung cancer appears there, it has no room to grow except by compressing other parts of the body, which causes this type of pain, which is quite typical”, says oncologist Murilo Buso, from Cettro (Cancer Center of Brasilia).
According to Buso, the pain of the Pancoast tumor is quite characteristic and resembles that feeling of hitting the elbow. “It is a nerve compression that occurs continuously”, he warns. Before this constant pain, however, it is common for a feeling of tingling and heat to appear in the region.
The facial nerve can also be one of those affected by compression, leading to symptoms such as eyelid drooping. The tumor can also narrow the arteries that pass in the region where it is located. In these cases, the blood flow to the arm next to that lung decreases and other symptoms are observed, such as the difference in color and temperature between one arm and the other.
“Arm nerve compression can lead to permanent injuries, with a loss of strength and functionality of the arm, especially with a weakening of the movements of the little finger of the affected arm”, warns the oncologist.
warning sign
One factor that contributes to the evolution of this type of tumor is the delay in getting the correct diagnosis. As the pain is located in the shoulder, most patients seek assistance from an orthopedist for treatment.
“Health professionals, even if they are not oncologists, will ask for imaging tests in which signs of the tumor certainly appear. The biggest problem consists of the patient getting used to the persistent pain and the loss of strength and not looking for a doctor”, says Buso.
Lung cancer is the second most common in men and women in Brazil. According to the National Cancer Institute (Inca), about 13% of all new cases are in the organsGetty Images
***photo-lung-cancerAt the end of the 20th century, lung cancer became one of the leading preventable causes of death in the world.Getty Images
***photo-lung-cancerSmoking is the main cause. About 85% of diagnosed cases are associated with the consumption of tobacco derivativesGetty Images
***photo-lung-cancerMortality among smokers is about 15 times higher than among people who have never smoked, while among former smokers it is about four times higher.Getty Images
***photo-lung-cancerExposure to air pollution, recurrent lung infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (pulmonary emphysema and chronic bronchitis), genetic factors and a family history of lung cancer also favor the development of this type of cancer.Getty Images
***photo-lung-cancerOther risk factors are: occupational exposure to chemical or physical agents, drinking water containing arsenic, high doses of beta-carotene supplements in smokers and ex-smokersGetty Images
***photo-lung-cancerSymptoms usually don’t occur until the cancer is advanced. However, people in the early stages of the disease may already have a persistent cough, bloody sputum, chest pain, recurrent pneumonia, extreme tiredness, persistent hoarseness, worsening shortness of breath, decreased appetite and difficulty swallowing.Getty Images
***photo-lung-cancerThe diagnosis of lung cancer is made with the evaluation of the signs and symptoms presented, the family health history and the result of specific tests, such as chest X-ray, computed tomography and lung tissue biopsy.Getty Images
***photo-lung-cancerFor those with disease located in the lung and lymph nodes, treatment is with radiotherapy and chemotherapy at the same time.Getty Images
***photo-lung-cancerIn patients with distant metastases, treatment is with chemotherapy or, in selected cases, with medication based on targeted therapy.Getty Images
***photo-lung-cancerSurgery, when possible, consists of removing the tumor with a safety margin, in addition to removing the lymph nodes close to the lung and located in the mediastinum. It is the treatment of choice for providing better results and control of the disease. Getty Images
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Risk factors
The Pancoast tumor has risk factors similar to other types of lung cancer, such as the one that killed singer Rita Lee, last Monday (8/5), aged 75.
Smoking and passive exposure to tobacco are important risk factors for the development of lung cancer. In about 85% of diagnosed cases, the disease is associated with the consumption of tobacco derivatives.
“The epidemiological pattern is the same, it’s just a lung cancer that arose in a noble region, with very important nerves and arteries nearby and that causes these effects”, says the oncologist.
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