Doctors reveal signs on the fingers that indicate a risk of 'lung cancer'
Pale skin on the feet, the appearance of lumps, pain, or "clubbing" of the fingers could be signs of lung cancer.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for 9.6 million deaths in 2018. The Philippines has around 165,000 new cancer cases and about 115,000 cancer-related deaths each year. The age-standardized cancer mortality rate in Vietnam is 104 (per 100,000 people), ranking 57th globally.
Cancer remains a major challenge in global medicine. It can occur in any part of the body, and patients are often diagnosed at advanced stages, making treatment more difficult.
Lung cancer is one of the most common primary malignancies, mostly originating from the bronchial mucosa. Most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages due to the difficulty in recognizing symptoms, as well as its early metastasis to areas like bones and the liver.
However, experts have pointed out several body abnormalities, particularly in the hands and feet, that may signal lung cancer.
Foot skin problems
After lung function is impaired, respiratory capacity decreases, and the oxygen level in the blood drops, which can lead to insufficient oxygen supply to the skin and mucous membranes, causing pallor.
Therefore, long-term smokers who notice unusual skin changes on their feet should seek medical attention as soon as possible. In addition to skin signs, patients may also experience coughing with sputum, blood, or chest pain.
Lumps in the feet
Most lumps in the feet are benign, but sometimes they can be due to metastasis from the lungs, prostate, or other cancers. The structure of the lump is usually hard and painless. Except for a few cases, most patients will experience discomfort at a later stage. Patients with lumps in the feet often have sarcoma, a rare, complex, and highly malignant type of cancer.
Sarcoma typically appears as a mass and can grow as large as 20 cm or more. Depending on its location, it can cause various symptoms, such as coughing (if it is in the chest), swelling of the limbs, or abdominal distension.
