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The main symptoms of cancer of the trachea

Unfortunately, it is impossible to name all the symptoms of cancer of the trachea. Early cancers are asymptomatic. Symptoms of cancer diseases depends on many factors:

  • The location of the tumor
  • The age and gender of the patient
  • The presence of comorbidities

Primary tumors develop from the wall of the trachea, secondary represent ingrowth in the trachea of malignant tumors from adjacent organs. Despite the fact that malignant tumors have a statistically small percentage, in numbers is quite a large number of patients, which may not always receive adequate medical care in the early stages of the disease.

kuritIt should be noted that the development of squamous cell carcinoma is inevitably connected with Smoking. In the diagnosis in most cases, the cancer is already locally advanced process, appear metastases in regional lymph nodes, mediastinum and lungs. As a rule, patients with malignant tumors of the trachea go to the hospital with severe respiratory failure due to stenosis of the lumen of the trachea by tumor.

Small sized tumors can't give pronounced clinical picture of cancer of the trachea. As the tumor grows, there is shortness of breath with little physical exertion. In the future, the shortness of breath may occur at rest, mimicking the asthma attacks. This is due to the tracheal stenosis.

Pronounced stenosis of the trachea

One of the main symptoms in malignant tumors of the trachea – stenosis, which is a symptomatic complex. This pathology may develop slowly or quickly depending on the condition of the patient. Most often when cancer of the trachea stenosis develops long, gradually narrowing the lumen of the trachea, causing persistent hypoxia in the body. This may cause late diagnosis of the disease.

odyshkaThe slow course of the pathological process provides time for the development of the body's adaptive mechanisms that maintain life functions even under conditions of oxygen starvation. The compensatory mechanisms manifested by shortness of breath, which can increase pulmonary ventilation. There is a rapid or in-depth breath to the inclusion in the process additional muscle. The patient in respiratory act of the muscles of the neck, shoulders and back.

Chronic has a negative impact on the entire body. Violation of external respiration can lead to stagnation of phlegm in the respiratory tract, which causes the development of chronic diseases (bronchitis, pneumonia).

In the long course of the pathological process leads to changes in cardio-vascular system. A rapid heartbeat also applies to compensatory reactions of the organism. When spasm of the trachea increases vascular tone. This leads to blood flow acceleration and increase in blood pressure. This whole mechanism leads to increased supply of oxygen to vital organs, including the brain and improves metabolism, which was reduced as a result of stenosis.

With long-term stenosis also increases the permeability of blood vessels and increases the ability of tissues to absorb from the blood the oxygen. You receive a partial change in the cells of type of metabolism (anaerobic metabolism), which supports the cell in conditions of oxygen starvation. All of these mechanisms to a certain extent, reduce the lack of oxygen in the blood.

In a patient with severe stenosis there is a feeling of fear, he was excited. Disturbed function of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and heart. There is a flushing of the skin, cyanosis of nasolabial folds and nails. All this is due toaccumulation in the body carbon dioxide and lack of oxygen.

Cardiac asthma (left ventricular failure)

The growth of chronic stenosis leads to progression of the pathological process, which interferes with left ventricular failure. It is hypertension in the pulmonary circulation. The patient difficult to breath. Trying to cough, he only aggravates the condition. Breathing in this pathological process is intense, sharp and loud with a rhythm. Very often this condition is confused, patients with bronchial asthma or bronchitis.

The result is cardiac asthma impaired gas exchange, increases acidosis. Hypoxia in this pathology is almost not kompensiruet. The patient may breathe in a forced position (sitting, leaning on hands). The risk of left ventricular failure is that it can lead to pulmonary edema and death of the patient.

Cough

kashelAn important symptom of cancer of the trachea is a cough. Periodically in the sputum when you cough, you may receive the blood. Hemoptysis may occur due to varicose veins of the trachea. Usually the blood appears in the sputum of patients periodically. The decay of the tumor, the sputum acquires a fetid smell. Coughing can hawk the particles of the tumor. In this case the patient feels temporary relief.

Sometimes patients concerned about persistent dry cough, which may increase by changing the position of the body. In the later stages of persistent cough may lead to rupture of the blood vessel wall.

Tumor invasion in adjacent organs and structures (esophagus, larynx, lymph nodes) and its decay

During germination of the tumor into the esophagus, patients have difficulty swallowing and pain in the region of the mediastinum. Difficulty in swallowing occurs gradually and over time gradually increases. Initially, the patient is difficult to swallow solid food, and then there are difficulties in swallowing liquid.

The defeat of the esophagus causes the patient to rapid weight loss, up to cachexia. Pains appear after eating. During germination of the tumor in the esophagus often formed fistula. The liquid food, when ingested, gets into the respiratory system, causing coughing. Tumor during germination can compress the vagus nerve, as a result, patients appear hoarseness. When affecting the phrenic nerve occurs in patients with resistant hiccups.

During germination of the tumor in the larynx of the patient appear persistent guttural pain of a cutting character, difficulty swallowing. Pain can radiate into the ear. The patient may feel a foreign body in the throat. Appears chronic suffocating cough. Visually in the neck can be swelling. The tumor can affect the vocal cords. As a result of the patient changing the voice, osiplosti. Later the voice may be lost.

When metastasis of tumor to lymph nodes, there is an increase in the neck. In the blood there is a decrease in the number of red blood cells and increased ESR. The patient has weakness, subfebrile temperature.

Inflammation of the cartilage of the larynx

Pathology occurs as the result of tumor invasion into the larynx and the integrity of its membranes. The process may begin with signs of osteomyelitis, forming in lesions of multiple foci. The inflammatory process may go to the perichondrium. This is often manifested by swelling in the neck, change in the color of the skin of the neck, purulent sinuses on its surface.

Inflammation is accompanied by high fever, shortness of breath, severe common severe condition. The condition may worsen septic manifestations, and necrosis of cartilage tissue.

Alarming symptoms for cancer of the trachea

Anxiety symptoms also include:

  • Frequent infections of the upper respiratoryways.
  • Irritating dry cough.
  • A permanent increase in body temperature.
  • Anemia.
  • Sometimes cancer cells are able to secrete into the blood substances that cause the changes in the body, at first glance, not associated with cancer. Many people suffering from cancer of the trachea, there is fatigue.

    However, having had any of these symptoms, do not put a diagnosis and prepare for the worst. To diagnose cancer of the trachea only by a qualified specialist. If these symptoms are not associated with underlying disease and lasting more than two weeks, consult a doctor. The sooner will be diagnosed with cancer, the more effective the treatment.