Many people believe that a serious illness will always come with obvious warning signs. A severe cough, intense chest pain, or dramatic breathlessness. Lung cancer often does not behave that way. For many older adults, the early symptoms may be so mild that they are easily dismissed as ageing, seasonal allergies or a lingering infection. People often ignore symptoms such as a persistent cough, unusual tiredness after a short walk, repeated chest infections, unexplained weight loss , or mild chest discomfort for weeks or even months. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Kunal Sharma, vice president and head of integrated onco-pathology and lead, digital pathology and AI initiatives, Agilus Diagnostics, shares health checkups every older adult needs to consider.
Dr Kunal highlighted that the main challenge is that lung cancer is often diagnosed late, when treatment is more difficult. Early detection makes a huge difference in treatment. Your symptoms may be mild but are worth medical assessment. If you have symptoms, such as a persistent cough or chest pain , doctors may request a chest X-ray. it can help find abnormalities that need further evaluation While it’s not the best screening test for lung cancer. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
“A cough lasting for more than three weeks, coughing up blood, increasing shortness of breath, chest pain or unexplained fatigue are not normal parts of growing old,” added Dr Kunal.
