Symptom 8: Headache
Headaches are such common companions in our fast-paced lives that we often brush them aside as the result of fatigue, stress, or that extra cup of coffee. But, sometimes, this recurrent pounding in the temples isn’t merely a reaction to life’s hustles. When a headache becomes unusually persistent or is accompanied by other more specific symptoms, it could be a manifestation of a deeper issue, like lung carcinoma.
How can an ailment originating in the lungs affect the head? The answer lies in metastasis, the process wherein cancer cells from the original tumor travel to distant sites in the body. Lung cancer, in its aggressive forms, can metastasize to the brain. When this happens, the presence of tumors in the brain increases intracranial pressure, often presenting as a persistent, unrelenting headache.
One of the tell-tale signs of a headache associated with lung cancer is its pattern. Unlike tension headaches or migraines, which might have triggering factors like light or sound sensitivity, a cancer-related headache might intensify with routine activities like bending over. The pain is often described as sharp, throbbing, and is more pronounced in the morning hours. (8)
