Symptom 4: Blood in Phlegm
Spitting out phlegm is never pleasant. But when that mucus is tainted with blood, it’s downright alarming. The initial streaks of red might be dismissed as a result of a rough cough or perhaps a small cut in the mouth, but when it becomes recurrent, the potential tie to sarcomatoid carcinoma can’t be overlooked.
Blood-tinged phlegm or hemoptysis, as it’s technically termed, occurs when the tumor affects lung tissue. The growth and spread can cause irritation or damage to the smaller airways and blood vessels. This damage then manifests as those alarming specks or streaks of blood in the phlegm. It isn’t like the ordinary, colorless mucus that might pop up during a cold; this is a vivid, sometimes shocking red, a stark reminder that not all is right within.
Going beyond the mere presence of blood, one must consider the implications. Consistent blood in the phlegm could signal that the tumor is advancing, potentially invading deeper lung tissues or major bronchi. The bleeding, though typically not severe, is an unmistakable sign of underlying damage and potential progression of the disease. (4)
