Symptoms and Reason for a Medical Visit in Lung Cancer Patients

Authors

  • Francisco-Javier Gonzalez-Barcala Respiratory Department. Clinic University Hospital. Santiago de Compostela. Spain.
  • José-Antonio Falagan Clinical Documentation Department. Hospital of Pontevedra. Pontevedra. Spain.
  • Jose-Maria Garcia-Prim Thoracic Surgery Department. Clinic University Hospital. Santiago de Compostela. Spain.
  • Luis Valdes Respiratory Department. Clinic University Hospital. Santiago de Compostela. Spain.
  • Jose-Martin Carreira Radiology Department. University of Santiago de Compostela. Santiago de Compostela. Spain.
  • Antonio Pose Internal Medicine Department. Clinic University Hospital. Santiago de Compostela. Spain.
  • Juan-Carlos Canive Family Medicine Department. Hospital of Pontevedra. Pontevedra. Spain.
  • Diana Anton Family Medicine Department. Hospital of Pontevedra. Pontevedra. Spain.
  • Maria-Teresa Garcia-Sanz Emergency Department. Hospital do Salnes. Pontevedra. Spain.
  • Amalia Puga Nursery Department. University of Santiago de Compostela. Santiago de Compostela. Spain.
  • Enrique Temes Respiratory Department. Hospital of Pontevedra. Pontevedra. Spain.
  • Rafael Lopez-Lopes Oncology Deparment. Clinic University Hospital. Santiago de Compostela. Spain.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.4229

Abstract

Background: Patients with lung cancer usually present with symptoms at the time of diagnosis, but it is common that neither the doctor nor the patient initially associate them with the possibility of a malignant tumour.
Objectives: The aim of our study is to analyse the symptoms of patients with lung cancer and the relationship with the personal
characteristics or the oncological disease.
Material and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on all patients diagnosed with lung cancer in the Pontevedra Health Area over a period of three years. The symptoms presented by the patient, the reason for the consultation and the agreement between both or any factors associated with either of the two are analysed.
Results: A total of 358 patients, with a mean age of 68.7 years, and of whom 87% males, were included in the study. The most common initial symptoms were, constitutional in 30.4% of the cases, cough in 20.9% of cases, and in third place was chest pain, which was referred to by 12% of the patients. The most frequent reason for the consultation was dyspnea in 22.1% of patients, an incidental finding in 15.4%, and haemoptysis in 12.8%. There was a moderate association (correlation coefficient = 0.495) between the initial symptoms and the consulting symptom.
Conclusions: A high percentage of patients with lung cancer had symptoms associated with the tumour at the time of diagnosis, even in early stage disease.
Keywords: Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis; Spain.

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Author Biographies

Francisco-Javier Gonzalez-Barcala, Respiratory Department. Clinic University Hospital. Santiago de Compostela. Spain.

Respiratory Department. Clinic University Hospital, Santiago deCompostela.Associate Porfessor-Univesity of Santiago de Compostela.

José-Antonio Falagan, Clinical Documentation Department. Hospital of Pontevedra. Pontevedra. Spain.

Jose-Maria Garcia-Prim, Thoracic Surgery Department. Clinic University Hospital. Santiago de Compostela. Spain.

Luis Valdes, Respiratory Department. Clinic University Hospital. Santiago de Compostela. Spain.

Jose-Martin Carreira, Radiology Department. University of Santiago de Compostela. Santiago de Compostela. Spain.

Antonio Pose, Internal Medicine Department. Clinic University Hospital. Santiago de Compostela. Spain.

Juan-Carlos Canive, Family Medicine Department. Hospital of Pontevedra. Pontevedra. Spain.

Diana Anton, Family Medicine Department. Hospital of Pontevedra. Pontevedra. Spain.

Maria-Teresa Garcia-Sanz, Emergency Department. Hospital do Salnes. Pontevedra. Spain.

Amalia Puga, Nursery Department. University of Santiago de Compostela. Santiago de Compostela. Spain.

Enrique Temes, Respiratory Department. Hospital of Pontevedra. Pontevedra. Spain.

Rafael Lopez-Lopes, Oncology Deparment. Clinic University Hospital. Santiago de Compostela. Spain.

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Published

2014-06-30

How to Cite

1.
Gonzalez-Barcala F-J, Falagan J-A, Garcia-Prim J-M, Valdes L, Carreira J-M, Pose A, Canive J-C, Anton D, Garcia-Sanz M-T, Puga A, Temes E, Lopez-Lopes R. Symptoms and Reason for a Medical Visit in Lung Cancer Patients. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2014 Jun. 30 [cited 2024 Nov. 22];27(3):318-24. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/4229

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 3 (2014): May-June

Section

Original

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