What are the symptoms of lung cancer?

Lung cancer is defined as a rapid, abnormal cell growth in the lungs and bronchial tubes, and is the leading cause of death from cancer. Close to 100,000 women and 114,000 men were estimated to have been diagnosed with it. So we urge you to be vigilant about any symptoms that pop up. If you've been suffering from a chronic cough, wheezing, or other breathing difficulties, you should get yourself checked out. If you're experiencing increased mucus production (ick), you should get yourself checked out. And while these symptoms can often be confused for side effects of the common cold, more serious symptoms include the coughing up of blood, chest pains, and recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis. In some cases, someone with lung cancer will also experience persistent hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and back pain.

Lung cancer in the early stages often does not produce any symptoms. Many of the symptoms of lung cancer can be vague and variable, but when they occur in someone who is at risk, such as a heavy smoker, the suspicion for lung cancer should be raised. Most common symptoms include, but are not limited to, cough, bloody sputum, wheezing, shortness of breath, and a pneumonia that will not get better with antibiotics. Chest pain can also occur. The suspicion for lung cancer is higher when these symptoms are accompanied by weight loss, fatigue and loss of appetite. Other less common symptoms of lung cancer include difficulty swallowing, arm numbness and pain, and swelling in the face and arms. If lung cancer has already spread to other organs, headaches, nausea, seizures and bony pain may occur.

Symptoms that suggest lung cancer include dyspnea (shortness of breath), hemoptysis (coughing up blood), chronic coughing or change in regular coughing pattern, wheezing, chest pain or pain in the abdomen, cachexia (muscle wasting, weight loss), fatigue and loss of appetite, dysphonia (hoarse voice), repeated bouts of pneumonia or bronchitis, clubbing of the fingernails (uncommon), and difficulty swallowing.

In the early stages of lung cancer, no apparent symptoms are noticed. When symptoms occur, the cancer is often advanced. The symptoms vary from person to person. If the individual has risk factors for lung cancer, including smoking and a family history of the condition, a visit to the doctor is necessary to determine if lung cancer is present, especially in the early stages. Routine checkups with a doctor are important.

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Symptoms of lung cancer may include:

Coughing symptoms, such as:

• A new cough or a cough that doesn't go away.
• In smokers who have a chronic cough, a change in how severe their cough is or how much they cough.
• Coughing up blood or bloody mucus.

Chest symptoms, such as:

• Chest, shoulder or back pain that doesn't go away and often gets worse with deep breathing.
• New wheezing.
• Shortness of breath.
• Hoarseness.

General symptoms, such as:

• Swelling in the neck and face.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Weight loss and loss of appetite.
• Increasing fatigue and weakness.
• Recurring respiratory infections, such as pneumonia.

When lung cancer spreads, there may be other symptoms. For example, if it spreads to the spine or bones, it may cause pain in the back or other bones or cause weakness in the arms or legs. If it spreads to the brain, it may cause seizures, headaches or vision changes.