Symptoms of lung cancer vary depending on whether the disease is in its early or late stages.
A person living with lung cancer will have either small cell or non-small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for around 80% to 85% of all lung cancer cases and spreads less rapidly than small cell lung cancer.
In its early stages (stages 1 and 2), NSCLC tumors are generally confined to the lung and haven’t spread to distant lymph nodes or organs. Many people don’t notice any symptoms at this point, though some may experience:
- persistent cough
- wheezing
- shortness of breath
- chest discomfort
As NSCLC advances to later stages (stages 3 and 4), tumors may grow larger, spread to lymph nodes, or metastasize (spread) to other parts of the body. Symptoms are more likely to become noticeable and can overlap with other lung conditions.
Because symptoms can mimic other respiratory illnesses, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional if you develop them.
Coughing is your body’s way of clearing irritants from your throat and airways by forcefully pushing air out of your lungs. While a cough is common with many conditions — from colds, allergies, and asthma — a persistent, worsening, or unexplained cough can sometimes
See a doctor immediately if you cough up blood or bloody mucus and phlegm.
Dyspnea can feel like a tightness in the chest or an inability to take a big breath. This can
Large tumors or the spread of lung cancer can cause blockages in your major airways and lead to fluid buildup around your lungs. This buildup is known as a pleural effusion.
Pleural effusion can lead to shortness of breath and chest pain, common symptoms of lung cancer. If any shortness of breath you’re experiencing is new, constant, or interferes with your daily life, speak with your doctor.
Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound that can occur when you breathe, most often during exhalation. It occurs when your airways narrow or become partially blocked, making it harder for air to flow.
Although wheezing is a common symptom of asthma and other lung conditions, it can also result from a tumor pressing on or blocking an airway.
Contact your doctor if your wheezing is new, audible, or associated with other symptoms like shortness of breath.
Your vocal cords produce sound by opening and closing, causing vibrations. When lung cancer involves the laryngeal nerve, it can affect your vocal cords and may cause a change or hoarseness in your voice.
Hoarseness is a common symptom of many conditions, most commonly laryngitis. If your hoarseness lasts 2 weeks or longer, speak with your doctor.
Fatigue is a constant, worn-down feeling. With lung cancer, your body works overtime to try to fight the attack of cancer, which can drain your energy, making you feel tired and lethargic.
Fatigue may
If fatigue begins to interfere with your life, speak with your healthcare team.
When you’re sick, your body temperature may rise. If it climbs above
Fever is a common symptom in people with cancer and may be related to infections in the lungs or your body trying to fight the cancer. Consult your doctor if a fever gets too high or doesn’t go away in a few days.
When tiny blood vessels (capillaries) in your body are damaged or undergo pressure, they leak fluid. Your kidney responds by retaining water and salt to compensate for the loss, resulting in swelling, or edema.
This excess fluid causes the capillaries to leak even more fluid. Your lymph nodes work to clear excess fluid from your body. Cancer can block or damage your lymph nodes, preventing them from doing their job.
This can
Contact your doctor if you’re concerned about any swelling you may be experiencing.
Other symptoms of lung cancer include:
- pain in your shoulders or back
- constant chest pain
- frequent or recurring lung infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis
- unexplained weight loss
- loss of appetite
- difficulty swallowing
Other symptoms may occur once the cancer has spread to different parts of your body or metastasized. These include:
- bone and joint pain
- dizziness
- headache or seizures
- memory loss
- jaundice
- weakness or numbness in your arms and legs
- blood clots
- lumps near the surface of your skin, especially enlarged lymph nodes
When it spreads, lung cancer can sometimes literally strike a nerve, causing a group of symptoms to develop. Together, the symptoms are referred to as a syndrome.
Horner’s syndrome
Horner’s syndrome occurs when a tumor forms in the upper part of your lung. This tumor may then damage a sympathetic nerve pathway from your upper chest to your neck and can cause severe neck or shoulder pain.
Other symptoms of this syndrome may affect
- ptosis, a drooping or weakness of one eyelid
- miosis, a smaller pupil in one eye
- anhidrosis, reduced or absent sweating on one side of your face
Superior vena cava syndrome
Superior vena cava syndrome occurs when the vein that brings blood back to your heart becomes blocked. It can result from a cancerous tumor putting pressure on the vein or blocking it entirely, which leads to symptoms such as:
- coughing
- dyspnea
- swelling and discoloration in your neck or face
- difficulty swallowing
Paraneoplastic syndrome
Some lung cancers can cause paraneoplastic syndrome. This is a rare group of symptoms that occur when cancer cells or your body’s immune cells produce hormones or other substances that affect other organs or tissues.
These symptoms are sometimes the
- musculoskeletal system
- endocrine system
- skin
- gastrointestinal tract
- blood
- nervous system
The
- pain
- confusion
- weakness
- restlessness
- loss of appetite
- cough
- trouble concentrating or focusing
- fast or uneven breathing
- shortness of breath
- a rattle in the chest in between breaths
- anxiety
- depression
- loss of consciousness
Smoking cigarettes is the
Having someone in your family with lung cancer can increase your risk, even if you aren’t a smoker. The risk is highest if your parent or sibling has had the disease.
Your risk also increases with exposure to certain factors in your environment, such as:
- secondhand smoke
- radon gas, the second leading cause of lung cancer, which can reach high levels inside buildings
- asbestos, especially in older buildings; risk is higher for smokers
- other carcinogens, including arsenic or nickel
Your doctor may use one or more of the following tests to diagnose lung cancer:
- Biopsy: Your doctor removes a small sample of tissue from your lungs to test for cancerous cells.
- Imaging tests: X-rays or CT scans check for lesions in your lungs.
- Sputum cytology: A healthcare professional examines a sample of sputum (material that you cough up) under a microscope.
- Bronchoscopy: An instrument with a camera and light lets your healthcare team examine the inside of your lungs for abnormalities and collect cells for microscopic examination.
If you’re at high risk of developing lung cancer, ask your provider if a screening CT scan is warranted. An early diagnosis improves the outlook for people who smoke or have smoked.
Some lung diseases have symptoms that overlap significantly with those of lung cancer, such as:
- severe respiratory infections, including influenza and pneumonia
- asthma, a chronic lung inflammation that can make it hard to breathe
- bronchitis, an inflammation of the airways that can cause coughing and mucus production
- tuberculosis, a bacterial infection of the lungs
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of progressive lung diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, that block airflow
- cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that leads to thick mucus in the lungs and recurrent respiratory infections
Ask your doctor about these conditions if you have any of the following symptoms:
- wheezing
- persistent or chronic cough
- bloody cough
- fever
- pneumonia
- persistent sweating
Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate of all cancers in the United States. If you’re diagnosed and treated in the early stages of the disease, you have a chance of successful treatment.
If you have any symptoms of lung cancer, speak with your doctor right away to ensure early diagnosis. If you smoke, consider quitting. This is the most important risk-reducing step you can take.