Signs/Symptoms

Everyone should be aware of how his or her body normally feels and report any abnormal feelings to their doctor. Often, these unusual feelings can be attributed to other causes, such as bronchitis. But a doctor should check anything that is worrisome.

The signs and symptoms of lung cancer can take years to develop and they may not appear until the disease is advanced.

Some symptoms of lung cancer that are in the chest:

Coughing, especially if it persists or becomes intense
Pain in the chest, shoulder, or back unrelated to pain from coughing
A change in color or volume of sputum
Shortness of breath
Changes in the voice or being hoarse
Harsh sounds with each breath (stridor)
Recurrent lung problems, such as bronchitis or pneumonia
Coughing up phlegm or mucus, especially if it is tinged with blood
Coughing up blood

If the original lung cancer has spread, a person may feel symptoms in other places in the body. Common places for lung cancer to spread include other parts of the lungs, lymph nodes, bones, brain, liver, and adrenal glands.

Some symptoms of lung cancer that may occur elsewhere in the body:

Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
Fatigue
Headaches, bone or joint pain
Bone fractures not related to accidental injury
Neurological symptoms, such as unsteadiness or memory loss
Neck or facial swelling
General weakness
Bleeding
Blood clots

Many of these symptoms are non-specific, and could represent a variety of different conditions; however, your doctor needs to see you if you have any of these problems. Most patients (85%-90%) who are diagnosed with lung cancer have symptoms that prompt a doctor to order tests to look for a problem. A cough is the most common presenting symptom of lung cancer; however, many long term smokers have a chronic cough, so it is especially important for someone with a chronic cough to see their doctor if their cough changes in character or severity.
Any unusual symptoms should be reported to your doctor.