Lung Cancer Symptoms 

What are the symptoms of lung cancer?

In the early stages, you may not have symptoms of lung cancer. That’s why lung cancer screening is important if you are using, have ever used cigarettes or are at risk for the disease.

Watch for symptoms of lung cancer and talk to a health care provider if you notice them. Other health conditions may also cause these symptoms. A provider can help determine the cause.

Some common symptoms of lung cancer are:

• Persistent cough: A cough that doesn’t go away or gets worse over time. You may also have a hoarse voice. Pay attention to any changes in a long-lasting cough, especially if you smoke or use any other tobacco product.
• Shortness of breath: Difficulty breathing even when you’re not very active. Shortness of breath could be a sign of a blockage or narrowing in an airway or of fluid building up (pleural effusion) in the chest. You may also notice wheezing.
• Chest pain: Pain that doesn’t go away or is worse when you breathe deeply, cough or laugh. This pain could spread to your shoulders, arms or back.
• Unexplained weight loss: Losing weight without trying can be a sign of many types of cancer, including lung cancer. This weight loss could happen because cancer may make your body use more energy or change the way your body processes nutrients. A loss of appetite may also be a sign. 
• Fatigue: Feeling tired or weak, even after you rest. This feeling may result from the cancer itself or your body’s response to it.
• Coughing up blood: You should get immediate medical attention if you cough up blood or rust-colored sputum (phlegm). Bleeding in the airways could cause this symptom.
• Infections that don’t go away: Infections like pneumonia or bronchitis that don’t go away or keep coming back after treatment.
• Swelling in the face and neck: Tumors in the lungs can press again the superior vena cava (SVC), a large vein, and block the flow of blood between your head and arms to your heart. 
• Clubbing: Widening of the fingertips or nailbed. Clubbing can result from various lung conditions, including lung cancer. 

If lung cancer has spread to other parts of the body, you may have symptoms such as: 

• Swollen lymph nodes in your upper body, neck or shoulder
• Trouble swallowing
• Headaches or dizziness
• Jaundice (yellow coloring) of your skin and eyes
• Weakness or numbness in your leg or arm
• Bone pain

These symptoms do not mean you have lung cancer. Your health care provider can evaluate them and look for a diagnosis.

Lung cancer screening

Even if you don’t have symptoms of lung cancer, you may qualify for lung cancer screening if you’re at high risk. Low-dose CT (LDCT) scans can detect lung cancer early when it is more likely to be treatable. LDCT scans use lower amounts of radiation than standard CT scans.

Screening is recommended once a year for people who:

• Are 50 to 80 years of age
• Have a history of heavy smoking (a pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years)

After your lung cancer screening, your results will be classified according to the Lung Imaging Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS). Categories range from 1 to 4:

• Category 0: Incomplete lung examination or suggestive of inflammatory/infectious process. A follow up screening scan is recommended in one to three months.
• Category 1 or 2: The likelihood of cancer is low and you should be screened again in a year. 
• Category 3: Cancer may be developing, so you should have a follow-up scan in six months.
• Category 4: Cancer is suspected, so you should have diagnostic testing.

Types of lung cancer

Lung cancer falls into several different types:

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, found in about 85% of cases. It has larger cells and generally grows and spreads more slowly than small cell lung cancer. The three main subtypes of NSCLC are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma. 

• Adenocarcinoma: Often starts in the outside parts of the lungs. It’s more common in non-smokers and women.
• Squamous cell carcinoma: Usually begins in the center of the lungs and is often linked to smoking.
• Large cell carcinoma: Can occur in any part of the lung. It tends to grow and spread quickly.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

SCLC is found in about 10-15% of lung cancers. It tends to grow rapidly and spread quickly to other parts of the body. It’s harder to treat than NSCLC. SCLC is linked with smoking and is often found when it’s advanced. It may be:

• Limited-stage small cell lung cancer: The cancer is limited to the lung region.
• Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: The cancer extends outside the lung region.

Less common types of lung cancer

Rare types of lung cancer include lung carcinoid tumors, which grow slowly and are less likely to spread, and sarcomatoid carcinoma, which has features of both sarcoma (cancer in bones and connective tissues) and carcinoma (cancer in cells that line organs). Each type needs certain methods for diagnosis and treatment.

When to see a health care provider

Contact a provider right away if you have symptoms of lung cancer. Even if symptoms are mild or seem unrelated, a provider can recommend tests and start treatment if needed. With early detection, you can manage lung cancer better and increase your odds of a successful outcome.

Learn about lung cancer testing and diagnosis. 

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