Symptoms

Different people have different symptoms for lung cancer. Some people don't have any symptoms at all. About 25% of people with lung cancer do not have symptoms from advanced cancer when their lung cancer is found.¹ Lung cancer symptoms may include—

• Shortness of breath.
• Coughing that doesn't go away.
• Wheezing.
• Coughing up blood.
• Chest pain.
• Fever.
• Weight loss.

Other changes that can sometimes occur with lung cancer may include repeated bouts of pneumonia, changes in the shape of the fingertips, and swollen or enlarged lymph nodes (glands) in the upper chest and lower neck.

These symptoms can happen with other illnesses, too. People with symptoms should talk to their doctor, especially if they smoke, but even if they don't. Doctors can help find the cause.^{2 3}

References

¹Humphrey LL, Teutsch S, Johnson MS. Lung cancer screening with sputum cytologic examination, chest radiography, and computed tomography: An update for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Annals of Internal Medicine 2004;140:740–753.

²Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, Chapter 88: Neoplasms of the lung. Clinical Manifestations. P.3. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2008.

³Beckles MA, Spiro SG, Colice GL, Rudd RM. Initial evaluation of the patient with lung cancer: Symptoms, signs, laboratory tests and paraneoplastic syndromes. Chest 2003;123:97S–104S.