Some of the symptoms of lung cancer are similar to symptoms of other common illnesses. Therefore, it’s important for your doctor to perform a thorough physical examination and to know your medical history.
Your doctor will consider your age, smoking history, and diseases or conditions that you and your family members may have. Your doctor will also need to know if you’ve been exposed to any harmful chemicals. All of these things will help to determine the next steps.
The most common symptom of lung cancer is cough; it occurs in over 50% of people with lung cancer. The tumour causes irritation to the airways, resulting in cough.
Other common symptoms of lung cancer are chest pain, shortness of breath (dyspnoea), and wheezing. About 30% of people with lung cancer will cough up blood, called haemoptysis; you should call your doctor immediately if this happens.
If the tumour grows larger, it can press on nearby organs and bones. When this happens, symptoms may include bone pain, chest pain, hoarseness, swelling of the face or arms, and/or a build up of fluid around the outside of the lungs, called a pleural effusion.
Some of the symptoms are caused by the cancer spreading to other parts of the body (the lung cancer has metastasised). Symptoms from lung cancer metastases depend on where the cancer has spread. If the lung cancer has spread to:
- The brain or spinal cord - you may experience headaches, nausea, vomiting, weakness, tiredness, or seizures
- The bones - you may feel bone pain
- The liver - you may have right-sided abdominal pain and jaundice.
There are also some general symptoms of cancer like weight loss, fatigue, and loss of appetite. If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer and you develop any of these or other new symptoms, you should let your doctor know.
Common symptoms of lung cancer are cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
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