Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. Approximately 80-90% of lung cancers are related to cigarette smoking. Because of the nature of lung cancer, there are often few early lung cancer symptoms.

There are several types of lung cancer, including squamous cell, large cell, adenocarcinoma, and small cell. Lung cancer is divided into two major categories, small cell and nonsmall cell.

Lung cancer symptoms occur because of disruption of the normal function of the lungs or because of cancer spread to other areas of the body. When early lung cancer symptoms are present they are vague and characterized by cough and shortness of breath.

Patients can develop lung cancer symptoms characterized by recurrent pneumonia, recurrent cough, hemoptysis (coughing up blood), chest pain, wheezing, weight loss, fatigue, anorexia, pain with eating, and new hoarseness. Shortness of breath is common.

Lung cancer symptoms occur because of disruption of the normal function of the lungs or because of cancer spread to other areas of the body (metastasis). 

Recurrent pneumonia can develop because of blockage of the airways leading to the lung. This is referred to as posted obstructive pneumonia.

Patients can develop lung cancer symptoms characterized by shortness of breath, recurrent cough, hemoptysis (coughing up blood), chest pain, wheezing, weight loss, fatigue, anorexia, pain with eating, and new hoarseness.  

Symptoms of lung cancer often do not lead directly to the underlying diagnosis and many symptoms can be misleading. Please review all concerns and information found on this website with your health care provider.