What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
Symptoms of non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer are basically the same.
Early symptoms may include:
- lingering or worsening cough
- coughing up phlegm or blood
- chest pain that worsens when you breathe deeply, laugh, or cough
- hoarseness
- shortness of breath
- wheezing
- weakness and fatigue
- loss of appetite and weight loss
You might also have recurrent respiratory infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis.
As cancer spreads, additional symptoms depend on where new tumors form. For example, if in the:
- lymph nodes: lumps, particularly in the neck or collarbone
- bones: bone pain, particularly in the back, ribs, or hips
- brain or spine: headache, dizziness, balance issues, or numbness in arms or legs
- liver: yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)
Tumors at the top of the lungs can affect facial nerves, leading to drooping of one eyelid, small pupil, or lack of perspiration on one side of the face. Together, these symptoms are called Horner syndrome. It can also cause shoulder pain.
Tumors can press on the large vein that transports blood between the head, arms, and heart. This can cause swelling of the face, neck, upper chest, and arms.
Lung cancer sometimes creates a substance similar to hormones, causing a wide variety of symptoms called paraneoplastic syndrome, which include:
- muscle weakness
- nausea
- vomiting
- fluid retention
- high blood pressure
- high blood sugar
- confusion
- seizures
- coma
Lung cancer and back pain
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