What Are the Symptoms of Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer symptoms are unique to each patient, as is each type of lung cancer. Although there are some symptoms that are common for all types, such as a persistent cough or fatigue, certain symptoms are rarer and may be indicative of a rare type of lung cancer. For example, hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPOA) is a rare disease that typically occurs because of lung cancer. This condition can cause rarer symptoms, such as finger clubbing (swelling or changes in the appearance of the fingers).

Common Lung Cancer Symptoms

Although the symptoms of lung cancer can vary greatly, it’s important to remember that every patient and cancer are different. Simply having these symptoms does not mean that you have cancer, and these symptoms alone do not always indicate what type or stage of lung cancer you have.

• New cough, persistent cough or change in a chronic cough
• New or recurrent hoarseness
• Constant pain in the chest, back or shoulders that may worsen when coughing, laughing or breathing deeply 
• Frequent lung infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia
• Shortness of breath and wheezing, especially if during everyday activities
• Coughing up blood
• Feeling weak or tired
• Unexplained weight loss
• Face or neck swelling
• Difficulty or pain while swallowing

Advanced Lung Cancer Symptoms

When lung cancer spreads to distant sites of the body, including the bones, liver or brain, it’s called metastatic lung cancer.

Symptoms of metastatic lung cancer include:

• Bone pain
• Swelling in the face, arms or neck
• Headaches, dizziness, or numbness or weakness in the limbs
• Jaundice
• Lumps in the neck

Small Cell and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Symptoms

Small cell and non-small cell are the two most common types of lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer is less common than non-small cell lung cancer and is mostly found in long-term, heavy smokers. Non-small cell lung cancer is a term that refers to multiple types of lung cancer, including large cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

The symptoms of lung cancer vary greatly depending on which type a patient has and whether the cancer is in an advanced stage. In some cases, especially in the early stages, a patient may not experience unusual symptoms at all or in a way that impacts their life significantly.

Additional non-small cell lung cancer symptoms

• Unusual or unexplained, unusual fatigue
• Difficulty or pain with breathing
• Pain in the bones

In advanced stages, non-small cell lung cancer symptoms may include:

• Neurological changes (if/when the cancer metastasizes to the brain or involves the spinal cord or other nerves)
• Lumps (if cancer spreads to the lymph nodes)
• Horner syndrome (causes nerve damage that affects one side of the face)
• Paraneoplastic syndrome (causes reactions, such as high blood calcium levels, excess bone growth or blood clots)
• Superior vena cava syndrome (causes blood to back up in the veins to the upper body and head)

Additional small cell lung cancer symptoms

• Frequent upper respiratory infections
• Hoarseness

In advanced stages, small cell lung cancer symptoms may include:

• Bone pain
• Jaundice
• Headaches and other neurological issues
• Lumps in the neck or collarbone region