Non-small cell lung cancer symptoms

Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) may grow slowly over a period of time before symptoms develop. Common non-small cell lung cancer symptoms include:

• Persistent coughing, particularly without any known cause
• A cough that produces blood or red-colored phlegm (hemoptysis)
• Chest pain or painful breathing
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Fatigue or feeling unusually weak or tired
• Hoarseness or wheezing
• Frequent upper-respiratory infections, like bronchitis or pneumonia
• Bone pain

Other areas of the body may be affected by either the spread or development of NSCLC tumors.

Neurological changes: Lung cancer may spread (metastasize) to the brain. This may cause headaches or even seizures. Numbness or weakness in the arms and legs may occur if a large tumor begins to press against a nerve.

Lumps: In advanced stages, the cancer may spread throughout the lymph nodes. Sometimes, tumors near the skin surface may appear as lumps.

Horner syndrome: Tumors may possibly cause nerve damage. Horner syndrome is a particular set of symptoms associated with nerve damage. The symptoms often affect one side of the face, causing a droopy eyelid and a reduction in the size of the pupil (the dark center of the eye).

Paraneoplastic syndromes: Cancer cells may make chemicals that trigger other reactions, which are collectively referred to as paraneoplastic syndromes. Symptoms may include high blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia), excess bone growth or blood clots.

Small cell lung cancer symptoms

Most of the signs associated with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are not present until the cancer has progressed. Typically, small cell lung cancer symptoms continue to evolve and worsen as the disease spreads to distant organs.

Early symptoms of small cell lung cancer:

• Persistent cough
• Chest pain that gets worse with deep breathing, laughing or coughing
• Hoarseness
• Unexplained loss of appetite and weight
• Coughing up blood or rust-colored phlegm
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling weak and/or tired
• Bronchitis, pneumonia or other infections that keep recurring
• Wheezing

Symptoms of advanced-stage SCLC:

• Bone pain
• Headaches, dizziness or limbs that become weak or numb
• Jaundice
• Lumps in the neck or collarbone region