Lung Cancer Signs and Symptoms

1. Lung Cancer Slideshow Pictures
2. Effects of Secondhand Smoke Slideshow Pictures
3. Tips to Quit Smoking Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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Lung cancer is the most common cancer in men and the fifth most common in women, even causing more cancer-related deaths in women than breast cancer. The incidence of lung cancer is strongly correlated with cigarette smoking, with about 90% of lung cancers arising as a result of tobacco use. Uncommon before the 1930s, lung cancer incidence began to rise during the 1930s as tobacco smoking became more popular. Public education programs about the dangers of cigarette smoking and effective smoking cessation programs have led to decreases in lung cancer rates in many developing countries.

Symptoms of lung cancer are varied dependent upon the exact location of the tumor and the extent of its spread. A person with lung cancer may have the following kinds of symptoms:

• No symptoms - Up to 25% of people who get lung cancer do not have any symptoms when the cancer is found. In these cases the cancer is first discovered on a routine chest X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan performed for another reason.
• Symptoms related to the cancer - The growth of the cancer and invasion of the lung and surroundings may lead to symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, and coughing up blood (hemoptysis). If the cancer has invaded nerves, it may cause shoulder pain that travels down the outside of the arm (called Pancoast syndrome) or paralysis of the nerves traveling to the vocal cords that leads to hoarseness. Invasion of the esophagus may lead to difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). If a large airway is obstructed, collapse of a portion of the lung may occur and cause infections (abscesses, pneumonia) in the obstructed area.
• Symptoms related to metastasis (spread to other organs) - Lung cancer that has spread to the bones may produce excruciating pain at the sites of bone involvement. Cancer that has spread to the brain may cause a number of neurologic symptoms that may include blurred vision, headaches, seizures, confusion or altered thought processes, or symptoms of stroke.
• Paraneoplastic symptoms - Lung cancers frequently are accompanied by so-called paraneoplastic syndromes that result from production of hormone-like substances by the tumor cells that are released into the blood. A common paraneoplastic syndrome associated with one type of lung cancer is the production of a hormone called adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) by the cancer cells, leading to oversecretion of another hormone, cortisol, by the adrenal glands (Cushing's syndrome).
• Nonspecific symptoms - Nonspecific symptoms seen with many cancers, including lung cancers, include weight loss, weakness, and fatigue.

It is important always to consult a doctor if a person develops the symptoms associated with lung cancer, in particular:

• A new persistent cough or worsening of an existing chronic cough
• Blood in the sputum
• Persistent bronchitis or repeated respiratory infections
• Chest pain
• Unexplained weight loss and/or fatigue
• Breathing difficulties such as shortness of breath or wheezing

For additional information, please read our Lung Cancer article.