7 Signs of Lung Cancer You Might Be Ignoring

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths (one in four) in both men and women. Treatment is more effective the earlier lung cancer is diagnosed, so see your doctor if you notice any of the following lung cancer symptoms.

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Coughing up blood

“Coughing up blood is never a good sign. Right then and there, go see your doctor,” says Raja Flores, MD, professor and chairman of thoracic surgery at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Although cancer may not necessarily be the cause of your bloody coughs, you should definitely get tested as this is one of the signs of lung cancer, he says. These are 15 cancer symptoms women are most likely to ignore.

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Chest pain

Pay attention to chest, back, or shoulder pain that’s new and doesn’t go away. You may notice a feeling of tightness, or a sharp pain that can get worse with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing. “You feel pain where the tumor is located,” says Dr. Flores. “If the tumor is to the side, you’ll feel pain on your side. If it’s toward the back of the chest, you’ll feel pain in your back.” Any chest pain warrants a call to your doctor, just in case, he says. Here’s how to tell if your chest pain is a sign of a heart attack, instead.

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A persistent cough

Coughing fits can be caused by something as simple as allergies, a cold, or water down the wrong pipe; but if your cough never seems to go away, it could be a sign of something more serious, like lung cancer. ย “Cancer in the airway can irritate your throat and make you cough,” says Dr. Flores. “There’s something in there that’s not supposed to be there, so your body is trying to get rid of it.” Cancer can also produce mucus, which exacerbates the cough and makes it worse. Don’t miss these lung cancer facts doctors wish you knew.

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Shortness of breath

If you’re suddenly winded after climbing the stairs, or your daily walk around the block leaves you gasping for breath, it could be one of the signs of lung cancer. “Shortness of breath can come from a tumor blocking the windpipe. It can also stem from an accumulation of fluid in the chest that pushes on the lung and leaves you with a lack of air,โ€ says Dr. Flores. When cancer forms in the lining of the lung, it causes fluid to build up in your chest; and although your chest can hold between three and four liters of fluid, when it completely fills up, the lungs are unable to get enough air, he says. Trouble breathing when you’re sitting or lying down can also be a sign of trouble. Don’t miss these other 13 signs of cancer in men that often go ignored.

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Feeling fatigued

If you feel more and more rundown but haven’t made any changes to your daily routine, it could be a sign of cancer. “It may not specifically signal lung cancer, but it’s a definite red flag that something’s not right,” says Dr. Flores. Unintentionalย weight loss and loss of appetite are also signs of lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Smoking, a family history of cancer, and asbestos exposure also increases your lung cancer risk. These are the 9 medical reasons you chronically tired.

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An asthma diagnosis

People with asthma do not have a higher risk of lung cancer. However, if you’re diagnosed with asthma past childhood, and you have other risk factors, your doctor may suggest you get screened for lung cancer, says Dr. Flores. “It’s an unusual symptom, but it’s something to keep in the back of your mind if you’re a young adult or older and just got diagnosed with asthma,” he says. “Pulmonologists often listen to your lungs, hear wheezing, and treat it as asthma; but it’s a good idea to get a scan to make sure there’s not a tumor in there, which could be causing a blockage.” This woman’s asthma symptoms turned out to be advanced lung cancer.

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Overall body pain

Since lung cancer often doesn’t present with symptoms until the later stages, it can go undiagnosed until it has spread to other parts of the body. Headaches, dizziness and balance problems, or numbness in the limbs may be signs of lung cancer that has spread to the brain or spinal cord. Yellowing of the skin and eyes could be a sign it has spread to the liver, and lumps on the body could mean the disease has spread to the skin or lymph nodes, according to the American Cancer Society. These issues often come on gradually, and in combination with other symptoms.

Sources
Medically reviewed by Michael Spertus, MD, on September 19, 2019

Alyssa Jung
Alyssa Jung is a writer and editor with extensive experience creating health and wellness content that resonates with readers. She freelanced for local publications in Upstate New York and spent three years as a newspaper reporter before moving to New York City to pursue a career in magazines. She is currently Senior Associate Editor at Prevention magazine and a contributor to Prevention.com. Previously she worked at Reader's Digest as an editor, writer, and health fact checker.