Reviewed by a board-certified physician
Lung cancer warning signs may be
obvious, or they may be subtle enough that they aren’t immediately thought of
as a cause for concern. Since at least half of people diagnosed with lung
cancer are already in the advanced stages of the disease, recognizing the
warning signs is important if we want to make a difference in the survival
rate. What are 10 lung cancer warning signs that you should never ignore?
(Keep in mind that even if you've
never smoked, you could still be at risk, especially if you are a woman. Almost
twice as many women die from lung cancer as breast cancer each year, and 20
percent of these women have never smoked.)
01: A Cough
That Doesn’t Go Away
One of the most common signs of lung
cancer is a persistent cough. It may seem obvious that this symptom should be
checked out, but it is often attributed to something else. Perhaps you think it
is allergies or just another winter cold, or that if you just wait another week
it will go away. If you smoke, maybe you just consider it a smoker's cough.
Even if it seems like there is a simple reason for your chronic cough, if it's
lasting, get it checked out. Here are some causes of a persistent cough.
02: Coughing
up Blood
Coughing up blood--even a small
amount--is never normal. There are many conditions that can cause you to cough
up blood, and one of these is lung cancer.
In fact, 7 percent of the time
it is the only symptom of lung cancer. Learn more about the causes and
evaluation of coughing up blood.
03: Shortness of
Breath
Many people who have been diagnosed
with lung cancer said that they had become increasingly short of breath. Often,
however, this isn’t usually a dramatic change.You might think your shortness of
breath is occurring because you are a few years older, or you might attribute
that decreased ability to run up the stairs without catching your breath as a
sign that you need to exercise more.
Talk to your doctor if you feel short
of breath for any reason. What might it mean if you are short of breath?
04: Recurrent
Pneumonia or Bronchitis
When a cancer is present in your
lungs, it can obstruct your airways, predisposing you to lung infections such
as pneumonia and bronchitis. One problem is that even though lung cancer can
cause pneumonia, it's much harder to diagnose when a lung infection is present.
Changes on x-rays caused by pneumonia can make it very difficult to see a
cancer in some cases. If you have recurrent lung infections, ask your doctor if
you need to be checked out further as to the cause of your infections.
05: Pain in
your Chest or Back
Certainly, symptoms of pain in your
chest or back are more likely to be related to a cause other than lung cancer.
Most of us have had back pain after lifting something we probably shouldn’t
have. But pain that persists, especially if you can’t think of any reason for
that pain, should prompt a call to your doctor. Chest pain related to lung
cancer tends to be constant rather than intermittent, and may worsen with time.
Learn more about back pain as a
symptom of lung cancer, and the possible causes of lung pain.
06: Pain in
Your Shoulder
When lung cancers grow near the top
of the lungs (Pancoast tumors), they can put pressure on nerves in the armpit.
This can cause shoulder pain that sometimes travels down the inside of the arm
down to the hands. When is shoulder pain a symptom of lung cancer?
07: Fatigue
I know this is a tough one. Do you
know of anyone in your life that hasn’t complained about being tired at times?
Yet the fatigue that goes along with cancer is often different. It is a
tiredness that you can’t seem to “push through” or override with a cup of
coffee. If you feel tired even though your lifestyle doesn’t explain the
fatigue, especially if you feel tired after a good night’s rest, talk with your
doctor.
08: Hoarseness
A hoarse voice can occur with lung
cancer if the tumor places pressure near your voice box (larynx) or irritates
nerves traveling to the voice box.You may first notice that you need to “clear
your throat” more often, or a friend or family member may remark that your
voice sounds different than usual. Hoarseness can occur with allergies as a
remnant of a cold, or even from singing too loud in the car or cheering too
loud at a ball game. But if you notice hoarseness that lasts, get it checked
out.
09: Weight
Loss Without Trying
In a society where being overweight
is the norm, this symptom may actually be welcomed at first – especially if the
pounds drop off without eating less or exercising more. But unintentional
weight loss should always be evaluated. Cancers can cause changes in your
metabolism so that weight loss occurs even if you eat the proper amount of
calories.
10: Any
Unexplained Symptom
Lung cancer has presented in many
uncommon ways, ranging from anemia to diarrhea to knee pain. Some lung cancers
release hormone-like substances causing a unique constellation of symptoms
termed paraneoplastic syndrome.
Given that lung cancer is the leading
cause of cancer deaths for both men and women in the United States, these
uncommon symptoms are not so uncommon when they add up as initial signs of lung
cancer. If you don’t have a good explanation for something that is concerning
to you, ask your doctor. And if she can’t give you a solid explanation, ask her
who she would recommend you talk with.
Lung Cancer Screening:
If you have smoked an average of 30
pack-years, are between the ages of 55 and 80, and continue to smoke or have
quit in the past 15 years, talk to your doctor about CT screening for lung
cancer. Lung cancer is most curable when it is caught in the early stages of
the disease.
Warning Signs of Lung Cancer - The Bottom Line
As a final note, don't hesitate to
talk to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms - or if you have any
symptoms not on this list. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths
for both men and women in the United States, and lung cancer is the 6th leading
cause of cancer deaths in never smokers.
If you are a never smoker with these
symptoms, get a second opinion if needed. It's been found that non-smokers are
often diagnosed in the more advanced stages of the disease - because the
diagnosis is low on many doctor's radar screens.
If you are a smoker, don't hesitate
to call your doctor. A 2016 study found that people who smoke are less
likely to visit their doctors with warning signs of lung cancer than
non-smokers. If you feel guilty about smoking, erase that guilt and make the
appointment. Everyone - whether someone has never smoked or has chain smoked
throughout life - deserves the best of care and treatment in facing lung cancer.
Sources:
Friedemann, S., Whitaker, K.,
Winstanley, K., and J. Wardle. Smokers
are less likely than non-smokers to seek help for a lung cancer 'alarm' symptom.
Thorax. 2016 Feb 24. (Epub ahead of print).
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