What signs and symptoms are associated with lung cancer?
There are no clear symptoms during the primary stages of lung cancer. Consequently, lung cancers are not generally caught until its later stages — after the cancer has had time to progress. The earliest symptoms of lung cancer are similar to symptoms of other diseases. You should see your physician immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms, especially if you are a current or former smoker: • A chronic, dry cough • Chest pain that worsens when you breathe deeply • Hoarseness • Loss of appetite and/or weight loss • Bloody sputum (spit or phlegm) • Shortness of breath • Recurrent bronchitis, pneumonia, or similar infections The longer lung cancer goes undiagnosed, the more likely it is to progress and spread to other organs throughout the body. Signs indicating such progression may include: • Bone pain • Weakness or numbness of the arms or legs • Dizziness or seizure • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) • Masses near the body’s surface, indicating cancer may be sp
