It may takes years for lung cancer symptoms to appear, and most it is in advanced stage already.
Chest and air passages may be affected by many lung cancer symptoms, such as:
Persistent or intense coughing- Pain in the chest shoulder, or back from coughing
- Changes in color of the mucus that is coughed up from the lower airways (sputum)
- Difficulty breathing and swallowing
- Hoarseness of the voice
- Harsh sounds while breathing (stridor)
- Chronic bronchitis or pneumonia
- Coughing up blood, or blood in the sputum
When lung cancer metastasizes or spreads, addition symptoms can present themselves in the newly affected area. The early appearance are usually swollen or enlarged lymph nodes. If lung cancer spreads to the brain, vertigo, headaches or seizures may be the symptoms. In addition, the liver may become enlarged and cause jaundice, and bones can become painful, brittle and broken. Hormone level may also be affected if the adrenal glands are affected.
As lung cancer cells spread and use more of the body’s energy, it is possible to present symptoms that may also be associated with many other ailments. These include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Pain in joints or bones
- Problems with brain function and memory
- Swelling in the neck or face
- General weakness
- Bleeding and blood clots
