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Lung cancer symptoms occur when a tumor starts damaging the lung or pressing against nearby tissues or organs. Most often, lung cancer symptoms do not appear until the disease has progressed into the late stages. Early stage lung cancer diagnosis is uncommon, due to a lack of lung cancer screening methods.
The two main types of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Overall, NSCLC accounts for 84 percent of lung cancer diagnoses, and SCLC for 13 percent. NSCLC and SCLC overlap quite a bit in their common symptoms, which can be experienced in almost all parts of the body.
Respiratory symptoms associated with lung cancer include:
Some environmental factors that may increase your risk of developing lung cancer include exposure to asbestos, radon, and secondhand smoke. If you begin experiencing symptoms of lung cancer and you have been exposed to these risk factors, talk with your doctor about your concerns.
A possible sign of lung cancer includes pain in any of these areas:
Other symptoms of lung cancer, or the spread of lung cancer to other sites in the body, can include:
Lung cancer can cause syndromes, or groupings of specific symptoms. The superior vena cava (SVC) is a large vein responsible for returning blood flow from the head, neck, arms, and chest to the heart. SVC syndrome can occur if a tumor becomes too large and presses on the vein. This prevents blood from flowing through, and leads to swelling in the face, neck, arms, and chest. Additional signs of SVC syndrome include dizziness, headaches, and bluish-red coloring of the skin.
Rarely, people with SCLC will develop signs and symptoms of paraneoplastic syndromes, a group of disorders that are triggered by hormones released by the cancer or an abnormal immune response to cancer. For example, cancer-specific antibodies and other immune cells may mistakenly attack the nervous system instead of cancer cells. Paraneoplastic syndromes usually affect middle-aged to older people. While rare overall, paraneoplastic syndromes are more common in cases of small cell lung cancer.
Symptoms of paraneoplastic syndromes include:
There are several types of paraneoplastic syndromes that may occur in people with SCLC.
In Cushing’s syndrome, cancer cells make a hormone that causes the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, a stress hormone. Symptoms include weakness, drowsiness, weight gain, bruising, fluid buildup, high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, and in some cases, diabetes.
In Lambert-Eaton syndrome the muscles surrounding the hips become weak, making it difficult to stand up from a sitting position. Over time, the muscles around the shoulders may become weak as well.
This condition causes a loss of balance, unsteady arm and leg movements, and difficulty swallowing or speaking.
In syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), cancer cells make a hormone that causes the kidneys to hold water, lowering salt levels in the blood. Symptoms of SIADH include loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, muscle weakness or cramps, confusion, and restlessness. If not treated, severe cases can lead to seizures and coma.
It is possible to develop paraneoplastic syndromes in some cases of NSCLC, but less so than in cases of SCLC. Examples of such syndromes include hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and hypercalcemia.
Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HO) — sometimes called "clubbing" — is characterized by joint swelling and pain, arthritis, and inflammation of the connective tissue that surrounds bones. When HO occurs on its own due to genetic mutations, it is called primary HO. When it is caused by another disease, such as lung cancer, it is called secondary HO.
Hypercalcemia is a condition defined by high levels of calcium in the blood. It may occur when lung cancer cells spread to the bone. This leads the bone to break down, and calcium is released into the bloodstream. Symptoms of hypercalcemia include:
Pancoast’s tumors are a type of NSCLC found in the upper part of the lungs. They can affect certain nerves in parts of the face and eyes, causing a condition called Horner’s syndrome. This is not a paraneoplastic syndrome. Symptoms include:
Living with a chronic condition like cancer can be stressful. In fact, between 15 percent and 25 percent of people living with cancer are affected by depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, people with chronic illnesses are much more likely to develop depression. Feelings of anxiety, worry, and stress about living with cancer can all trigger depression.
If you are struggling with a lung cancer diagnosis, there are ways to cope with your emotions and manage your mental health. Therapists and other mental health professionals are available to work with clients who have chronic and life-threatening diseases.
Lung Cancer Symptom or Treatment Side Effect?
It may be difficult to tell the difference between symptoms of lung cancer and side effects of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or other treatments used to treat it. Some symptoms you may experience are more likely to be side effects of treatment options rather than symptoms directly caused by lung cancer. These include:
If you experience any new or worsening symptoms while on treatment, talk to your doctor about them.
Lung Cancer Condition Guide
Todd Gersten, M.D. is a hematologist-oncologist at the Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute in Wellington, Florida. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Learn more about him here.
Emily Wagner, M.S. holds a Master of Science in biomedical sciences with a focus in pharmacology. She is passionate about immunology, cancer biology, and molecular biology. Learn more about her here.
