Symptoms of Lung Cancer

What are the symptoms of lung cancer?

Lung cancer usually starts in the lining of the airways in the lungs, but can also begin in other areas of the respiratory system. It is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. Lung cancers are believed to develop over a period of many years.

The following are the most common symptoms for lung cancer. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently.

Lung cancer usually does not cause symptoms when it first develops, but they often become present after the tumor begins growing. A cough is the most common symptom of lung cancer. Other symptoms include:

Like other cancers, lung cancer can cause:

Other symptoms can be caused by substances made by lung cancer cells - referred to as a paraneoplastic syndrome. Certain lung cancer cells produce a substance that causes a sharp drop in the level of sodium in the blood, which can cause many symptoms, including confusion and sometimes even coma.

None of these symptoms is a sure sign of lung cancer. The symptoms of lung cancer may resemble another medical condition or problem. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

Types of Lung Cancer

Most types of lung cancers begin in the lining or covering tissues of an organ. They all grow and spread differently, and treatment varies for each. About 85 percent to 90 percent of lung cancers belong to the group called non-small cell lung cancer.