Lung Cancer Symptoms
Lung cancer can happen to anyone. Men and women who smoke are about 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers. But at least 20% of those diagnosed with lung cancer never smoked at all! Whether you’re young or old, a smoker or nonsmoker, it’s important to be on the lookout for lung cancer symptoms.
Early Lung Cancer Symptoms
As with most other cancers, lung cancer symptoms don’t always show until the cancer has become more advanced. However, that isn’t the case for everyone. Sometimes, a slight cough or shortness of breath, especially if you never smoked, can be an early indication of lung cancer. And if these symptoms don’t clear up for anyone – smoker or nonsmoker – within a week or so, or become more severe as time goes on, it’s a sign that you should see your doctor.
Lung cancer treatment, like most cancers, is more successful the earlier it’s diagnosed. Because of that, we recommend you contact your doctor if you are experiencing any of these lung cancer symptoms:
- Unexplained hoarseness
- Difficulty breathing
- New onset of wheezing
- A lingering cough not associated with a viral infection
- Fatigue and/or weakness
- Coughing up blood or coughing up spit or phlegm tainted with blood
- Weight loss and loss of appetite not due to lifestyle changes
- Recurring (chronic) infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia
- Constant chest pain that worsens with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing
Advanced Lung Cancer Symptoms
Symptoms often change once lung cancer becomes advanced and spreads to other areas of the body. Some advanced lung cancer symptoms may include:
- Bone pain
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Lumps in the neck and/or collarbone region
- A headache, dizziness, or weakness in the arms or legs
Often, many of the symptoms related to lung cancer are the result of something other than lung cancer. It’s less likely related to a virus or other short-term condition if the symptoms carry on for more than a week or two. It is important to see your doctor if you notice one or more of these signs or symptoms or anything unusual. Even if it’s not lung cancer, there are other conditions affecting the lungs that your doctor should look into for you.
Our lung cancer specialists are available to help if you have been diagnosed with lung cancer and live in or around Brevard county. Contact Cancer Care Centers of Brevard today to schedule an appointment at one of our convenient locations.