Symptoms of lung cancer

Often people have no symptoms of lung cancer when diagnosed via a chest X-ray.  The British HIV Association recommends that any suspicious mass on a chest X-ray should raise the suspicion of non-small cell lung cancer, and that after tissue biopsy, CT scans of the chest, abdomen, adrenal glands and bones should be carried out to determine if the cancer has spread.

Squamous and small cell cancers are generally associated with cough, shortness of breath, bloody sputum, chest pain and wheezing or pneumonia. Adenocarcinoma causes chest pain with breathing, coughing and shortness of breath. If the cancer has spread, symptoms may include hoarseness of the voice, difficulty in swallowing, swelling of the face, arms and neck, headaches, weakness, numbness, paralysis, bone or abdominal pain.