Advanced Lung Cancer Symptoms

Lung cancer has no symptoms when it begins. As it develops, the symptoms become more pronounced. If cancer runs in your family or if you have symptoms you are concerned about, please see your doctor.

Primary Lung Cancer

• In primary lung cancer, you may start coughing, or coughing up blood. Other symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness or respiratory infections.

Less Frequent Symptoms

• Some less frequent symptoms are difficulty in swallowing, muscle weakness, drowsiness, dizziness or confusion. Men's breasts may swell and blood clots may form inside their veins.

Swelling

• There may be swelling in the neck area caused by enlarged lymph nodes. There may be swelling in the face due to a blockage of the main blood vessel, or superior vena cava.

Symptoms From Hormones

• Hormones produced by lung cancer cells can cause some symptoms, because they get into the bloodstream. These paraneoplastic symptoms vary with each person, and the symptoms don't seem to fit in with lung cancer.

Fingers and Toes

• There may be a pins-and-needles sensation or numbness in the fingers and toes. Your fingers and nails might change shape, called finger clubbing.

Pancoast Tumor

• A pancoast tumor is lung cancer that is growing at the very top of the lung. The symptom of this cancer is severe shoulder pain.