What does lung cancer feel like when it starts?

In its early stages, lung cancer doesn't typically have symptoms you can see or feel. Later, it often causes coughing, wheezing, and chest pain. But there are other, lesser-known effects that can show up, too -- in places you may not expect. (Of course, lung cancer isn't the only thing that can cause these symptoms.)

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What are the 1st signs of lung cancer?

What Are the Symptoms of Lung Cancer?
  • Coughing that gets worse or doesn't go away.
  • Chest pain.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Wheezing.
  • Coughing up blood.
  • Feeling very tired all the time.
  • Weight loss with no known cause.

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Where do you feel pain with lung cancer?

When lung cancer spreads to the bone, it can cause bone pain in the spine/back, pelvis or large bones of the arms and legs. This pain gets worse when moving, at night, or when lying on your back. Clubbed fingers or fatter fingers. About 80 percent of those with clubbed fingers have lung cancer.

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What does Stage 1 lung cancer feel like?

In stage 1 lung cancer, people usually do not experience symptoms. When they do, the most common symptoms include shortness of breath, a persistent cough, and coughing up blood or blood-stained phlegm. Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer.

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At what stage of lung cancer do you feel pain?

Most people with lung cancer do not feel pain or other symptoms during the early stages. This is because there are very few nerve endings in the lungs. However, pain can occur when lung cancer invades the chest wall, ribs, vertebrae, or certain nerves.

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Lung Cancer Warning Signs II Lung Cancer Symptoms

33 related questions found

What are the red flags for lung cancer?

an ache or pain when breathing or coughing. persistent breathlessness. persistent tiredness or lack of energy. loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss.

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Do you feel ill with early lung cancer?

There are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer, but many people with the condition eventually develop symptoms including: a persistent cough. coughing up blood. persistent breathlessness.

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Can you feel OK and have lung cancer?

What does lung cancer feel like? Sometimes it doesn't feel like anything at all. Because lung cancer doesn't typically cause pain or other warning signs in its early stages, many people don't realize they have the disease.

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What are the symptoms of Stage 2 lung cancer?

Stage 2 lung cancer symptoms
  • A new cough that doesn't go away.
  • A chronic cough that's getting worse.
  • Coughing up bloody mucus.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Ongoing chest pain.
  • Frequent lung infections.

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How long can you have lung cancer without knowing?

Patients can (and usually do) live with lung cancer for many years before it becomes apparent. Early lung cancer is largely asymptomatic and internalisation of tumours means patients are not alerted by obvious physical changes.

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What is the finger test for lung cancer?

When you press your fingernails together, do you see a tiny diamond-shaped window of light. If you can't see this gap, you could have finger clubbing, which when the ends of your fingers swell up - and this could be a sign of lung cancer.

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What are the 12 signs of lung cancer?

The most common signs of lung cancer are:
  • A chronic cough that does not go away or gets worse.
  • Coughing up bloody spit or mucus.
  • Chest pain (or discomfort) that worsens with laughing, deep breaths or coughing.
  • Hoarse voice.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Unexplained weight loss.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Fatigue or weakness.

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Is lung cancer detected in blood tests?

If a biopsy is not possible, the doctor may suggest other tests that will help make a diagnosis. Lung cancer cannot be detected by routine blood testing, but blood tests may be used to identify genetic mutations in people who are already known to have lung cancer (see "Biomarker testing of the tumor" below).

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How can you detect lung cancer at home early?

How to detect lung cancer: Symptoms
  1. Persistent cough (especially if you are coughing up rust-colored sputum)
  2. Shortness of breath.
  3. Hoarseness.
  4. Chronic bronchitis.
  5. Chest pain.
  6. Unexplained weight loss.
  7. Bone pain.

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What can lung cancer be mistaken for?

Consider pneumonia, a chest infection that causes inflammation in the air sacs of the lungs. It's clearly a different condition from lung cancer, which develops when cells grow out of control and form tumors. Pneumonia is also very common in lung cancer patients.

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What are the symptoms of lung cancer in a woman?

Signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include:
  • A new cough that doesn't go away.
  • Coughing up blood, even a small amount.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Chest pain.
  • Hoarseness.
  • Losing weight without trying.
  • Bone pain.
  • Headache.

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What is the life expectancy for lung cancer?

The 5-year relative survival rate for NSCLC in women in the United States is 33%. The 5-year relative survival rate for men is 23%. For people with localized NSCLC, which means the cancer has not spread outside the lung, the overall 5-year relative survival rate is 65%.

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What does Stage 4 lung cancer feel like?

Stage 4 lung cancer symptoms

Persistent, worsening cough. Hemoptysis (coughing up blood) Blood in spit. Chest pain that may be aggravated by deep breaths, coughing, laughing.

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What are symptoms of Stage 3 lung cancer?

Stage 3 lung cancer symptoms
  • A persistent or worsening cough.
  • Bloody cough.
  • Chest pain.
  • Hoarseness.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Unintentional weight loss.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Tiredness.

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What does lung cancer fatigue feel like?

Here is a list of some symptoms you might have if you have cancer related fatigue: lack of energy – you may just want to stay in bed all day. feeling you just cannot be bothered to do much. sleeping problems such as unable to sleep or disturbed sleep.

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What does untreated lung cancer feel like?

The most common signs of lung cancer are a cough that won't go away, chest pain, shortness of breath, weight loss, and fatigue.

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Can a chest xray show lung cancer?

A chest X-ray is usually the 1st test used to diagnose lung cancer. Most lung tumours appear on X-rays as a white-grey mass.

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What are three warning signs of cancer?

Signs and symptoms Cancer
  • Coughing, chest pain and breathlessness. Speak to a GP if you've had a cough for 3 weeks or more. ...
  • Changes in bowel habits. ...
  • Bloating. ...
  • Bleeding. ...
  • Lumps. ...
  • Moles. ...
  • Unexplained weight loss. ...
  • Tummy or back pain.

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How quickly can lung cancer spread?

Studies have shown that lung cancer doubling time can vary, from 229 days to 647 days in one study, depending upon the type. 7 It's possible that some types of lung cancer progress within weeks to months, while others may take years to grow.

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