Lung Cancer Symptoms
Lung cancer symptoms can be different for each person. Some people don’t notice any signs at first. In many cases, symptoms may seem like a common illness, like bronchitis or pneumonia, which can delay diagnosis. It’s important to pay attention to changes in your body and talk to a doctor about anything unusual.
Early signs and symptoms
These are some of the most common early symptoms:
- A cough that doesn’t go away and gets worse over time
- Chest pain, especially when breathing deeply, coughing or laughing
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Hoarseness (changes in your voice)
- Frequent lung infections, such as pneumonia or bronchitis
- Coughing up blood or rust-colored mucus
Late signs and symptoms
These symptoms may appear as the cancer grows or spreads:
- Pain in the shoulder or arm
- Swelling in the neck or face
- Loss of appetite or weight loss without trying
- Fatigue
- Widening of the fingertips and nailbeds (called “clubbing”)
If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, symptoms may include:
- Bone pain
- Weakness or numbness in an arm or leg
- Headaches, dizziness or seizures
- Balance problems or trouble walking
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or above the collarbone
Conditions with similar symptoms
These symptoms usually do not mean you have lung cancer. Other conditions that share some of these symptoms include:
- Chronic bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Lung infections
- Heart failure
These conditions can be serious. Patients who have symptoms should see a doctor.
What does lung cancer feel like?
Lung cancer often doesn't cause physical symptoms in its early stages, but as it progresses, it can lead to persistent coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing and fatigue. Some people may feel hoarseness, pain in the shoulder or back, or experience frequent respiratory infections. Advanced stages may bring bone pain, headaches or unexplained weight loss.
Risk factors
Certain factors can raise your risk of getting lung cancer:
- Smoking (the biggest risk factor)
- Secondhand smoke exposure
- Exposure to radon gas (a natural radioactive gas)
- Exposure to asbestos or other harmful chemicals
- Family history of lung cancer
- Air pollution
- Past radiation therapy to the chest
Learn more about lung cancer risk factors.
When to see a doctor
You should talk to a doctor if you:
- Have a persistent cough that doesn’t go away
- Notice blood in your mucus
- Have chest pain or trouble breathing
- Feel very tired or weak without a clear reason
- Lose weight without trying
- Get frequent lung infections
Even if it turns out to be something less serious, it’s always best to get symptoms checked early.
Lung cancer screening guidelines
At this time, lung cancer screening is recommended only for adults at high risk. Being at high risk doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get lung cancer. But you may need to start regular screening exams.
Lung Screening Calculator
Use this calculator to find out if you are eligible for lung cancer screening. Lung cancer screening can catch cancer early, when it's easiest to treat. Answer the questions below to find out the next steps for you.
Behavioral and lifestyle changes can help prevent lung cancer. Visit our prevention and screening section to learn how to manage your risk.
In some cases, lung cancer can be passed down from one generation to the next. Genetic counseling may be right for you. Visit our family history site to learn more about genetic counseling and testing.
What types of cancer can cause itchy skin?
Your skin can itch for many reasons, such as allergies, insect bites and dry skin. The itch, called pruritus, will usually go away once you treat what’s causing it. But sometimes an itch can be chronic, meaning it lasts six weeks or longer. This is known as chronic pruritus.
In rare cases, chronic pruritus can be a sign of cancer. Here, I’ll explain what types of cancers may cause itchy skin, what the itch feels like and when you should see a doctor.
What types of cancer can cause itchy skin?
Itching can be a sign of several types of blood cancers.
Lymphoma
- Cutaneous T cell lymphoma is a skin lymphoma that starts in the T lymphocytes.
- Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma both start in the lymphatic system.
Leukemia
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia is a rare, aggressive type of blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow.
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia are slow-growing types of blood cancer that mostly affect adults over age 55.
- Polycythemia vera is a chronic blood disorder in which the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells. People with polycythemia vera who experience itching have a higher chance of the disease developing into myelofibrosis and acute myeloid leukemia.
- Myelodysplastic syndrome is a group of diseases in which the bone marrow doesn’t make enough healthy blood cells. Some cases develop into acute myeloid leukemia.
Itching can also be a sign of the following cancers:
- Liver cancer
- Bile duct cancer
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Metastatic stomach cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Melanoma: Itching has been reported in 22% of primary melanoma skin lesions.
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
Where on the body does the itching occur?
Itching can occur anywhere on the body, including the scalp and genitalia. The most common sites are the lower legs and the trunk – that is, your chest, abdomen, pelvis and back.
How would you describe an itch that might indicate cancer?
There aren’t specific characteristics to look for. What I mean is the itch can be:
- Localized (affecting one area of the body) or generalized (affecting the entire body)
- Constant or intermittent
- Mild to severe
Pruritus may be an associated symptom of cancer. That means it is often an additional symptom of the cancer itself. It’s not necessarily a predictor of cancer. So, if you have itchy skin, it doesn’t mean you will develop cancer.
Itching associated with pancreatic cancer
Itching can happen when pancreatic cancer causes a blockage in the bile duct, which can also lead to jaundice. In these cases, itching tends to be generalized. But I have seen pancreatic cancer patients with intense itching only on their trunk area, or/and only on the arms and legs.
Aquagenic itch can be a sign of certain cancers
Aquagenic itch describes an itch that develops minutes after contact with water of any temperature with no visible skin rash. Aquagenic itch is commonly seen in people with polycythemia vera. Some people who have aquagenic itch develop cutaneous T cell lymphoma or myelodysplastic syndrome several years later.
How we classify pruritus and cancer
We divide cancer patients with pruritus into three categories:
- Patients who experienced itching before being diagnosed with cancer: A cancer diagnosis may come months to years after the itching begins.
- Patients who have an existing cancer and experience itching
- Patients who have itching indirectly related to cancer: This is usually due to the growth of a tumor affecting internal organs, such as invasive liver tumors.
Cancer treatment can cause itchy skin
Sometimes, cancer treatment can cause rashes and itchy skin. Chemotherapy, opioids, aspirin and antibiotics may cause itching.
What other conditions can cause itchy skin?
Chronic pruritus can be caused by:
- Diabetes
- Chronic kidney failure
- Liver disease
- HIV infection
- Allergic reactions to food, medicine and insect bites
- Thyroid disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
- Anxiety
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Depression
- Pregnancy
Remember: there are many reasons your skin may itch. Most of the time, it is not because of cancer.
When should you see a doctor for itchy skin?
See a doctor if you have itchy skin that:
- is all over the body, especially during pregnancy,
- starts suddenly,
- lasts for several weeks or longer,
- does not improve with moisturizer use,
- is persistent in the same spot,
- disrupts your sleep or distracts from your daily routine and/or
- is associated with other symptoms, such as weight loss, fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, jaundice, fatigue, cough or visible lumps.
If your doctor cannot find the reason for the itch, they may do a workup to check for other possible causes, including cancer. This workup includes a comprehensive review of your medical history and a physical examination, with particular attention to the lymph nodes. Your doctor will test your complete blood count, liver function, kidney function and thyroid function.
What else should readers know about itchy skin and cancer?
Itchy skin can be frustrating, especially if you don’t know what’s causing it. Itching can be a sign of internal disease, including cancer. We know that patients with certain cancers, namely lymphomas and leukemias, often have associated pruritus, but we have limited data indicating that itchy skin is a predictor of cancer. So, itchy skin alone does not mean you will get cancer.
See a doctor if you have persistent itchy skin and you develop other concerning symptoms. They can figure out what’s causing the symptoms and get you the proper treatment.
Ana Ciurea, M.D., is a dermatologist at UT MD Anderson.
Request an appointment at UT MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.