lung cancer symptoms | Symptoms of lung cancer

Symptoms of lung cancer

It is possible that lung cancer does not cause any signs or symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Signs and symptoms often appear as the tumor grows and causes changes in the body such as coughing or shortness of breath. Other medical conditions can cause the same symptoms as lung cancer.

The signs and symptoms of small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer are the same. These are among other things:

Cough that intensifies or does not disappear
Shortness
Wheezing
Chest pain that is constant and intensifies when you breathe deeply or cough
Blood in the mucus expelled from the lungs when we cough
Respiratory infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, that do not improve or continue to reappear
Weight loss
Fatigue
Hoarseness or other changes that affect your voice
Difficulty swallowing
Collapse of the lung
Lymph nodes bigger than normal in the neck or over the clavicle
Accumulation of fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion)
Bone pain
Headache
Weakness
Horner's syndrome is a set of symptoms that can be sign that lung cancer has invaded the nerves located on the top of the lung. It is almost always caused by non-small cell lung cancer. The symptoms are among other things these:

Severe shoulder painSagging or weakness of the eyelid or shrinking of the pupil
Perspiration absent or very low on the same side of the face as the affected eye
Paraneoplastic syndromes
A paraneoplastic syndrome is a set of symptoms that occur when substances released by cancer cells disturb the normal function of other organs or tissues. Small cell lung cancer is more likely to cause paraneoplastic syndrome than non-small cell lung cancer.

Hypercalcemia is too much calcium in the blood. Squamous carcinoma is the type of non-small cell lung cancer that most often causes hypercalcemia. The signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia include weakness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, increased thirst and frequent urination, confusion, disorientation and difficulty in thinking.

Inappropriate antidiuresis syndrome (SIAD) occurs when the body produces too much antidiuretic hormone (ADH). The symptoms of SIAD include weakness and muscle cramps, agitation, confusion, fatigue as well as nausea and vomiting.

Cushing's syndrome appears when the body produces a large amount of corticosteroids. Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome are between high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, a round face as well as lean arms and legs and muscle weakness. It can also cause a weight gain that causes the appearance of violet marks on the stomach.

Lambert-Eaton syndrome is caused by the absence of a chemical substance that transmits messages between muscles and nerves. The symptoms of Lambert-Eaton syndrome include muscle weakness, loss of movement and difficulty in chewing, walking, or lifting objects.

Degeneration cerebellar paraneoplastic is a very rare paraneoplastic syndrome. It appears when the immune system reacts abnormally and attacks the cells of the central nervous system. Symptoms of this disorder include dizziness, nausea, loss of balance, slightly blurred vision, quick eye movements, problems talking or swallowing, and tremors.

Learn more about hypercalcemia and inappropriate antidiuresis syndrome (SIAD).

Medical emergency due to cancerIn some cases, lung cancer or its treatment can cause serious problems that need to be treated immediately. The compression syndrome of the upper vena cava occurs when the cancer obstructs the large vein (upper vena cava) which brings the blood of the head and arms, causing headaches and swelling of the head and neck. If these symptoms appear, consult your doctor or care team as soon as possible.