Lung cancer often causes no clear signs in its earliest stages. When early warning signs do appear, they are often mild and mimic everyday illnesses, including a persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, or lingering lung infections.
Early symptoms of lung cancer may include a worsening cough or shortness of breath, depending on which part of the lung is affected and which type of lung cancer the patient has. As the cancer develops, these symptoms may become more severe or intense.
Like many other types of cancer, lung cancer may also cause systemic symptoms, which are more general in nature. These may include loss of appetite or general fatigue.
Early Signs & Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer may not cause symptoms in its early stages. There are, however, some signs to look for, including those listed below.
- New or Changing Cough: a cough that is persistent or worsens, or a change in an existing chronic cough
- A Cough that produces blood
- Chest Pain: a dull or sharp ache in the chest, back or shoulders that worsens during coughing, laughing, or deep breathing
- Shortness of Breath: occurs suddenly or during everyday activities; getting winded easily
- Unexplained Weight Loss: losing weight without trying
- Loss of Appetite: consistently for no apparent reason
- Recurring Infections: bronchitis or pneumonia that won’t go away
- Hoarseness: a raspy or strained voice that lasts
- Wheezing: a high-pitched whistling sound while breathing normally
- General Fatigue: feeling tired or weak even after resting
Less common Lung Cancer symptoms
- Swelling in the face or neck
- Difficulty swallowing or pain while swallowing
- Changes in the appearance of fingers, called finger clubbing
Although most of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by something other than lung cancer, it’s important that they be checked by a doctor. Discovering lung cancer early may mean more treatment options are available.
Lung Cancer in Women & Men
Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer diagnosed in both men and women (excepting skin cancer) in the USA according to the American Cancer Society. Only prostate cancer is more common for men, and breast cancer is more common for women. However, lung cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer death for both genders by far compared with other cancers. A few lung cancer statistics by gender.
- Women tend to be diagnosed at an earlier age than men.
- Women who develop lung cancer before menopause are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced disease. (They also are more likely to have cancer that has spread and a poorer prognosis.)
Types of Lung Cancer in Women & Men
The types of lung cancer differ among women and men as well:
- Women tend to develop non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) more than men.
- Women are more likely to be diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma than men (adenocarcinoma is a type of NSCLC that isn’t necessarily associated with smoking).
- Female non-smokers are more likely than male non-smokers to be diagnosed with the lung cancer subtype bronchioalveolar carcinoma.
- Women who have lung cancer are more likely to live longer than men.
- Women who undergo surgery for some lung cancers, including NSCLC, also live longer than men. Women have a better response to chemotherapy treatments for lung cancer than men do.
- Men are more likely to be diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma than women.
The signs and symptoms for lung cancer are similar for men and women and may vary depending on where the cancer forms.
Word to the wise (women or men): heed the warning signs — if in doubt, see your doctor. Why wait for Spring — do it now.
Synthesized from multiple authoritative sources including the American Cancer Society / September 2026