Lung cancer doesn’t always cause symptoms right away – sometimes it may be detected during a check up for another purpose.

The symptoms can become more obvious and severe as the tumour gets larger. It’s important to see a doctor if you notice any signs of lung cancer so that you can get treatment as quickly as possible.

Symptoms of lung cancer can include:

• Coughing
• Breathlessness even when doing activities that didn’t used to make you out of breath
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained or unintentional weight loss
• Feeling more tired than usual, without an obvious reason
• Aches or pains in your chest or shoulders, especially when you cough
• Back pain

Coughs caused by lung cancer can be different from a normal cold or infection. You might notice that you:

• Have a persistent cough that doesn’t go away in a few weeks
• Cough most of the time
• Cough even though you don’t have other symptoms of infection (such as a fever or runny nose) – although recurring chest infections can also be a sign of a lung condition such as cancer
• Have a chronic cough that has changed, for example becoming painful or with a different sound than usual
• Cough up phlegm with blood in it

Some people may experience other symptoms too, especially if the cancer has begun to spread beyond the lungs. Less common symptoms can include:

• Problems when swallowing food or drink
• Wheezing
• Hoarseness
• Swelling in your face and neck
• Clubbing of your fingers, which means they look curved or larger at the tips
• Jaundice or yellowing of the eyes or skin
• Bone fractures or pain

However, these symptoms can have other causes too. It’s important to seek medical advice to find out what is causing your symptoms and what treatments are available for you.