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Lung cancer is often diagnosed late because bronchial carcinomas cause few or only non-specific symptoms in the early stages. Read here which early warning signs can indicate lung cancer.
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Brief overview
What are the first signs of lung cancer? Early signs of lung cancer may include persistent cough, chest pain and shortness of breath.
What kind of pain does lung cancer cause? They initially appear in the chest area. As the disease progresses, pain occurs in other areas of the body where cancer cells have spread.
Can lung cancer occur without a cough? Yes, lung cancer can occur without a cough. This is especially true for tumors that are located further away from the respiratory tract.
Is back pain a symptom of lung cancer? Yes, back pain can be a sign of lung cancer, especially if the tumor is pressing on nerves or bones.
Article contents at a glance:
Cancer: 20 signs you should take seriously
Signs and symptoms of lung cancer
Lung cancer rarely causes symptoms at the beginning. That is why it is almost always discovered by chance at an early stage, for example during X-ray examinations that are carried out for another reason.
Symptoms that could indicate lung cancer only appear in advanced stages. The following symptoms should therefore always be checked by a doctor:
persistent, chronic cough (especially in the morning)
Cough with bloody sputum
recurrent respiratory infections
Infections of the lower respiratory tract (bronchitis) that do not subside despite antibiotic treatment
persistent hoarseness
Chest pain, especially when breathing
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing even with minimal physical exertion (dyspnea)
Swelling in the neck and face area
general feeling of illness (loss of appetite, reduced performance and/or tiredness)
Fever and/or night sweats
severe weight loss without any apparent reason
Lung cancer is often very aggressive and progresses quickly. It is therefore important to take even non-specific symptoms seriously so that the disease is diagnosed at an early stage. This means that the first steps towards treatment, such as chemotherapy, can be initiated as quickly as possible. Only then are there good chances of recovery.
Lung cancer: symptoms in advanced stages
In advanced stages of bronchial carcinoma, additional symptoms may occur, usually caused by metastases in the brain or other organs and lymph nodes:
Differential diagnosis: lung cancer or something else?
The symptoms of bronchial carcinoma are often very unspecific and not typical of a tumor disease. An early diagnosis is important to have a good chance of recovery and to clarify whether there may be other causes for the symptoms.
The symptoms described here may also be caused by one of the following diseases:
The most common types of cancer in Germany
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