7 Early Signs of Lung Cancer

Here are the early signs of lung cancer to watch out for.

Given the rise in lung cancer in people who don’t appear to have risk factors for the disease, it’s important to pay attention to troubling symptoms and bring them to a doctor’s attention.

Here are seven early warning signs to be attuned to, according to Michael Wert, MD, a pulmonary disease and critical care medicine doctor with the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.

• Shortness of Breath Shortness of breath is one of the main symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses. But it’s also a symptom of lung cancer. If you’re an active person who can no longer walk up a few flights of stairs without stopping to huff and puff, then this is an unusual and concerning symptom.
• Racing Heart “The younger people we end up diagnosing tend to have been active people,” says Dr. Wert. They’re the type to go on a five-mile run, and now they can feel their heart beating out of their chest as they walk to their car in the parking lot, he says. “Heart racing with minimal activity can be the first warning sign that something is going on.”
• Chronic Cough Catching a cold or the flu virus is common, especially in the winter. And coughs can linger for a longer time than you’d expect (on average for 18 days). A dry, persistent, nagging cough that’s been around for four to six weeks or longer, however, may be an indication that you need an X-ray to check on your lungs.
• Coughing Up Blood “This is never normal, and it requires an urgent evaluation,” says Wert. The causes can range from lung cancer to bronchitis or a viral or bacterial infection.
• Weight Loss, Fever, Night Sweats Weight loss without dieting, fevers not related to an illness, and profuse night sweats “are all symptoms that would prompt your doctor to evaluate you for a hidden cancer,” says Wert.

Without screening, it’s tough to catch lung cancer at an early stage. By the time most people experience symptoms concerning enough to warrant a call to their doctor, the cancer may be advanced.

You should visit your doctor if you fit the requirements for lung cancer screening or if you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, especially if you’re at high risk of lung cancer.

If you have any of these risk factors, it’s important to pay extra attention to any of the early symptoms of lung cancer and have a discussion with your doctor.

• Although smoking is the No. 1 risk factor of lung cancer, the number of never-smokers being diagnosed is increasing.
• Early symptoms of lung cancer include shortness of breath or a racing heart after minimal activity, a chronic cough or coughing up blood, and unintentional weight loss.
• Lung cancer symptoms can mimic those of other conditions or illnesses, such as the common cold, so it’s important to speak with your doctor if you have lingering symptoms, even if seemingly minor.