Lung cancer and smoking often, but not always, go hand in hand. As lung cancer stages advance, lung cancer symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and bloody mucus. Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation.

One fourth of all people with lung cancer have no symptoms when the cancer is diagnosed. These cancers are usually identified incidentally when a chest X-ray is performed for another reason. The other three-fourths of people develop some symptoms. The symptoms are due to direct effects of the primary tumor; to effects of cancer spread to other parts of the body (metastases); or to disturbances of hormones, blood, or other systems.

Symptoms of lung cancer include cough, coughing up blood or rusty-colored phlegm, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, recurrent respiratory infections, hoarseness, new wheezing, and shortness of breath.

• A new cough in a smoker or a former smoker should raise concern for lung cancer.
• A cough that does not go away or gets worse over time should be evaluated by a health care provider.
• Coughing up blood (hemoptysis) occurs in a significant number of people who have lung cancer. Any amount of coughed-up blood should be evaluated by a health care provider.
• Pain in the chest area is a symptom in about one fourth of people with lung cancer. The pain is dull, aching, and persistent.
• Shortness of breath usually results from a blockage in part of the lung, collection of fluid around the lung (pleural effusion), or the spread of tumor through the lungs.
• Wheezing or hoarseness may signal blockage or inflammation in the lungs that may go along with cancer.
• Repeated respiratory infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, can be a sign of lung cancer.

Treatment

1) Lung Cancer Surgery: Surgery is the preferred treatment for many people with lung cancer. Learn about the different types of surgery.

2) Lung Cancer Chemotherapy: A variety of chemotherapy medications are used to treat lung cancer. Learn about them here.

3) Lung Cancer Radiation: Radiation therapy is commonly used to treat lung cancer. Learn when it’s used and what the side effects are.

4) Cancer Pain Medication: Several different types of medications are used to treat cancer pain. See which medication might be right for your pain.

5) Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treatment Overview: Learn all about treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer -- from surgery and chemotherapy to photodynamic therapy.

6) Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Treatment by Stage: Treatment varies for the different stages of non-small-cell lung cancer. Learn more here.

7) Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treatment Overview: Learn all about treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

8) Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Treatment by Stage: Limited and extensive stages of small-cell lung cancer are treated differently. Learn what to expect.