What should you know about first symptoms of lung cancer?

People with lung cancer may notice a cough that persists or changes, breathlessness, chest discomfort, coughing blood, repeated chest infections, wheezing, tiredness, reduced appetite, or unexplained weight loss. A hoarse voice can also occur. These symptoms have many possible causes, and a symptom does not by itself establish lung cancer.

Some lung cancers cause few symptoms at first and are found during imaging for another reason. A clinician considers the pattern, duration, examination findings, smoking or exposure history, and other health conditions before choosing tests. Lung cancer can also spread beyond the chest, where symptoms depend on the affected area.

Arrange a medical appointment if a cough, voice change, breathlessness, chest discomfort, or recurrent infection persists or is worsening. The assessment may include an examination and chest imaging; further tests can clarify whether an abnormal area is cancer and identify its type.

Keep a brief record of when symptoms began, what makes them better or worse, and any medicines or exposures. Do not delay assessment because symptoms seem mild or intermittent.

Seek urgent medical help for coughing a substantial amount of blood, severe or rapidly worsening breathing difficulty, blue lips, new confusion, fainting, or sudden weakness. A new seizure or severe headache also needs urgent assessment, particularly in someone already being evaluated for cancer.

Which symptom needs investigation first? Which tests are appropriate for me? If imaging finds a suspicious area, would a biopsy or genomic tumour profiling help guide the diagnosis and treatment?