What should you know about lung cancer symptoms early?

A cough that does not settle, a change in a long-standing cough, breathlessness with usual activity, chest discomfort, coughing blood, repeated chest infections, unexplained tiredness, reduced appetite, or unplanned weight loss can occur. A persistent hoarse voice may also need assessment; see Hoarse Voice for symptom information. These signs have many possible causes, and a symptom alone cannot establish lung cancer. Some people have no symptoms at an early stage, so risk history and an examination help guide next steps.

Arrange a clinical review if a respiratory or general symptom is new, persistent, worsening, or keeps returning. Tell the clinician when it began, whether it affects sleep or activity, smoking or other inhaled exposure history, previous chest conditions, and any medicines. Assessment may include listening to the chest, reviewing health history, and deciding whether imaging or other tests are appropriate. If cancer is found, treatment planning can involve imaging, tissue testing, and sometimes genomic tumour profiling.

Seek urgent medical help for coughing more than a small amount of blood, severe or rapidly worsening breathlessness, blue or grey lips, new confusion, fainting, or severe chest pain. Do not wait for a routine appointment if breathing suddenly becomes difficult. New weakness, trouble speaking, a seizure, or a severe headache also needs urgent assessment because cancer can sometimes affect the brain or spinal cord.

Which symptom needs checking first? What tests could explain it? When should I expect results? If imaging shows a lung abnormality, would tissue testing or genomic tumour profiling help guide treatment?