- Sudden weight loss:
How many pounds have you lost without changing your diet or exercise? Like other types of cancer, lung cancer can cause sudden weight loss.
A sudden loss of appetite or excessive weight loss is a warning sign that something is wrong with your body. Your body works harder and burns more calories to fight cancer.
The medical term for this condition is cachexia, and in severe cases, body fat is used for energy, causing the body to become emaciated.
- Sputum blood:
People with lung cancer may cough up blood if the tumor has spread to the bronchi. Although the appearance of blood in sputum can occur for various reasons, no one should ignore it.
Coughing up blood is often accompanied by other symptoms such as fever and chest pain. If you have unexplained rust-colored sputum, see your doctor as soon as possible.
- Chest pain:
One of the most obvious symptoms of lung cancer is chronic chest pain that gets worse when you breathe or even laugh.
If the tumor has spread to other parts of the body, those parts may experience pain and discomfort. If this pain spreads to the shoulder or back, see a doctor.
- Bone pain:
If lung cancer has spread to other parts of your body, you may experience pain in your bones and joints.
Although back pain may seem unrelated to lung cancer, many oncologists consider it an early symptom.
- Neck and face swelling:
When lung cancer spreads, it compresses the superior vena cava, a large vessel that returns blood to the heart.
It makes the neck and face swollen. If you observe such swelling, do not delay to see a doctor.