Symptoms of lung cancer

The symptoms of lung cancer may include any of the following:

• a continuing cough, or change in a long-standing cough
• a chest infection that doesn't get better
• increasing breathlessness and wheezing
• coughing up blood-stained phlegm (sputum)
• a hoarse voice
• a dull ache, or a sharp pain, when you cough or take a deep breath
• loss of appetite and weight loss
• difficulty swallowing
• excessive tiredness (fatigue) and lethargy.

If you have any of the above symptoms, it's important to have them checked by your GP. All of these symptoms may also be caused by illnesses other than cancer.

Lung cancer is sometimes diagnosed in people who don’t have any symptoms, but who are having a chest x-ray or scan for another problem.