Overview: Knowing the signs can help catch lung cancer at an early stage, when treatment is most successful. Look for a persistent cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness or frequent lung infections.
Early lung cancer often has no warning signs, and symptoms may not appear until the disease has advanced. And when they do appear, they can be confused for another health problem that’s less serious.
Why should I care about lung cancer?
Lung cancer is by far the No. 1 cancer killer of men and women, causing more deaths than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined.
Unfortunately, Iowa is missing the mark when it comes to lung cancer rates and risk factors, ranking “below average” nationally in new cases, survival and adult smoking and at the “bottom” for incidence of radon, according to the American Lung Association’s 2025 lung cancer report on Iowa.
- Men: The chance a man will develop lung cancer in his lifetime is about 1 in 17.
- Women: The risk for a woman in her lifetime is 1 in 18.
Do only smokers get lung cancer?
A popular misconception is that only smokers get lung cancer. You may be surprised to know 5-10% of people who’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer are non-smokers. Exposure to radon, second-hand smoke, occupational hazards and genetic factors also can cause lung cancer. Since non-smokers often assume they’re not at risk for lung cancer, they may overlook symptoms of lung cancer.
Another important thing to know: Lung cancer in the U.S. mainly occurs in adults older than age 65. Symptoms may be confused with their other health conditions.
Whatever your age or whether you’re a smoker or have never smoked a day in your life, you need to be aware of these symptoms.
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What are early signs of lung cancer?
- A new cough that doesn't go away or gets worse
- Chest pain, especially when breathing deeply, coughing or laughing
- Coughing up blood, even a small amount, or rust-colored phlegm
- Hoarseness
- Shortness of breath
- New onset wheezing
- Frequent lung Infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia
What are symptoms when lung cancer spreads?
- Bones pain
- Headache
- Losing weight without trying
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling tired or weak all the time
- Clubbing, or widening of the fingertips and nailbeds
- Swelling of lymph nodes, in the neck or above the collarbone
Most of these symptoms are often caused by something other than lung cancer. Still, if you have any of these problems, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated.
Early detection of lung cancer significantly improves a person’s chance of surviving lung cancer. Chest X-rays are often the first step for diagnosis, but your doctor may order a CT scan, which is best for diagnosing lesions (abnormal tissue) in the chest.
If you have a smoking history, ask your doctor if you qualify for a lung cancer screening test.
Learn more about cancer care at MercyOne.
This blog was medically reviewed by a MercyOne provider.
