Symptoms and syndromes of Lung Cancer

Symptoms and syndromes
Some very noticeable symptoms of lung cancer, such as persistent cough, are directly associated with pulmonary (lung) function and are reasonably well nderstood.
Other symptoms are more obscure, involving organs outside the respiratory system. Still other symptoms involve metabolic systems that seem not to be related at all to lung cancer.
In the course of getting a diagnosis, you may hear reference to a particular syndrome. A syndrome is a collection of simultaneous symptoms with a common
cause, observed often enough in patients with a given disease to characterize that disease. The lists of symptoms in the sections that follow may seem complex or ominous. Symptoms and syndromes are listed here to indicate to you the range of things your doctors may look for, to help give some reason

behind a diagnostic test or exam that may seem odd on its face, and to give you an idea of the range of symptoms that lung cancers may cause. As you can see, symptoms vary tremendously. Discuss any symptoms with your doctor.

Pulmonary symptoms
The symptoms of lung cancer that are clearly and directly related to lung function are:
• Coughing, the most common symptom, experienced by 74 percent of patients
• Bloody sputum (phlegm; 57 percent)
• Shortness of breath (37 percent)
• Chest pain (25 percent)
• Hoarseness (18 percent)
• Paralysis of the diaphragm, either symptomless or perceived as shortness of breath
• Wheezing or vibrating breathing noises (stridor)
• Recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)