Although some types of lung cancer are more common in men, the early symptoms of the disease tend to be similar for both sexes.
Symptoms of non-small cell lung cancer
The most common type of lung cancer in the United States is called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Its symptoms are virtually the same for men and women and include:
- coughing up blood
- wheezing
- chest pain
- a cough that lasts longer than a few weeks
- pain when breathing or coughing
- hoarseness
- shortness of breath
- frequent lunch infections
- atelectasis (lung collapse)
Symptoms of small-cell lung cancer
Referred to as “SCLC” for short, small-cell lung cancer usually starts near the central airways in the lungs and often spreads to the brain. Symptoms typically include:
- weakness on one side of the body
- vision changes
- headaches
- behavior changes
Symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma
Another type of cancer that can develop in the lungs is squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. It can cause paraneoplastic syndrome, which includes the following symptoms:
- slurred speech
- difficulty walking or keeping your balance
- trouble swallowing
- muscle weakness or cramps
- loss of muscle coordination
- involuntary movements
Paraneoplastic syndrome is caused by either cancerous cells or immune system cells producing hormones (or other substances) that transform the surrounding tissue.
When to make an appointment with your doctor
Obviously, just experiencing one or two of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have lung cancer. But as with any disease, the
