Symptoms

Main symptoms of lung cancer

Common symptoms of lung cancer may include:

a cough that is not going away
shortness of breath
coughing up blood
chest or shoulder pain
often having chest infections, or having a chest infection that is not getting better
losing weight without trying
not feeling hungry (loss of appetite)
feeling tired all the time

Less common symptoms of lung cancer may include:

swelling of your face or neck
difficulty swallowing
a hoarse voice that does not go away
changes in the way your fingers look (clubbing) - your fingertips may look wider than usual or curve downwards.

You may not notice any symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer.

When and where to get medical help

If you have any symptoms of lung cancer, it's important to get checked.

See a GP if:

you've had a cough for longer than 3 weeks
you have any other symptoms of lung cancer

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

you've coughed up blood or noticed blood on a tissue you've coughed into

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

you're struggling to breathe - you are choking, gasping and unable to speak
you have pain in your chest or upper back

Find your nearest A&E

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

Important

Some of these symptoms are very common and can be caused by other conditions.

Having the symptoms does not definitely mean you have lung cancer, but it's important to get checked by a GP.

If your symptoms are caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it's easier to treat.

What happens at your GP appointment

The doctor will ask you more about your symptoms, general health, medical history, and if anyone in your family has had lung cancer.

They may ask to listen to your chest to check if your breathing sounds normal. You can ask for someone else to be in the room with you when this happens.

You may also be asked to have a blood test, or an X-ray of your chest.

Referral to a specialist

You may get an urgent referral for more tests or to see a specialist in hospital if the GP thinks you have symptoms that could be cancer. This does not definitely mean you have cancer.

Find out more

Seeing your GP when you have symptoms of lung cancer (Cancer Research UK)

Sexual Health Advice

Throughout this series we have help and advice on staying healthy, dealing with Sexually Transmitted Infections, the risks of each type of the most popular gay sex and what to do if the sex you have is not consentual. The topics covered in this series include:

	This item was in brought to you association with NHS website. Follow the links above for more information and don't forget to check out OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health which features items on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. This week our topic is: L - Lung Cancer.
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