Lung cancer is the type of cancer affecting the lungs. It is one of the leading cancer killers in both males and females in the United States. Compared to other types of cancer, the survival outlook for lung cancer is not very promising. The five-year survival rate is only 17.7%, which is lower than the rate of other common cancers, including colon, breast, and prostate. One of the main reasons why the survival rate is so low is that in most cases lung cancer is diagnosed too late.

Therefore, it is important to know the early symptoms of lung cancer and not to ignore them:

1. Coughing
Usually, a cough is associated with respiratory infections. However, a persistent cough that doesn’t go away might be a symptom of lung cancer. It doesn’t matter if your cough is dry or has a mucus, if it lasts for more than a few weeks, it is a reason to see a doctor.

2. Changes in breathing
If you are experiencing shortness of breath or get winded very easily, it might a sign of some changes occurring in the lungs, including lung cancer. Shortness of breath might occur due to the blockage of the airways by the tumor or building up the tumor fluids in the lungs.

3. Unexplained weight loss
If you notice that you’ve lost some weight without any diet or physical exercises, it is a warning sign. Cancer cells tend to suck the energy from the body, which leads to weight loss. Many patients with lung cancer also lose weight because of the hormonal changes, changes in metabolism, or loss of appetite.

4. Chronic fatigue
Feeling exhausted or tired might be caused by many different things. However, if you are experienced a dramatic reduction of energy and constant fatigue that doesn’t allow you to do regular daily tasks, then it’s an indicator that something serious is going on.

5. Recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis
Bronchitis is the inflammation of the main airways to the lungs called bronchi. In most cases, bronchitis is caused by respiratory infections and can be either acute or chronic. Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lungs that is usually caused by bronchitis. If pneumonia or bronchitis keeps occurring too often, it is a reason to talk to your health provider and to figure out what it is happening. In order to rule out lung cancer, some lab work imaging testing should be completed.

6. Chest pain
Experiencing chest pain in the lungs, especially when you’re taking a deep breath, laughing, coughing, or lifting something might be another symptom of lung cancer. If the pain becomes persistent, it might indicate that the tumor is growing and pressing against surrounding organs and tissues.

7. Back and shoulder pain
Feeling pain in the back or shoulder is also quite common among patients with lung cancer. This type of pain is usually caused by pressure from the lung tumor. Also, cancer cells might irritate nerve roots in the spine and shoulder. The pain might get worse during the night or with a deep breath.

Almost 40% of lung cancer cases are those that were diagnosed too late. In order to avoid this, it is highly recommended to see a doctor right after you’ve noticed any of the symptoms described above.