Symptoms That Don't Seem Like Lung Cancer

Cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain are a few well-known symptoms of lung cancer. But sometimes the signs aren’t so obvious. They can be vague or easy to mistake for other health problems. Or they can affect areas of your body where the cancer has spread. It’s important to be aware of these less common lung cancer symptoms.

Millions of people have back pain. Most often, it’s caused by a strained muscle, bad posture, or arthritis. But sometimes, a backache can be a sign of lung cancer. About 1 in 4 people with lung cancer say they’ve had back pain. This type of pain usually shows up later in the disease, when the cancer has spread to your ribs or spine. It often feels like a deep, constant ache. Talk to your doctor if you have severe back pain that doesn’t go away.

When you think of lung cancer, a headache usually doesn’t come to mind. But it can be a symptom of advanced disease. Lung cancer that has spread to your brain can be a cause. Headaches may also happen if a tumor blocks a large vein. Or your cancer could release hormones into your bloodstream that trigger the ache. Tell your doctor if you have bad headaches that keep coming back.

Weak legs can happen as lung cancer gets worse. If the disease spreads to your brain or spine, you can develop certain conditions that cause weakness. For instance, cancer in the spine can affect the nerves that control your legs. Sometimes, tumors cause your immune system to mistakenly attack nerves, which can also lead to weak legs. Seek medical attention urgently if your leg weakness is new, unexplained, or has changed.

Snoring seems harmless, but it may be related to lung cancer in a roundabout way. Research has suggested there’s a link between sleep apnea (a condition that causes snoring) and lung cancer risk. One study found people with sleep apnea were about 30% more likely to develop lung cancer. While snoring isn’t typically a warning sign of lung cancer, it may be indirectly tied to the disease.

Night sweats could be a lesser-known symptom of lung cancer. They’re more likely to occur in advanced stages. As your body works to fight off cancer, changes in temperature regulation may cause sweating at night. You may also develop a fever along with the night sweats. Tell your doctor if you have night sweats, especially alongside other symptoms.

A poor appetite can be a symptom of early or late-stage lung cancer. You may not want to eat because your body releases substances that affect hunger hormones. Or the cancer itself affects your metabolism. If you can’t identify why you aren’t hungry, talk to your doctor.

Swelling in your legs or feet can be one of the first symptoms of lung cancer. Large tumors may press on blood vessels or the lymph system. This can slow normal fluid flow, which leads to swelling. You should let your doctor know as soon as you notice swelling, as it can also be a symptom of other serious conditions, like a blood clot.

It might sound unusual, but changes in your fingers, called finger clubbing, can be a sign of lung cancer. Finger clubbing happens when your fingertips become wider and rounder than normal. Experts believe cancer cells release certain chemicals that may cause these finger changes. About 80% of people with finger clubbing have lung cancer. This symptom is more common in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Being unusually thirsty could be a warning sign of lung cancer. As the disease progresses, lung tumors can cause the calcium level in your bloodstream to become higher than normal. When calcium builds up, you may feel very thirsty. You might also need to pee often. Talk to your doctor if you notice these symptoms.

Many people who have lung cancer have the sudden urge to quit smoking. One study found 48% of participants quit smoking on their own with little effort before they were diagnosed with lung cancer. Some experts believe that lung cancer tumors may produce a substance that blocks nicotine cravings.