The idea of cancer is a very scary one for most people and lung cancer is the number one killer out of all cancers of both men and women in the United States. Smoking is well-known as the number one cause for lung cancer, but someone certainly does not have to be a smoker to get it. Lung cancer is responsible for nearly 160,000 deaths per year in the U.S. Like most cancers, the key to increasing the odds for survival are early detection, which can be trickier with lung cancer compared to other types of cancer. The following are symptoms of lung cancer that should not be ignored.
1. Cough
One of the early signs of lung cancer is a persistent cough that may worsen with time. Sometimes the cough may interfere with sleep and may be similar to a cough that results from allergies or bronchitis. It is easy for some people to dismiss this type of cough thinking it will soon pass, but any cough that persists for more than a few weeks should be evaluated by a doctor.