Thoracic Symptoms

Symptoms associated with lung cancer are:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Sputum streaked with blood
• Weight loss
• Recurrent bouts of bronchitis or pneumonia

Since symptoms often are not observed until the disease is in its advanced stages, early detection is difficult. Chest x-ray, sputum cytology (analysis of sputum), bronchoscopy (fiber optic examination of the bronchial passages), and computerized tomography scan (CT scan) are tests that aid in diagnosis.