What’s the deadliest cancer for women? The answer may surprise you. In the U.S., more women die from lung cancer each year than from breast, ovarian and cervical cancer combined, making lung cancer the leading cause of cancer death among women. As with men, women with lung cancer are often diagnosed at an advanced stage. However, knowing the signs of lung cancer in women in its early stages—before cancer spreads to other parts of the body—can lead to earlier diagnosis and more treatment options. Plus, early diagnosis often leads to better long-term outcomes.
Learn more about common lung cancer symptoms and when it’s time to see your doctor.
7 Signs of Lung Cancer in Women
Lung cancer has many symptoms, and those symptoms vary based on the type of lung cancer a person has and where the cancer begins. Still, many people diagnosed with lung cancer experience at least one of the following symptoms at some point in their disease.
1. A Persistent Cough—or a Cough That Gets Worse
It’s normal to cough occasionally. It’s your body’s way of clearing dust, mucus and germs from your airways. And coughing for a few weeks is expected if you’ve had a cold or recent infection.
But see your doctor if your cough:
- Lasts longer than two months and does not improve: A cough lasting eight weeks or longer is defined as a chronic cough. With lung cancer, the cough may get worse over time.
- Brings up blood or rust-colored phlegm: A chronic cough and coughing up blood are among the most common early symptoms in people with lung cancer.
- Produces yellow-green phlegm: Phlegm can also be clear, or you might notice more phlegm than usual.
2. Shortness of Breath
Over half of people with lung cancer feel short of breath. This may feel like:
- You’re running out of air.
- You can’t take a full breath.
- Your chest is “tight.”
You shouldn’t feel short of breath while talking, eating, sitting or doing daily tasks. If you do, see your doctor.
3. Chest Pain
With lung cancer, as with many other types of cancer, cancer cells can clump together to form tumors. If a lung tumor grows or spreads to nearby structures, like the chest wall or lymph nodes, it can press into nerves, ribs and surrounding tissues, causing chest pain.
This pain can get worse when you laugh, take deep breaths or cough.
Roughly 20% to 40% of people with lung cancer experience chest pain.
4. Hoarseness
Hoarseness is when your voice becomes raspy, feels weak or is hard to use for more than a few weeks. It does not always mean you have lung cancer. Other common causes include laryngitis, overuse of your voice, heartburn, noncancerous polyps on the vocal cords and other conditions.
Hoarseness should prompt a visit to your provider if you develop it and have other lung cancer risk factors, like if you’re a past or current smoker or live with someone who smokes, or if you have other lung cancer symptoms.
5. Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss
Various cancers can cause people to lose their appetite and experience unexplained weight loss, and according to the American Cancer Society, many people with cancer experience these symptoms.
You may feel like:
- Eating is a chore.
- Even your favorite foods don’t appeal to you
- It’s tough to eat normal portion sizes.
- You’re losing weight without trying.
Because many women try to lose weight, weight loss may not seem like a problem. But if you’re losing weight and have not changed your diet or activity level, see your doctor.
6. Fatigue
Fatigue, or feeling extremely tired, is another symptom that occurs with many types of cancer. In lung cancer, shortness of breath can amplify the feeling of fatigue.
Because life is so busy and stressful, especially for women who care for their families, manage full-time jobs or have other responsibilities, cancer-related fatigue can be hard to distinguish from the burdens of daily life.
Although everyone is different, you should see a doctor about fatigue if you notice:
- Fatigue that makes it difficult or impossible to accomplish daily tasks or responsibilities
- Fatigue that occurs along with other symptoms, like weight loss
- Feeling unusually tired for more than two weeks
- Not having more energy, even after you feel like you’ve had plenty of rest
7. Bone Pain
Bone pain usually develops as lung cancer progresses and reaches more advanced stages. It can spread to the bone and cause lower back pain, hip pain or shoulder pain, and the pain may feel worse at night.
Take Signs of Lung Cancer Seriously
Early signs of lung cancer can feel very vague: fatigue, coughing and losing your appetite. That’s why understanding your risk is so crucial to your long-term health. Smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer, and if you have a smoking history, talk with your doctor about whether you qualify for an annual low-dose CT lung cancer screening. These lifesaving scans can detect lung cancer before you have symptoms—when lung cancer is easier to treat.
Still, lung cancer is increasingly affecting women who have never smoked. One possible cause is radon, a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that exists naturally in soil. It can enter homes through cracks in the foundation. Researchers also suspect that hormones may affect risk.
Regular visits with a primary care provider help you stay on top of screenings, understand your risk and give you an opportunity to discuss symptoms—even seemingly minor ones—that could be early warning signs your lungs are at risk.
The Bottom Line
All women, not just women who smoke, are at risk of developing lung cancer. Common symptoms of lung cancer include a persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, hoarseness, loss of appetite and weight loss, fatigue, and bone pain.
Having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have lung cancer. But if you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor. Ask if you qualify for lung cancer screenings or whether you need other tests to find your symptoms’ underlying cause.
Lung cancer does not have to be fatal. If lung cancer is found early—before it spreads—you have a better outlook and more options for care.
Concerned about your lung cancer risk? Schedule an appointment with a Capital Health primary care provider to see if you qualify for screening.