Early-stage lung cancer may not cause any noticeable symptoms. At a more advanced stage, lung cancer symptoms may include a persistent cough, chest pains, shortness of breath, blood in the sputum, recurrent chest infections and unexplained weight loss.
People who smoke, those who have been exposed to secondhand smoke or have a family history of lung cancer are at higher risk of developing lung cancer.
Lung cancer is usually diagnosed through imaging tests such as X-rays or CT scans, followed by a biopsy of an area of abnormal growth that is detected on the scans. The tissue samples extracted during the biopsy are sent to the laboratory to be examined to confirm the diagnosis of lung cancer.
