Lung Cancer
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Lung Cancer
What are the symptoms?
The main symptoms of lung cancer are:
- a persistent new cough (lasting more than three weeks) or a change in a cough you’ve had for a long time
- breathlessness
- pain in the chest or shoulder
- chest infection that lasts more than three weeks or that keeps coming back
- coughing or spitting up blood.
A person diagnosed with lung cancer may also have symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, hoarse voice, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, abdominal or joint pain, and enlarged fingertips (finger clubbing).
Having any one of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have lung cancer. Some of these symptoms may be caused by other conditions or from the side effects of smoking. However, if you have symptoms, see your doctor without delay.
Sometimes, there are no symptoms and the cancer is found during routine tests (e.g. x-ray, CT scan) for other conditions.
Which health professionals will I see?
Your general practitioner (GP) will arrange the first tests to assess your symptoms. If these tests do not rule out cancer, you will usually be referred to a specialist called a respiratory physician, who will arrange further tests. If lung cancer is diagnosed, the specialist will consider treatment options. Often these will be discussed with other health professionals at what is known as a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting.
| GP | assists you with treatment decisions and works in partnership with your specialists in providing ongoing care |
|---|---|
| respiratory (thoracic) physician | diagnoses diseases of the lungs, including cancer, and recommends initial treatment options |
| thoracic (chest) surgeon | diagnoses and performs surgery for cancer and other diseases of the lungs and chest (thorax) |
| radiation oncologist | treats cancer by prescribing and overseeing a course of radiation therapy |
| radiation therapist | plans and delivers radiation therapy |
| radiologist | analyses x-rays and scans; an interventional radiologist may also perform a biopsy under ultrasound or CT, and deliver some treatments |
| medical oncologist | treats cancer with drug therapies such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy (systemic treatments) |
| cancer care coordinator or lung cancer nurse coordinator | coordinates your care, liaises with other members of the MDT and supports you and your family throughout treatment; care may also be coordinated by a clinical nurse consultant (CNC) or clinical nurse specialist (CNS) |
| nurse | administers drugs and provides care, information and support throughout treatment |
| counsellor, psychologist | help you manage your emotional response to diagnosis and treatment |
| dietitian | recommends an eating plan to follow while you are in treatment and recovery |
| speech pathologist | helps with communication and swallowing after treatment |
| social worker | links you to support services and helps with emotional, practical and financial problems |
| physiotherapist, occupational therapist | assist with physical and practical issues, including restoring movement and mobility after treatment, and recommending aids and equipment |
| exercise physiologist | prescribes exercise to help people with medical conditions improve their overall health, fitness, strength and energy levels |
| palliative care specialist and nurses | work closely with the GP and cancer team to help control symptoms and maintain your quality of life |
This information is reviewed by
This information was last reviewed in October 2020 by the following expert content reviewers: A/Prof Nick Pavlakis, President, Australasian Lung Cancer Trials Group, President, Clinical Oncology Society of Australia, and Senior Staff Specialist, Department of Medical Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Dr Naveed Alam, Thoracic Surgeon, St Vincent’s Private Hospital Melbourne, VIC; Prof Kwun Fong, Thoracic and Sleep Physician and Director, UQ Thoracic Research Centre, The Prince Charles Hospital, and Professor of Medicine, The University of Queensland, QLD; Renae Grundy, Clinical Nurse Consultant – Lung, Royal Hobart Hospital, TAS; A/Prof Brian Le, Director, Palliative Care, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre – Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, and The University Of Melbourne, VIC; A/Prof Margot Lehman, Senior Radiation Oncologist and Director, Radiation Oncology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, QLD; Susana Lloyd, Consumer; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Nicole Parkinson, Lung Cancer Support Nurse, Lung Foundation Australia.