Symptoms of lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cancer and kills more people than any other malignancy. We describe the symptoms experienced in persons with lung cancer. Data on 100 consecutive patients were collected prospectively using a standard assessment tool. The median number of symptoms was nine. The most common and severe symptoms were pain (86), dyspnoea (70) and anorexia (68). There were no differences between males and females. Males aged 64 and under had higher incidences of easy fatigue, taste changes and sleep problems. Men over 64 had higher incidences of cough and >10% weight loss. Although there was a general increase in the number of symptoms as the performance status worsened, those with the poorest performance status reported the fewest symptoms. Since there is little effective treatment for most lung cancers, clinical management, research and resources should be directed by, and targeted to, palliative care.