What are the Symptoms of Lung Cancer in Women? London & Surrey
Lung cancer symptoms in women can include a persistent or changing cough, breathlessness, repeated chest infections, coughing up blood, chest or shoulder pain, unexplained weight loss and ongoing tiredness. The main warning signs are similar in women and men. Early lung cancer may cause no symptoms, and women who have never smoked can still develop it.
These symptoms often have other causes, but a change that persists or worsens needs assessment. See your GP if a cough lasts longer than three weeks. Seek help sooner for blood in your phlegm, worsening breathing or other concerning changes.
Which symptoms should women look out for?
The NHS warning signs of lung cancer include:
- A cough that does not settle, or an existing cough that changes or gets worse.
- Breathlessness that is new or makes usual activities harder.
- Chest infections that return or do not clear as expected.
- Blood in coughed-up phlegm, even a small amount.
- Persistent chest or shoulder discomfort.
- Weight loss without trying, reduced appetite or unexplained tiredness.
Less common signs include a persistently hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the face or neck, and finger clubbing, where the fingertips broaden and the nails become more curved.
You do not need to have several symptoms before asking for help. For example, becoming unusually breathless on your normal walk is a change worth discussing even if you have no cough.
Are lung cancer symptoms different in women?
There is no separate symptom checklist that reliably identifies lung cancer in women. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center explains that the common symptoms are broadly the same across genders. What someone notices also depends on where a tumour grows and which structures it affects.
Adenocarcinoma, a type of non-small cell lung cancer, is relatively more common in women. It often develops towards the outer parts of the lung. However, adenocarcinoma cannot be recognised from symptoms alone; scans and usually a tissue sample are needed to establish the diagnosis and type.
A younger age, regular exercise or never having smoked should not be used to dismiss an unexplained change. Equally, tiredness or breathlessness alone does not establish cancer. A clinician needs to consider other explanations and review symptoms that do not improve.
Some studies have reported higher lung cancer rates in women who have never smoked than in men who have never smoked, but findings vary between populations. The practical message is that persistent symptoms need assessment regardless of sex or smoking history.
What is a lung cancer cough like?
A lung cancer cough may be dry or bring up phlegm. It can be persistent, become more frequent, or feel different from a cough you have had for years. There is no particular cough sound that can reliably diagnose or rule out lung cancer.
When comparing a lung cancer cough with a cough from a cold, the useful questions concern its course and accompanying symptoms:
- How long has it lasted, and is it improving?
- Has an established cough changed?
- Is there blood, unexplained weight loss, breathlessness or pain?
- Has treatment helped, and did the symptoms return?
A cough after an infection can linger. Asthma, reflux and mucus draining from the nose can also cause ongoing coughing. Coughing at night does not distinguish cancer from these conditions. If your cough has lasted more than three weeks, arrange a GP appointment rather than judging it by its sound or waiting for blood to appear.
When should you seek medical help?
Arrange a GP appointment
Book an assessment for a persistent or changing cough, unexplained weight loss, ongoing breathlessness, or chest infections that repeatedly return. If symptoms worsen or fail to improve after treatment, contact the practice again and ask about the next step.
Get urgent advice for blood in your phlegm
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 if you cough up a few spots or streaks of blood. Infection and other conditions can cause this, but it needs checking.
Call 999 for emergency symptoms
Call 999 if you have severe difficulty breathing, are gasping or cannot get words out. Also seek emergency help if you cough up more than a few spots or streaks of blood, or cough up blood with breathing difficulty, a very fast heartbeat, or chest or upper back pain. Follow the NHS advice on coughing up blood. Do not drive yourself to A&E.
How are possible lung cancer symptoms investigated?
Your GP will ask when symptoms started, whether they are changing, and how they affect daily life. They may ask about smoking, previous illnesses, family history and exposure to substances such as asbestos. An examination and chest X-ray are common first steps; blood tests may help investigate symptoms such as fatigue or weight loss.
NICE guidance on suspected lung cancer recommends an urgent chest X-ray for people aged 40 or over with two or more unexplained symptoms from this list: cough, fatigue, breathlessness, chest pain, weight loss and appetite loss. For someone aged 40 or over who has ever smoked, one of these unexplained symptoms meets that recommendation.
NICE also recommends a suspected cancer referral for people aged 40 or over with unexplained coughing up blood, or for anyone whose chest X-ray suggests lung cancer. These criteria guide clinicians; they do not mean younger women or people with fewer symptoms should avoid seeking advice.
If further investigation is needed, a chest CT scan provides more detail. Depending on the findings, a specialist may arrange a bronchoscopy, which uses a thin camera to examine the airways, or another procedure to obtain a biopsy. Tests for lung cancer are selected for the individual; an urgent referral does not itself mean that cancer has been diagnosed.
A normal chest X-ray does not exclude every lung cancer. If symptoms persist despite a reassuring result, ask when you should be reviewed and whether further investigation is appropriate. A clear follow-up plan matters, especially when the original explanation no longer fits.
Can lung cancer cause back pain or symptoms elsewhere?
Lung cancer can cause chest, shoulder or back pain, although these symptoms have many other causes. A rare tumour at the top of the lung, called a Pancoast tumour, can cause shoulder pain extending down an arm.
If cancer spreads, symptoms depend on the area affected. They may include persistent bone pain, new headaches or neurological problems, or jaundice. Cancer Research UK explains the symptoms of metastatic lung cancer.
A painful cough or backache cannot tell you the stage of a cancer. Staging requires investigations. If you already have cancer, report new or worsening symptoms to your specialist team.
Private respiratory care · London & Surrey
Book an appointment
Dr John Chinegwundoh
Consultant Respiratory Physician
Arrange a private consultation at a location that works for you.
Book an appointmentOr call Dr John’s PA on 020 8949 9012
Frequently asked questions
What is usually the first sign of lung cancer in women?
There is no single first sign. Some women notice a persistent cough or reduced exercise tolerance; others have unexplained tiredness, weight loss or repeated infections. Some have no symptoms when cancer is found. A symptom checklist cannot reliably identify early-stage disease.
Can a woman who has never smoked get lung cancer?
Yes. Smoking is a major risk factor, but lung cancer also occurs in people who have never smoked. Second-hand smoke, radon, air pollution and asbestos can contribute to risk. Sometimes no single cause is identified. Genetic changes in lung cells can be involved, but these are not necessarily inherited. Persistent symptoms still need assessment.
Can you have lung cancer without a cough?
Yes. A cough is one possible symptom, not a requirement for diagnosis. Breathlessness, pain, weight loss or other changes may occur without coughing, and early disease may cause no noticeable symptoms.
Does a cough with weight loss mean cancer?
No, but unexplained weight loss alongside a persistent cough deserves prompt assessment. Tell your GP how much weight you have lost and over what period, including whether your appetite or eating habits have changed. Do not wait for a particular amount of weight loss before seeking advice.
Is coughing after eating a sign of lung cancer?
Coughing after meals is not specific to lung cancer. Reflux or a swallowing problem may be responsible. Contact your GP if it keeps happening, particularly if food feels stuck, you choke when eating or drinking, or you are losing weight. Severe choking requires emergency help.
Is a sore throat a symptom of lung cancer?
A sore throat alone commonly has another explanation, such as an infection or reflux. A hoarse voice that persists is different and should be checked, especially alongside a cough, swallowing difficulty or unexplained weight loss.
Should I wait for a lung cancer screening invitation?
No. NHS lung cancer screening aims to find disease in people at higher risk, often before symptoms develop. In England, the programme targets current or former smokers aged 55 to 74, with availability depending on the local rollout. If you have symptoms, contact your GP whether or not you qualify for screening.
Consultant Respiratory Physician practising in London and Surrey, and Senior Physician in Respiratory Medicine at Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust.
He graduated from Cambridge and completed his doctorate at Columbia University, New York. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and President of the Cambridge Medical Graduates’ Society.
MA MB BChir MD (Cantab) FRCP · GMC 4117379 · Book an appointment