Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsInfectious CausesAllergiesLung ConditionsLymphomaHeart IssuesAcid RefluxDiagnosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Infectious Causes
Allergies
Lung Conditions
Lymphoma
Heart Issues
Acid Reflux
Diagnosis
Symptoms of some of the diseases that mimic lung cancer, such as asthma or acid reflux, are common with many conditions. They can include persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss, hoarseness, and frequent lung infections likebronchitis.
People who do experienceearly lung cancersymptoms may mistake them for an infection. Or, the respiratory infection may spark needless concerns about cancer. It’s important to see a healthcare provider for persistent and unusual symptoms, such as shortness of breath or a nagging cough.
Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Symptoms of lung cancer can be similar to symptoms of other, less serious conditions. Common symptoms of lung cancer include:
It’s important to be aware of symptoms, especially if you are at high risk of developing lung cancer due to smoking, secondhand smoke, exposure to pollution or cancer-causing toxins (asbestos, radon), and a personal orfamily historyof lung cancer.
However, cough and difficulty breathing are common with other diseases, including the following conditions with overlapping symptoms that mimic lung cancer.
Acute Bronchitis
Bronchitisis inflammation of the bronchial tubes—the main air passages to the lungs. Symptoms include coughing (often with mucus), chest pain, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
There are two types of bronchitis: acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis often occurs after a viral respiratory infection and typically clears up on its own within a few days or weeks. Chronic bronchitis can last for several months or years.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia can affect one or both lungs and range from mild to severe. Symptoms include chest pain when breathing or coughing, chills, cough, fever, and shortness of breath.
Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis symptoms include a cough (with or without mucus), mild fever, rapid breathing, fatigue, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosisis a bacterial infection that begins in the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body. It can be treated with antibiotics, but it’s a serious illness that can lead to death.
Symptoms of tuberculosis include a cough with blood-tinged sputum, as well as chest pain and shortness of breath. Fatigue is common.
Certain groups, including people diagnosed withhuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV), need to be aware of their higher risk for tuberculosis.
COVID-19
Common symptoms of COVID-19 include congestion, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing.
Allergiesoccur when you’ve been exposed to an allergen (e.g., pollen, pet dander, mold) and your immune system perceives this substance as a threat. In response, the body releases chemicals called histamines that can affect the respiratory system.Common allergy symptoms include congestion, sneezing, swelling, rash, and asthma.
Depending on the severity of allergies, symptoms may also include chest tightness, cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
Asthma
Asthmais a chronic disease that affects the airways of the lungs. With asthma, certain triggers such as pollen, infection, or smoke can cause the airways to become inflamed and narrowed.
The constricted airways can make it difficult to breathe. Common asthma symptoms include cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD) includes two common conditions: chronic bronchitis andemphysema, with one or both affecting people diagnosed with COPD.Bronchiectasis, a permanent widening of the airways, is also associated with COPD.
Cigarette smoking or secondhand smoke exposure is the leading cause of COPD, but about 25% of cases occur in people who have never smoked. Air pollution, occupational exposure, or a genetic Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AATD) deficiency also are causes.
Cystic Lung Diseases
Common symptoms include difficulty breathing, chest pain, and cough (with or without blood).
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, considered a blood cancer. BothHodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomacan affect the lungs, although primary pulmonary lymphoma is quite rare.Typically, the lungs are affected because lymphoma has affected other areas in the chest.
Symptoms of cough and trouble breathing are similar to other respiratory conditions, but people with lymphoma also may experience night sweats, bone pain, abdominal pain, and other symptoms.
While lymphoma is a type of cancer, it is not lung cancer even though there can be lung nodules and ground-glass appearance on imaging studies that are similar to some lung cancers.
When Cancer SpreadsKeep in mind that primary cancers elsewhere in the body can spread to the lungs, most often including breast cancer and colon cancer.When these cancers metastasize (spread) to the lungs, they are identified at the site of origin and not consideredprimary lung cancer.
When Cancer Spreads
Keep in mind that primary cancers elsewhere in the body can spread to the lungs, most often including breast cancer and colon cancer.When these cancers metastasize (spread) to the lungs, they are identified at the site of origin and not consideredprimary lung cancer.
Certain heart problems—such as coronary artery disease, heart attack, andvalve disorders—can lead to heart failure.Heart failure develops when the heart is weakened and has difficulty pumping blood efficiently throughout the body.
This can causepulmonary edema—an excess build-up of fluid in the lungs that reduces oxygen flow, making it harder to breathe.Pulmonary edema causes symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough (with or without blood). Clots that affect the lungs, calledpulmonary emboli, also can occur.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid washes back into the esophagus (the tube connecting the mouth and stomach) and upper airway. This happens because the lower esophageal sphincter, where the tube meets the stomach, no longer functions properly.
Wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath can occur when GERD affects the airways and acids enter the trachea and lungs.Your voice can become hoarse, a symptom that also occurs with lung cancer.
If you are experiencing lung cancer symptoms, your healthcare provider will want to review your health and family history and perform a physical exam to determine the cause.
In order to provide an accurate diagnosis, your healthcare provider may order diagnostic tests, including:
See your healthcare provider if you experience any symptoms of lung cancer, such as a persistent cough, coughing up blood, hoarseness, frequent lung infections and/or wheezing.
Lung cancer misdiagnosis is relatively common, particularly in the earlier stages of the disease when it is harder to detect. Some 90% of all missed lung cancer cases occur onchest X-rays.
Summary
Chest pain, coughing, fatigue, and shortness of breath are symptoms associated with a number of diseases. These common symptoms may cause certain diseases—such as asthma, allergies, pneumonia, COVID-19, heart disease, bronchitis, and bronchiolitis—to be mistaken for lung cancer.
Due to the overlap of symptoms, misdiagnosis is a concern. It’s important to see a healthcare provider promptly for any persistent and unusual symptoms in order to seek an accurate diagnosis. Getting an early diagnosis can ensure you get the most effective treatment.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Lung Association.Lung cancer symptoms.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of lung cancer.American Cancer Society.Lung cancer risk factors.Moffitt Cancer Center.Lung Cancer Diagnosis.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Bronchitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumonia.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Pneumonia.MedlinePlus.Bronchiolitis.Coussens AK, Zaidi SMA, Allwood BW, Dewan PK, Gray G, Kohli M,et al.Classification of early tuberculosis states to guide research for improved care and prevention: an international Delphi consensus exercise.Lancet Respir Med. 2024 Jun;12(6):484-498. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(24)00028-6World Health Organization.Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Q&A.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Allergens and pollen.MedlinePlus.Allergy.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Asthma.American Lung Association.COPD Causes and Risk Factors.Sandelin M, Mindus S, Thuresson M, et al.Factors associated with lung cancer in COPD patients.Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018;13:1833–1839. doi:10.2147/COPD.S162484Park S, Lee EJ.Diagnosis and treatment of cystic lung disease.Korean J Intern Med. 2017;32(2):229-238. doi:10.3904/kjim.2016.242UpToDate.Diagnostic approach to the adult with cystic lung disease..Angirish B, Sanghavi P, Jankharia B.Pulmonary manifestations of lymphoma: A pictorial essay.Lung India. 2020 May-Jun;37(3):263-267. doi:10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_200_19Blood Cancer UK.Lymphoma symptoms and signs.American Cancer Society.Lung Metastases.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Heart failure.MedlinePlus.Pulmonary edema.Clarrett DM, Hachem C.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (Gerd).Mo Med. 2018;115(3):214-218.American Cancer Society.Tests for lung cancer.Del Ciello A, Franchi P, Contegiacomo A, Cicchetti G, Bonomo L, Larici AR.Missed lung cancer: when, where, and why?Diagn Interv Radiol. 2017 Mar-Apr;23(2):118-126. doi:10.5152/dir.2016.16187
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Lung Association.Lung cancer symptoms.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of lung cancer.American Cancer Society.Lung cancer risk factors.Moffitt Cancer Center.Lung Cancer Diagnosis.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Bronchitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumonia.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Pneumonia.MedlinePlus.Bronchiolitis.Coussens AK, Zaidi SMA, Allwood BW, Dewan PK, Gray G, Kohli M,et al.Classification of early tuberculosis states to guide research for improved care and prevention: an international Delphi consensus exercise.Lancet Respir Med. 2024 Jun;12(6):484-498. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(24)00028-6World Health Organization.Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Q&A.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Allergens and pollen.MedlinePlus.Allergy.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Asthma.American Lung Association.COPD Causes and Risk Factors.Sandelin M, Mindus S, Thuresson M, et al.Factors associated with lung cancer in COPD patients.Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018;13:1833–1839. doi:10.2147/COPD.S162484Park S, Lee EJ.Diagnosis and treatment of cystic lung disease.Korean J Intern Med. 2017;32(2):229-238. doi:10.3904/kjim.2016.242UpToDate.Diagnostic approach to the adult with cystic lung disease..Angirish B, Sanghavi P, Jankharia B.Pulmonary manifestations of lymphoma: A pictorial essay.Lung India. 2020 May-Jun;37(3):263-267. doi:10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_200_19Blood Cancer UK.Lymphoma symptoms and signs.American Cancer Society.Lung Metastases.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Heart failure.MedlinePlus.Pulmonary edema.Clarrett DM, Hachem C.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (Gerd).Mo Med. 2018;115(3):214-218.American Cancer Society.Tests for lung cancer.Del Ciello A, Franchi P, Contegiacomo A, Cicchetti G, Bonomo L, Larici AR.Missed lung cancer: when, where, and why?Diagn Interv Radiol. 2017 Mar-Apr;23(2):118-126. doi:10.5152/dir.2016.16187
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Angirish B, Sanghavi P, Jankharia B.Pulmonary manifestations of lymphoma: A pictorial essay.Lung India. 2020 May-Jun;37(3):263-267. doi:10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_200_19
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