According to the National Cancer Institute, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women, occurring mostly between the ages of 55 and 65. The two major types of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, smoking is the leading risk factor for this type of cancer, with the risk increasing with the number of cigarettes smoked daily and the number of years an individual has been smoking. Clinical effects of lung cancer may include coughing, respiratory difficulties and recurrence of lung diseases.
Coughing
According to Merck, a persistent cough that appears to be worsening can be an effect of lung cancer in some patients, especially when the person is a smoker. When an individual has a chronic cough, a change may be seen in the character of the cough; it may be accompanied with sputum mixed with blood, also known as hemoptysis. Merck states that coughing up blood can be a complication of lung cancer, and that in some rare cases, lung cancer can grow into a blood vessel and cause severe bleeding.
Respiratory Difficulties
According to the National Cancer Institute, an individual with lung cancer may experience respiratory difficulties. People with lung cancer experience shortness of breath. They are unable to get enough air and may feel tightness in the chest. Dysphagia, or difficulty or pain while swallowing, may also occur. According to Merck, wheezing can appear as a complication of lung cancer, in which a whistling sound is heard when the individual is breathing. This happens when the cancer tumor causes narrowing of the airway. Hoarseness is another complication of lung cancer. Merck states that this can occur when the tumor grows into the nerves at the center of the chest, causing damage to the voice box.
Lung Infections
According to the National Cancer Institute, an unusual recurrence of lung infections can be an acute effect of lung cancer. Individuals with lung cancer may have repeated problems with pneumonia. This is a condition in which the lungs become inflamed due to infection. The infection can be viral, bacterial or due to fungi, and causes an individual to develop cough and fever. Individuals with lung cancer may also have recurrent bronchitis. In this condition, the bronchi, or the main air passages to the lungs, become inflamed and the individual experiences coughing, shortness of breath and chest tightness.
