Rush Limbaugh cancer: What are the symptoms of lung cancer

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh announced to his listeners Monday that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer.

Limbaugh said the cancer was advanced and that at this time, he “had no symptoms.”

According to the National Cancer Society, “Most lung cancers do not cause any symptoms until they have spread, but some people with early lung cancer do have symptoms.

"Most of these symptoms (below) are more likely to be caused by something other than lung cancer. Still, if you have any of these problems, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.”

Here are the signs and symptoms of lung cancer from the National Cancer Society.

• A cough that does not go away or gets worse
• Coughing up blood or rust-colored sputum (spit or phlegm)
• Chest pain that is often worse with deep breathing, coughing or laughing
• Hoarseness
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling tired or weak
• Infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia that don’t go away or keep coming back
• New onset of wheezing
• If lung cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it may cause:
• Bone pain (such as pain in the back or hips)
• Nervous system changes (such as headache, weakness or numbness of an arm or leg, dizziness, balance problems, or seizures), from cancer spread to the brain
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), from cancer spread to the liver
• Swelling of lymph nodes (collection of immune system cells) such as those in the neck or above the collarbone

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