The Mirror: Cough lasting 3 weeks may indicate lung cancer

A cough that lasts for three weeks or longer may be a symptom of lung cancer. This warning was issued by experts from the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), reports The Mirror.

In most cases, a cough is associated with more common causes such as a cold, flu, or COVID-19; but sometimes it can signal the development of an oncological process.

According to NHS data, one should be alert to a cough that does not go away or gets worse, recurrent respiratory infections, coughing up blood, pain when breathing or coughing, persistent shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of appetite, and unexplained weight loss.

The NHS website notes that rarer signs of lung cancer include changes in the shape of the fingers, difficulty or pain when swallowing, wheezing, hoarseness, and swelling of the face or neck.

“Smoking cigarettes is the single biggest risk factor for lung cancer. It's responsible for more than seven out of 10 cases. Other causes of lung cancer include exposure to radon, asbestos, and coal and coke fumes among other substances,” the doctors concluded.