Lung Cancer Symptoms in Women and When to See a Doctor

Overall, symptoms of lung cancer don’t differ much based on type, but there may be occasional differences in when or how symptoms appear for the first time.

SCLC

NSCLC

• Adenocarcinoma
• Large-cell undifferentiated carcinoma
• Squamous cell lung cancer

“The symptoms of adenocarcinoma and other types of lung cancer often overlap,” says Velez. She says adenocarcinoma tends to start in the outer parts of the lung, which may delay the onset of tell-tale coughing symptoms. “So, women may present later with symptoms related to metastatic spread rather than primary lung symptoms like cough and shortness of breath.”

Large-cell undifferentiated carcinoma makes up about 10 to 15 percent of all NSCLC lung cancer cases. It can start in any part of the lung and spreads faster than other NSCLC subtypes. It is strongly associated with cigarette smoking.

Squamous cell lung cancer tends to start in the center of the lung, next to the main airways, and is also associated with smoking. It tends to be more common in males than females.