What are the symptoms of lung cancer compared to emphysema?

The dirty little: Secret of lung cancer is that it causes very few symptoms in the early stages. Copd, emphysema and chronic bronchitis, have cough, shortness of breath, worse with exercise and stair climbing, and can cause blue lips and finger nails, purse lip breathing. Lunf cancer can cause "clubbed finger nails" once underway, lung cancer can cause trouble everywhere.

Symptoms....: Symptoms of emphysema include shortness of breath, cough which can have production of bloody sputum whether or not lung cancer is present. Other symptoms include weight loss, decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping, etc. These symptoms can also be present with lung cancer. Lung cancer cannot be diagnosed by symptoms alone so see your doctor for evaluation to rule out lung cancer! and, quit smoking.

Cough: Emphysema typically causes breathlessness with exertion. Cancer is silent at first, but later can cause persistent cough or even coughing up blood. Chest pain that is persistent may occur. Emphysema generally doesn't cause much coughing, unlike chronic bronchitis which often occurs in combination (copd).