Lung cancer symptoms: What does a lung cancer cough sound like – key signs you should know

What does a lung cancer cough sound like?

Persistence and the presence of blood in the phlegm are the two key characteristics of a lung cancer cough, but does it sound different to cough caused by a mild virus or infection?

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation said: “People often expect a lung cancer cough to be quite a severe cough, but there isn’t any particular type of cough which is more linked to lung cancer.

“People can have very chesty coughs, or they can have very subtle tickly coughs, like a constant clearing of your throat.”

A cough caused by lung cancer can be very difficult to distinguish on sound alone, though you should listen out for shortness of breath, wheezing or a noticeable rattling noise if you are concerned.