Does Lung Cancer Hurt?

Yes, lung cancer does hurt, but it doesn’t always cause pain immediately. Patients may experience discomfort in their chest, back, shoulders, or other areas depending on where the tumor is located and whether the cancer has spread. Learn more about where lung cancer pain occurs and how you can get support.

Why Is Lung Cancer Painful?

Lung cancer can hurt because a tumor may press on or spread into nearby tissues, nerves, bones, or the lining around the lungs.

The lungs themselves have few pain-sensing nerves, so tumors confined to lung tissue may not cause pain. Pain is more likely when cancer affects structures around the lungs or spreads elsewhere in the body.

Common reasons lung cancer may cause pain include:

• Bone metastases: When lung cancer spreads to bones in the back, ribs, or hips, it can cause persistent pain.
• Chest wall involvement: A tumor that grows into the chest wall can create localized chest pain.
• Inflammation or related complications: Conditions associated with lung cancer, such as inflammation around the lungs or a buildup of fluid, can cause chest discomfort.
• Nerve involvement: Pressure on nearby nerves can create sharp, burning, tingling, or shooting pain.
• Pleural involvement: Cancer can affect the pleura, the thin tissue surrounding the lungs, causing sharp or painful breathing.

In one study of more than 6,300 people with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 17.9% reported chest pain as an initial symptom, while 5.9% had pain related to metastases.

The location, type, and severity of pain can provide clues about what is causing it. However, pain alone cannot determine whether someone has lung cancer or how advanced it is.

Persistent or unexplained chest, back, or bone pain deserves medical evaluation, particularly when it occurs alongside other lung cancer symptoms like a persistent cough, shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss, or coughing up blood.

If you have questions about ongoing discomfort and want to learn more about support options, download our Free Lung Cancer Guide now.

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Common Places Where Lung Cancer Causes Pain

Pain can occur in different parts of the body depending on where a lung cancer tumor develops and if it grows into other structures.

Lung cancer pain areas may include:

• Bones: Lung cancer that spreads to the bones may cause pain in the pelvis, spine, legs, or other affected areas.
• Back: Tumors affecting the chest wall, spine, or nerves can cause back pain.
• Chest: Pain may occur when a tumor forms in the chest wall, pleura, ribs, or nearby nerves.
• Head: Cancer that spreads to the brain can cause headaches, although headaches have many possible causes.
• Hip: Lung cancer that spreads to the pelvic or hip bones can create discomfort in the hip or surrounding area.
• Neck: Tumors in the upper lung can affect nearby nerves and cause pain that extends into the neck.
• Ribs: Tumors that involve the ribs or spread to nearby bones may cause localized rib pain.
• Shoulder: A tumor near the top of the lung can radiate discomfort into the shoulder or arm.
• Stomach or abdomen: Pain may occur if lung cancer spreads to abdominal organs, such as the liver, or causes other complications.

The location of lung cancer pain can sometimes offer clues about which tissues are affected, but pain does not always occur near the original tumor. Cancer can irritate nearby nerves or spread to distant parts of the body, creating pain in an area that may seem unrelated to the lungs.

Doctors consider the overall pattern of symptoms, imaging results, and other findings rather than relying on just the location of the pain.

Does Lung Cancer Cause Back Pain?

Yes, lung cancer can cause back pain, particularly when a tumor affects nearby nerves, the chest wall, or the spine. Discomfort may also happen if the cancer spreads to nearby bones.

However, back pain is common and usually has causes unrelated to cancer. If a patient has persistent pain that’s not getting better and is at risk for lung cancer, more evaluation may be needed.

What Does Back Pain from Lung Cancer Feel Like?

If you have lung cancer and back pain, you may feel a dull, aching, sharp, burning, or pressure-like discomfort. The pain may be felt in the upper or middle back, chest, shoulders, or along the ribs, depending on where a tumor is located and which nerves or tissues it affects.

If lung cancer spreads to the spine or other bones, the pain may be persistent and gradually worsen. It’s also concerning if this kind of pain occurs without an obvious injury or is accompanied by other aches.

Lung Cancer Back Pain Locations

Exactly where lung cancer patients may experience back pain depends on where their tumor develops or whether their cancer has spread.

Common lung cancer back pain locations include:

• Along the spine: Cancer that spreads to the spine can cause pain centered over different sections of the vertebrae.
• Between the shoulder blades: Pain in this area may result from irritation of nerves or tissues near the upper lungs and chest.
• Lower back: Pain in the lower back may occur when lung cancer spreads to the lower spine, pelvis, or other bones.
• Middle back: Tumors toward the back of the lungs can cause aching between the shoulder blades or along the ribs.
• One-sided back: A tumor affecting one side of the chest can produce discomfort on that side.
• Upper back: A tumor in the upper lung may affect nearby nerves or the chest wall, causing pain near the upper spine.

Back pain can also occur if lung cancer tumors spread. For example, lung cancer that reaches the spine or shoulder bones may cause discomfort in those areas.

Shoulder Pain and Lung Cancer

Lung cancer can cause shoulder blade pain when a tumor grows at the top of the lung and affects nearby nerves, ribs, pleura, or other structures. This is particularly associated with Pancoast tumors, a rare type of lung cancer that develops in the uppermost part of the lung.

Pancoast tumors account for about 3% to 5% of lung cancers and can invade the brachial plexus, a network of nerves connecting the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. 96% of people with Pancoast tumors experience shoulder pain, making it their most common initial symptom.

What Does Shoulder Pain from Lung Cancer Feel Like?

Shoulder pain from lung cancer can feel like a persistent ache radiating from the shoulder into the arm, neck, or chest. Even a relatively small tumor can cause shoulder pain.

A tumor near the top of the lung can also put pressure on nearby nerves, causing numbness, weakness, or tingling in the arm or hand. Nerve involvement is another reason why lung cancer is painful for many people.

Common Lung Cancer Shoulder Pain Locations

Lung cancer can hurt in several places around the shoulder. It depends on where a nearby tumor develops and how it affects the nerves, muscles, bones, or other structures in the upper chest.

Here are some lung cancer shoulder pain locations:

• Neck and shoulder: Pain extending from the shoulder into the neck may occur when a tumor affects nerves near the top of the lung.
• Shoulder and arm: Discomfort that travels down the arm can occur when a tumor affects the brachial plexus.
• Shoulder and hand: Nerve involvement can cause pain, numbness, or weakness that extends into the arm and hand.
• Shoulder blade: Pain near or behind the shoulder blade can result from irritation of nerves or structures in the upper chest.
• Top of the shoulder: This may occur when a tumor near the top of the lung affects the nerves or tissues around the shoulder.

In many cases, lung cancer patients’ shoulders hurt consistently, whether they’re moving or not. If you’re experiencing shoulder pain that won’t go away, you may want to speak with your doctor about lung cancer.

Can Lung Cancer Cause Chest Pain?

Yes, lungs can hurt with lung cancer when a tumor affects the lining around the lungs, chest wall, ribs, or nearby nerves.

It’s also important to note that chest pain can feel different depending on what is causing it. Lung cancer-related pain may become more noticeable with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing, particularly when the tumor affects the pleura or chest wall.

Lung tissue itself has no pain receptors, so lung cancer usually causes pain when it affects surrounding structures. A tumor can irritate or invade the pleura, chest wall, ribs, nerves, or nearby tissues, causing pain or pressure in the chest or back.

The best way to know if you have lung cancer is to speak with your doctor. They’ll review your medical history and recommend the best next steps. You can also reach out to our staff for guidance.

Speak with one of our team members now.

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Other Lung Cancer Pain Locations

Lung cancer can hurt in other areas of the body as well. If you have aches, pain, tingling, or other types of discomfort that won’t go away, always check with your doctor about what you’re experiencing.

Lung Cancer and Rib Pain

Lung cancer can cause rib pain when a tumor grows into the chest wall or ribs, or when the cancer spreads to the bones. The ribs are a common site of bone metastases from lung cancer.

In a Nature study of 2,021 lung cancer patients, 23.9% had bone metastases. The ribs were the most frequent site, accounting for 62.3% of bone metastases.

Lung cancer can hurt and present as localized aches, tenderness, or sharper pain when it spreads to the ribs. Talk with your doctor about any discomfort you have so they can recommend pain management strategies.

Lung Cancer and Neck Pain

Lung cancer patients may experience neck pain if the tumors spread to nearby lymph nodes in the collarbone, causing them to swell. The tumor may also spread to the upper spine, pushing on nerves near the neck and causing pain.

In a large study of 7,184 people with NSCLC, 9.8% had enlarged lymph nodes as an initial finding, and 5.9% had pain associated with metastases. See a doctor if you’re suffering from persistent neck pain and swollen nodes in or around your neck.

Lung Cancer and Arm Pain

Lung cancer tumors can cause arm pain if they affect nearby nerves, the chest wall, ribs, or the spine. The pain can also radiate from the shoulder or upper chest down the arm when a tumor grows into the brachial plexus.

Pancoast tumors most commonly cause lung cancer pain in the arm. However, they only account for about 3% to 5% of lung cancer cases. Your doctor can provide further guidance about whether anything else in your medical history could be causing your arm pain before starting lung cancer tests.

Lung Cancer and Stomach Pain

Stomach or abdominal pain can be a sign of lung cancer that has spread to organs in the abdomen, such as the liver or adrenal glands, or when fluid builds up in the abdomen. Abdominal discomfort may also occur as a side effect of lung cancer treatment.

The BMJ found that one woman had abdominal pain when her lung cancer metastasized to her spleen, though that’s rare.

Lung Cancer and Hip Pain

Some people have hip pain when their lung cancer spreads to their pelvis or their upper thigh. If left untreated, the tumors can weaken bone and cause persistent pain.

The Journal of Thoracic Disease found that 17% to 22% of lung cancer cases spread to the pelvic bones. Another study of people with lung cancer found that the thigh accounted for another 7.7% of bone metastasis occurrences.

If you have questions about any deep or persistent hip or thigh aches, request our free Lung Cancer Guide to learn about symptoms before talking with your doctor.

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Is Dying of Lung Cancer Painful?

Symptoms of lung cancer can worsen as a patient reaches the end of their life and the tumors spread, but the pain can often be managed with appropriate palliative care or support from hospice.

A large study of 16,246 people who died from lung cancer found that 62.5% received medication to manage pain during the end-of-life period, reflecting how frequently pain becomes part of symptom management in advanced disease.

Palliative care workers focus on controlling symptoms through lung cancer pain treatment and maintaining the patient’s dignity.

Lung Cancer Pain Relief Options

Lung cancer pain management is often effective through a combination of daily medications and ongoing treatments.

In particular, starting palliative care early after a diagnosis can be very helpful. Palliative treatments do not mean you’re at the end of life. Rather, they are specifically focused on easing pain and managing side effects of life-extending therapies.

Lung cancer treatments to ease pain could include:

• Bone-strengthening medications: Bisphosphonates or denosumab may help reduce complications and pain from bone metastases.
• Chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy: These can treat the underlying cancer and may reduce pain.
• Corticosteroids: These can be used to reduce inflammation and swelling around tumors or areas of nerve involvement, which may help ease related pain.
• Minor surgeries: Doctors can reduce the size of tumors that are pressing on nerves.
• Nerve blocks: Injections can interrupt pain signals from specific nerves or areas of the body.
• Prescription medications: These may include acetaminophen, anti-inflammatory drugs, or opioids for moderate to severe pain.
• Radiation therapy: This can relieve pressure by shrinking tumors.

Pain management can also involve physical therapy, positioning, breathing and relaxation techniques, counseling, and palliative care alongside medical treatment.

Regular pain reassessment is important because controlling discomfort can make it easier to sleep, move, eat, and take part in daily activities.

Get Help Managing Lung Cancer Pain

Lung cancer can cause pain in different parts of the body, but different treatment options can be used to help patients feel better.

At Lung Cancer Group, we help patients explore therapies to ease pain caused by lung cancer and ways they can more easily afford treatment expenses.

Work with our team to:

• Discover top doctors and treatment options
• Help your family through the challenges of a lung cancer diagnosis
• Seek financial compensation to help cover treatment costs

You don’t have to walk through your lung cancer journey alone. We can listen to the details of your case and help you figure out next steps.

Download our Free Lung Cancer Guide or call (877) 446-5767 to get started today.