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Helaine Bader

HealthyWomen's Vice President of Education

Helaine Bader is a passionate public health advocate and the vice president of education for HealthyWomen. She has spent the last 20 years in the fields of health education, communications and advocacy — helping people understand how to stay healthy and prevent disease; working with grassroots organizations to address health disparities and health literacy in communities throughout the U.S.; and bringing multidisciplinary organizations, experts, and institutions together to tackle issues through collective action.

Early in her career, Helaine conducted epidemiological research in the perinatology department at a hospital and worked as a fellow in the breast cancer division of the National Cancer Institute. She later managed the global communications strategy for a Center of Excellence in Drug Discovery at GlaxoSmithKline. From 2004 to 2010, Helaine worked for Digene (later QIAGEN), directing the global advocacy efforts in cervical cancer. She has consulted with numerous organizations over the years, helping create and implement culturally appropriate educational and awareness campaigns to address disparities in health. Helaine is also co-author of "New Dimensions in Women's Health," now in its eighth edition. Helaine has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master in public health degree for the University of Pittsburgh.

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Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer Symptoms

What are the symptoms of lung cancer in the early and late stages?

Conditions & Treatments

Lung Cancer Symptoms Infographic. Click to view PDF


Lung cancer may not cause any symptoms, especially in the early stages of disease.

When there are symptoms, early signs may include:

  • A cough that does not go away

  • Coughing up blood or rust-colored spit

  • Frequent lung infections, like bronchitis or pneumonia

  • Chest pain that gets worse with deep breathing, coughing, laughing

  • Changes in your voice/hoarse voice

  • Shortness of breath

  • Wheezing

Late signs may include:

  • Shoulder pain

  • Arm pain

  • Unexplained weight loss

  • Loss of appetite

  • Feeling unusually weak or tired

  • Change in the look of fingertips and nailbeds

  • Neck or face swelling

If lung cancer spreads to other parts of the body — called advanced or late stage disease — symptoms may include: 

  • Bone pain

  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) 

  • Headache

  • Dizziness

  • Seizures

  • Weakness or numbness in limbs

  • Trouble walking or balancing

  • Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or above the collarbone

These symptoms may be caused by many other conditions as well. If you have any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your healthcare provider.

This educational resource was created with support from Merck.

 

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