extremly anxious please help

vapour · New User Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Posts: 4

Hi all. Im 26 years old, female. Right now Im going through alot of stress, so it could be related to that. I have just been diagnosed with epilepsy. Plus im moving, and also my family are coming to see me and i havnt seen them in 3 years since I immigrated.

Anyway, a while ago i found a lump in my breast, i saw the OBGYN she said nothing at all to worry about, its just a fibro-something-cyst, i should get it drained (no health insurance right now, but will work on that)

Anyway, to get to my real question. I smoke and have for about 5 years (very slight at first, quit for 8 months, ten started again about half a pack a day)

The past few days I have felt hot and cold, some dizzyness, and today ive been tender under my armpit, shoulder blade and the pain goes down my ribs at the back. I am extremly worried I have lung cancer. Of course it could be put down to stress and new meds.

Could someone please tell me if these are at all symptoms.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2853

Hi Vapour,

Hello and calm down. Yes, some pain CAN happen with lung cancer in the rib/chest/scapula area. More than likely you pulled something during the move and being stressed, your body was easier to hurt with tense muscles.

Are you coughing? You are very young to have lung cancer and I could think of a lot of other things way before THAT. Does some aspirin or ibuprofen help the pain?

Please take some deep breaths and relax. Is it possible that the cyst has ruptured? I know some cysts do that and can be uncomfortable while the body absorbs the fluid. At least that's what I've encountered with ovarian cysts.

You know I'm going to tell you to quit smoking now before you're hooked for life. I've recently gone to electronic cigarettes and made the transition off off tobacco almost seamlessly. (Well, I do still have 3 regular cigarettes a day.)

Hugs,
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

vapour · New User Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Posts: 4

Not coughing, but not started moving yet. The lump in my breast is still there, i notice it gets smaller and more painful before my menstural cycle. So I dont think its ruptured since I can still feel it, and its painful and moves.

But yeah, no coughing, not appetite loss or anything, just this darn aching around shoulder blade, under arm and down my ribs at the back.

Cause of the health issues lately, I must just be panicing .. as in .. "what next"

I will quit smoking, any other symptoms you know of ? that I dont have ?

thanks for the reply.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2853

Hi again,

I think you're fine. A little stressed and sore. The armpit tenderness could be a swollen lymph node. Is it on the same side as the cyst? Nodes swell all the time and that isn't typically a node that is involved in lung cancer anyway.

Put your feet up, watch a good movie, have a glass of wine, and look forward to seeing your family. See a doc if you have continued problems.

Best of luck.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

vapour · New User Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Posts: 4

wondering if perhaps its asthma i had as a child last night and today when I smoked it hursts my chest, forgot to mention some pain going down my arm so maybe also a trapped nerve since this is all on the same side ? If i force myself to cvough it does hurt

vapour · New User Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Posts: 4

thank you pj. i apprecaite such quick replies

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2853

Yes -- it could be asthma related breathing pain. How's the pollen counts in your area? You may have bronchitis. If it doesn't get better, then see the doc. Don't panic about cancer though. That's just putting you under more stress.

Pain down the arm does sound like referred pain from an injury to your chest, but I'm certainly no doctor.

Don't cough! LOL If you're not coughing, then don't force yourself.
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

onecoyote · Senior User Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 153

Hi Vapour,
I'll add my 2 cents to this. I found out the hard way, by going to the emergency room, that I have fibromyalgia. I thought I was having a heart attack because it felt like someone was sitting on my chest, my ribs hurt to touch and I had a radiating arm pain. Sounds like heart problems right? Well, the doctor knew right away it was chostochondritis.(GOOGLE IT) It happens when you are overworked (muscular chest wall pain) and mostly to females and those over stressed if it is from Fibromyalgia.
Here’s a test: if you can reproduce the pain when you press down on the muscles and ribs, you likely have chostochondritis. To treat it, rest the area, apply ice daily, and take anti-inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen(Motrin, Advil). I have flare ups quite often when the stress gets too high.
Hope this helps,
Charlene
_________________
Husband Danny, age 66,
diagnosed squamous cell June 6, 2008,
Right pneumonectomy performed with no adjuvant chemo or radiation on Sept. 2008
Metastatic lung cancer in the ribs, scapula and right kidney raised it's ugly head May 2009.
Renal cell carcinoma diagnosed May 2009
One round carbo/taxol, too weak to continue
Cancer racing like a freight train
Held my husband's hand when he passed away September 29, 2009

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