some information needed please - Im worried

lorraine · New User Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 3

Ive recently stumbled across some information regarding lung cancer which is worrying me.

I have been undergoing several tests in the last year or so as Ive been suffering from pain in my neck, shoulder and down my right arm, headaches almost constantly and unbearable fatigue but the strangest thing is that I also get pain just under my rib cage and in my back, sometimes its like a fluttering, like palpitations but on the wrong side for my heart. I had my gallbladder removed in 2000 and I mentioned to my GP that it felt like it was phantom pain because thats roughly where the pain in. Ive been convinced that Ive got a trapped nerve somewhere or as if something is pushing against my rib cage, its like someone has blown up a balloon inside me and its pushing against everything else.

I had extensive tests on my lungs in 2005 as I had pneumonia and there was a shadow on my lung which was never given any conclusion. I had just about forgotton about and had never really related it to my neck and shoulder until now - am I being paranoid?

Ive still got breathing problems and feel short of breath often, it definately feels different on the right side to the left.

The tests ive been going through have been for spondilosis, TMJ, muscular problems and so far everyone Ive been referred to has just scratched their heads and been puzzled by it. None of the medication that Ive been given makes any difference to the pain.

I dont know if Im just putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 5 but do you think I should ask for another chest xray to be done to make sure? I dont want to waste valuable doctors/hospital time. How quickly could it grow if the shadow was dismissed 5 years ago?

Can anyone who has suffered chest pain/discomfort please explain to me what it feels like for them.

If its relevant, I smoked for a few years, but gave up about 15 years ago, Ive also had an enlarged lymph node removed, and it was found to be fine. Im 43, female and my father passed away 8 years ago with lung cancer.

Ive never even considered that this could be a possibility for me until this weekend but I am really starting to worry. Im sorry for babbling on but have so many questions going around in my head.

simplyklb

You need to have a chest x-ray, CT scan, and biopsy (IF something shows up on the CT scan). A CT scan will show if there is a spot on your lung or lungs. Biopsy of the spot will determine if it is cancerous or not.

Kristi
_________________
Dad - Andy, 70, diagnosed with SCLC in May 2008
2/20/38 - 10/15/08 Fly high, Dad!
Mom - Jackie, 67, diagnosed with NSCLC in May 2008

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2404

A spot showing in your lung should always be monitored for further growth. I'd be pushing for more tests, like Kristi said above. If this was lung cancer, it would be the slowest growing I've ever heard of with testing from 2005.

Good luck and I hope they get down to the bottom of this for you.

Regards,
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

onecoyote · Senior User Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 150

Lorraine,
Not to ignore the spot on your lung but as PBJ said it would be the slowest growing tumor ever, I put my money on possibly fibromyalgia. There are certain symptoms associated with fibromyalgia that never seem to correlate and mimic many diseases. That's what makes fibromyalgia so perplexing. Costochondritis is one of the hallmarks of this disease, it gives you chest wall pain, rib pain and shoulder pain. It basically is inflammation of the junction of bones(ribs) to cartilage. Pain can radiate from these areas and sometimes it makes you think someone is sitting on your chest compressing it.
Fibromyalgia also lists chronic headaches, fatigue and heart palpatations.
I would google both of these syndromes and you might be surprised that they fit. Having this is far preferable to lung cancer, to say the least.
Good luck,
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

lorraine · New User Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 3

thanks for your replies - I think I will press for an xray just for peace of mind, although you have eased my worry a bit, thank you - funnily enough I am under a consultant regarding fybromyalga at the moment but he also doesnt seem to think that I have that

lorraine · New User Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 3

[quote="pbj11"] If this was lung cancer, it would be the slowest growing I've ever heard of [/quote]

sorry to keep on with this and especially for those who are actually suffering - how quickly does a tumour grow on average? I think Im right in saying that its fairly slow growing but how slow is slow? Ive got an appointment at the GPs but its not until next Monday and Im getting myself worked up into a right state now.

For those who have been diagnosed - can I please ask what it was that made you suspicious or what symptoms you were displaying?

many thanks again

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2404

No problem Lorraine. You wouldn't be here writing this if it was a tumor in '05 or it would be the slowest growing lung cancer I've ever heard of! Did they mention whether it was calcified or non-calcified? Odds are the shadow was related to the pneumonia.

To give you an idea of aggressive NSCLC -- my husband was down to one tumor after a lot of chemo treatments. He went on a three month "chemo holiday" and after that he had at 8 tumors back again. One even had been treated with radiation and grew back.

Symptoms typically don't show up until lung cancer is in late stages IIIb-IV and incurable. It's a very silent cancer. Shortness of breath, weight loss, and you can have some pain, depending on where the tumors are located or if you have pleural effusion. Brain mets also can cause pain or other mental issues. Coughing up bloody sputum is another indicator.

I'm sure there are more, but that's off the top of my head.

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

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Lung Cancer Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others