Should I get a second opinion?

RedMan1972 · New User Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Posts: 3

I am a 33 year old male who has smoked cigarettes (not quite a pack a day, around 15) for around 13 years. A few weeks ago, I started having coughing fits that would wake me up at night. I spit of phlegm a lot too. It never had blood in it. I had a tickle in my throat as well. I talked to one of friends who is an RN and they said it sounded like allergies so I started taking Claritan-D.

It got better for a little while but then it started back up. Now as bad, though. I would cough of the thick, yellow phlegm in the morning and by the end of the day if I did spit up, it would be almost clear. Still no blood.

I did a little research on the internet one night and became obsessed with the fact that I may have lung cancer. I went to a doctor and told him of my concerns. He did a bloog test, listened to my breathing and swabbed my throat, I guess for a culture. He came back and said I have a 'touch' of bronchitis. He gave me some shots and some medication to take.

It has made me feel better. No more coughing fits. I do still feel the phlegm and cough it up but still no blood. I haven't even been on this medication for a week, but I still can't shake the fact that I may have lung cancer. It scares me to death because he didn't even do a Chest X-Ray or anything like that. Could he have found something in the other tests that showed bronchitis or should I go get a second opinion with a Chest X-Ray?

One thing it has made me do is want to stop smoking. I talked to him about it and he said the best thing to do is set a date you want to quit (40-60 days out) and prepare yourself mentally, prepare your house phsyically, etc. Does this sound correct? Is there anything I can take that will help in this endeavor?

Please help me! I'm still so afraid I've been misdiagnosed. I'm a little obssessive compulsive like that.

leo · Owner Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Well, you probably do have bronchitis, but if you are still concerned you could see another physician.

About quitting smoking, what this doctor mentioned is correct. Set a date, focus on that date, get your environment ready. You should also ask about nicotine patches and a nicotine gum, since these tools do improve the rates of success.

regards,
Dr Leo
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Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

RedMan1972 · New User Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Posts: 3

I went to a second doctor. They did a breathing test and a chest x-ray and found nothing except bronchitis.

I kept taking the medication and everything cleared up except the occasional cough and phlegm. That even died down. That was Sunday. Today, I woke up with a sore throat and stuffed up nose. I noticed that one of the symptoms of lung cancer was reoccuring bouts with bronchitis and pheumonia. Should I be concerned?

As an update to quitting smoking, I have set my quit date as September 1. I have been preparing including weening myself off the cigarettes. I'm almost down to a 1/2 pack a day.

Can someone please let me know if I'm being overly paranoid?

Also, how long does it take for lung cancer to develop? Months? Years?
Thanks!

KathleenM · New User Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Virginia

It's understandable that you're paranoid. You acknowledge that smoking has its dangers and lung cancer is right up there as the deadliest side effect of it. I definitely encourage you to quit as early as possible. Keep your mind focused on that even though it will be hard, but you definitely don't want to end up like so many people and their families here on this forum. My mom smoked, quit, but developed lung cancer 8 years later, so I really don't know how that works as far as how quickly it can develop. Granted, she smoked a lot longer than 13 years, so you shouldn't need to fret about that sort of case hopefully.

Plus the internet is a huge source of paranoia for self-diagnostics as is @_@ Don't go scaring yourself just because of what WebMD or some other site says. Doctors know better than the 'Net.

Hang in there and good luck quitting! *cheer*

isidella

I am glad you are scared, not to be mean but sometimes that is what it takes. Yes, people in their 20's and 30's get lung cancer and die. They usually smoke for 10-20 years and get the very aggressive small cell type. I have seen it again and again.

Quit smoking. Period. This website has been a tremendous help to many of my patients and friends.

http://whyquit.com/

courtney40 · New User Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Posts: 5

Why not get a second opinion?...It's your life and your body and you know if you don't feel right. Even though the doctor is likely right and you only have bronchitis you can still suppress your paraniod tendencies and have less stress about having cancer. That elimination of the stress will also help your immune system work better (or studies have shown) to overcome your bronchitis. Tell them you want a chest x-ray if that makes you feel better and tell the doctor why.
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Courtney

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