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Fear of Lung Cancer

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Guest
Guest

I don't know if I'm thinking rational or irrational and could just use some feedback. For the past 2 months I have been under a lot of anxiety and stress. 

During that time, I have had a lot of physical pain in abdomen, back, sides and shoulders. I had many tests that included a ct scan of my abdomen and pelvis and abdominal ultrasound and a chest X-ray. Also any kind of blood test from full CBC's to blood tests for inflammation markers.

Like an idiot I started reading up on lung cancer and got scared.  As recently I have had a small cough, some chest and shoulder pain when I twist my body to one way and it hurts a little when I hold a deep breath.

I had a chest X-ray and it was fine but heard it doesn't always pick up tumors or cancer. Then my abdomen ct scan said my lung bases were clear but I didn't realize that's only part of your lung. 

I'm driving myself crazy and convinced I have this 

1 like, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • jan34534
    jan34534 Guest

    Posted

     Are you a smoker? If so how long have you been smoking? I am assuming you are young and even if you were a smoker I highly doubt it would've developed into cancer already.  X-rays are excellent at picking up tumors. Sounds like you've had a very thorough exam with tests. Trust the results because it's extremely rare for a test to not pick something up.  There are many different reasons people have pain. Back pain shoulder pain is extremely common. I've had that myself due to poor posture  when sitting in standing, lifting things,  etc. Your cough is probably from some virus you picked up and it can Hurt a little when you take a deep breath.   I've had that happen numerous times when I have a virus and a cough.

    I think you are overthinking this! If you had lung cancer you would have way worse symptoms than you do. Yes you are driving yourself crazy .

     there is no logical reason why you would have lung cancer at your age. 

     trust your doctor and there's nothing like a cup  of good old chicken noodle soup for Colds.  It will ease the congestion in open up your airways. 

    Take a nice warm bath to relax your back and neck. I think you are going to be just fine.

     don't overthink this then just follow up with your doctor. 

    • Guest
      Guest jan34534

      Posted

      Hi Jan,

      No I never smoked and I'm a 40 yr old white male. I actually did have a chest CT scan 6 months ago when I found out I had pneumonia. I guess nothing would have started and come on that fast in 6 months.

      My dr said since I had the chest ct scan 6 months ago and the recent normal ct scan of my abdomen that showed my lung bars were clear , and normal chest X-ray that I'm  ERT low risk. He doesn't want to give me another chest ct scan for no reason and expose me to more radiation

  • priya456
    priya456 Guest

    Posted

    I wish I had known that lung cancer is curable. If caught in the early stages, the five-year survival rate is 80 per cent. If allowed to spread, that figure drops to 7 per cent at best. Unfortunately by the time mine was diagnosed, I was in the latter group, as are 80 per cent of the 41,000 people diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK each year.
  • jan34534
    jan34534 Guest

    Posted

    I agree with your doctor.  No reason to do another cat scan. The fact that you have never smoked tells me that the odds of you having lung cancer and practically nothing. 

     you can have residual effects of pneumonia for quite a long time. You have had a small cough and some chest and shoulder pain. That could be from the pneumonia you had a while back .   I have known people who have pneumonia who have had a cough for almost a year including congestion and chest pain. 

     if you had lung cancer you would have far more symptoms than you do. Your doctor does not seem concerned so you need to work on the anxiety. You will be fine. Your negative thoughts have convinced you otherwise. But those thoughts are not based on fact . It is just your mind going to worst-case scenario.  However there is no factual evidence that  what you were worried about is true. In fact all the evidence points to you being perfectly healthy. Get your mind on other things stay active and social.  Eat healthy to get rid of the leftover cough. The more you dwell on this the worse your symptoms are going to be .

    Live your life!   When you  wasted days with worry you will never get those days back. Worry he does absolutely no good. 

     you are fine .  Doctors are fully aware of when they need to do further testing. They see this all the time. Trust your doctor and MoveOn 🌹

    • Guest
      Guest jan34534

      Posted

      Hi Jan,

      Thanks for the kind words. I want to the outpatient clinic today and got another chest x-ray which was fine. They didn’t see any pneumonia or things suggesting a mass. Although I have read that chest X-rays don’t pick up lung cancer masses all the time. Why can’t things just be cut and dry? Lol

      I am afraid there is a tumor there that can only be seen on CT scan. Having a rough day coughing with some back and side pains. The coughing is worse when I lie down and it feels like a tickle in my throat.  

      I’m trying to think logically but keep going back to lung cancer. Ahhhhhh!😪

  • ar1masenka
    ar1masenka Guest

    Posted

    I think you are fine.  You have had a full work up. The tests would have definitely showed something. Don't be like me.

    I fear lung cancer too, but I have a reason too. 31 year old that smoked on and off for 10 years. The main fear too is that I developed hypochondria after I was being abused. I would run to the hospital after having pains etc or after huge panic attacks (somatism most likely). I've had probably 7 CT of head (sports injuries and headaches), 2 chest CT, and 2 abd CT. It want until the last CT that someone explained to me, the dangers of CT radiation.

    Anyhow,

    Please know they did a very thorough work up on you and you can be rest assured it's not lung cancer.

    • Guest
      Guest ar1masenka

      Posted

      I’m having a bad panic attack today about this. Every time I type in my symptoms , lung cancer comes up. I had a clear chest X-ray yesterday but read that they don’t always pick it up. Plus I have tenderness/ soreness on

      My ribs under armpit. My dr doesn’t want me to get a ct scan of chest because I had one 6 months ago and then a ct scan of abdomen and pelvis 2 months ago 

    • ar1masenka
      ar1masenka Guest

      Posted

      Just take some breaths and try to relax. Please know that panic and anxiety can tire out your body and cause pains as well. I wish my doctors had told me the same "don't do another", but they did not until changing my primary.

      If your 6 month CT was clear and the and got the base of your lungs also, then you are fine. Just have to fight the anxiety.

      Cheers

    • Guest
      Guest ar1masenka

      Posted

      Thank you for responding, I just can’t stop looking stuff up online.  I know I have a good doctor but my head tells me that something was missed or not picked up from chest x-ray yesterday. I know you are logical in saying that the abdominal ct-scan getting the base of my lungs, the chest ct scan 6 months ago and recent chest X-rays should be good enough reassurance .

      I’m my own worst enemy.

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