I'm a lad in my late 30s.

Until a few years ago I'd been smoking 10-20 a day since my early 20s. Just under 3 years ago, I went to the doc with a pain in the left side of my chest, a kind of low throb and sometimes a sharper stab in my lung area. He told me it was some kind of chest wall pain syndrome (can't remember the name) and told me it could come and go and I guess it did but I never really thought about it. Especially as I insisted at the time on a chest x-ray, which he didn't wand to do and more or less laughed at me when I insisted... but anyways I did it straight away, went back to the doc as a follow up, and he told me it was all clear.

Last few months the pain's been back and much worse than before, feels like it's now spread to both lungs though still worse on my left side, where it's also sharper and more persistent. I also have a mildly sore throat and mild pain in my bottom left jaw or teeth area that comes and goes. I don't have any persistent cough but do seem to clear my throat a hell of a lot.

Well the fact that I'm posting here tells you what I make of this, but what do you reckon? And if you agree with me, what can I do to get the doc to take me seriously this time? All thoughts and advice appreciated.

Ben

I'm about your age with your smoking history so I can relate.

Sounds to me like it could be a host of things from allergies, sinus issues to acid reflux to esophageal reflux, to hypertension or even anxiety disorder.... (I am NOT a doctor) and the list could go on....

The first thing that comes to mind of course for someone at risk for lung cancer is lung cancer...but aside from the x-ray, I'm not sure what more you can do unless your doctor chooses to do a CT Scan.

I had some serious chest and abdominal pain recently that landed me in emergency care. It cost me about $300 in a co-pay but they did an abdominal CT scan and a chest CT with and without contrast injection and that really put my mind at ease.

There wasn't anything remarkable on the scans but a subsequent visit to a gastro specialist and an allergist help to diagnose esophageal reflux, ulcers, and sinusitis... (It's the pits getting older isn't it?)

You are your best advocate...keep visitng the doctor- keep letting them know your symptoms. If they don't listen or won't investigate- find a new doctor!

I hope you get some answers and some relief soon!!

Keep posting and keep us update. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for the post and for your kind thoughts, which are much appreciated!

I am now going to arrange for an appointment with the doc this week and go from there.

So, for a range of reasons, it sounds like I should basically *insist* on a CT scan this time then, is that something it's possible you can do...??

The reason I'm concerned about cancer is not just the smoking history but the fact that the problem has spread to both sides of the lungs and the pain (which wasn't always that noticeable) is now much worse and more noticeable. So it's *very* good to hear it could be something else but I don't wanto get my hopes up I have to admit.

Anyways thanks again for that, I will keep you posted and I look forward to comments from others in the meantime:)

Ben

Ben,

Congrats on being proactive. I hope it is something else. I'm guessing three years ago, they suggested Costochondritis? As you will see if you read here a while, very few lung cancer diagnoses occur with symptoms such as you are experiencing. But I would want to know what is causing the discomfort.

Mine was found in the ER, by chest x-ray and then CTScan - when I was experiencing sharp chest pain (that was probably a muscle spasm.) Depending on your insurance, that might be a way to get a work-up - my copay was $100 or so - maybe less than if I had to pay lab fees like I do now! But if ER visits aren't covered, steer clear!

As you describe yourself as "a lad" - would you by chance be in England or Scotland? Or am I so unhip that I don't know that lad has become common in today's slang? Your health plan would be much different.

Do you still smoke? Get exercise and rest? Tried a heating pad and anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen.) I'm no doctor, but those things can provide some relief.

Please let us know how it goes.

_________________
(photo: me in '61)
Female never smoked, 52 at diagnosis, otherwise healthy
09/08: false cardiac event = finding of 3 cm tumor upper right lobe plus two .5 cm nodes elsewhere on chest x-ray at ER
09/08: CTScan with IV contrast confirms.
10/08: Pulmonary referral for EBUS - bronchoscopy - confirms NSCLC - adenocarcinoma, with bronchoalveolar features
10/08: PetScan - further confirmation, classified T1N0MX (false negative) VATS scheduled.
11/08: full open surgery - revised to T4N2MX with positive spread to 2 lymph nodes, removed upper lobe with 3 cm tumor and partial mid lobe with (1) .5 cm tumor, 3 lymph nodes on trachea - 1 lymph node and margins negative.
5 night hospital stay.
12/08: Port-a-cath implanted
12/08: Brain MRI and hearing test - good other than minor high end loss in left ear
12/08: start (4) 21 day cycles of chemo - day 1 cisplatin and gemcitabine, day 8 gemcitabine alone, day 15 off - tolerated it pretty well - a little hair thinning and follicle inflammation, some ringing in ears and vertigo, much fatigue, and nausea. Kept my taste-buds almost intact.
02/27/09: completed 4 cycles of chemo!
03/03/09: removed port-a-cath
03/27/09: tattooed for radiation
03/30/09: start radiation (IMRT) 5x/wk for 6 weeks - fatigue, moderate esophagitis
5/08/09: completed treatment
6/22/09: NED
9/18/09: Recurrance in the liver and scattered in lungs. No symptoms. Rx Tarceva.
9/25/09: start Tarceva
11/20/09: clear lungs, shrinkage in liver.
2/24/10: still good on Tarceva
6/3/10: graduated to 6 month scan
12/9/10: new 6 cm tumor in liver
12/28/10: stop Tarceva
1/10/11: carbo/alimta/avastin
3/11/11: scan after 3 cycles 72%ish met reduction, stay the course
5/26/11: scan after 6 cycles, stable.
5/31/11: begin Avastin maintenance.
8/17/11: met growth, stop Avastin. Start Alimta.
10/25/11: met growth, stop Alimta. Wondering what to do next?
1/24/11: start hospice

Hey Ben,

Dont' want you to be hyper paranoid. But when I insisted on a CT scan because of my family history my doctor said NO. But I printed a Google list of lung cancer symptoms and told him to pick one. He did and as a result of that my lung cancer was found very early.

Last result? The CT scan is about $250. It's worth the money to have it to make sure its not something more serious.

I hope it all is nothing serious. But persue it It could save your life!

Judy in MI

_________________
6/07 DX NSCLC, Left Upper Lobe wedge resection: Stage 2.3/4, (2B?) Adenocarcinoma, measures 2.5x1.5x1.1cm. Involving visceral pleura but not through it. 5 rounds chemo, carboplatin and Taxol. Subsequent scans NED.

1/11 3.5 mm node found. 10/11 CT node now 8 mm, and new 6 mm node. 11/11 CT Pet shows slight uptake. 1/4/12 Biopsy - Pneumothorax complication. 1/14/12 Lobectomy of upper rt. lobe. NSCLC Adenocarcinoma in situ, nonmucinous (bronchioloalveolar carcinoma) 1.4cm involves pulmonary parenchyma.
3/14/12 Begin 4 cycles of Cisplatin/Navelbein, with Neulasta shot
4/6/12 Chemo changed to Carboplatin/Navelbine without Neulasta shot. Reduced chemo by 50% due to intolerance.
7/5/12 CT scan is clean, NED for lung cancer! There are issues with liver and stomach that will be investigated but not believed to be because of cancer. Wait and see!

*Avatar was taken 7/3/12 on our way out to see the Fireworks on a friends boat on their lake!

Mom dx SCLC 1/96, passed 10/19/96, age 62
Dad dx Brain cancer 4/87, passed 6/87, age 57
Sister dx Brain cancer 4/83, passed 12/83, age 25

Hi Ben,
I can't say what you should do, but if it were me and one of my doctors was treating my concerns like that, I would be getting a new doctor. Any concerns you have as a patient should be fully addressed and not by a pat on the head! Best of luck!

Dana

_________________
Mar. '08-Routine xray found Spot tip of upper left lung.
Dr orders CAT. growth confirmed.
Sent to Pulmonolgist who orders PET.
Pet results-my spot lights up like a Christmas tree.
Can't reach spot for biopsy referred to surgeon.
Surgical Biopsy scheduled for Apr. 28th '08
Apr. '08-Surgeon found SCLC, removed upper left lobe and surronding lymph nodes.
Everything biopsied no other cancer found, declaired NED by surgeon on Apr.28th '08
ONC wants me to start adjuvant therapy.
June '08-MRI brain scan and CAT NED
Chemo cisplatin/vp16 3 days every 3 weeks 4 sessions ended Aug. '08
Partial hearing loss due to Cisplatin
Sept. '08 1st CAT after treatment NED
Dec. '08-2nd CAT after treatment NED
Apr. '09-MRI (brain) and CAT NED
Aug. '09-CAT NED
Dec. '09-CAT and MRI NED
Apr. '10-CAT and MRI NED
Oct. '10-CAT and MRI NED
Jan. '11-XRay NED
Oct. '11-CAT NED

Ben, you can get anything done that you want done...granted you may have to pay, but if you told me I can pay 200 to have my car looked at and it would last another 50-60 years, $$$ well spent!

I would check your insurance, and if possible go to emergency. They usually really take care of you and will most likely with your symptoms they would most likely give you a CT.

Just my opinion...

Just to put your mind at some ease it could be so many other things. So many people have passed through this site for a very short time as they found out it was not LC. Hopefully, that will be the same for you.

Maryanne

_________________
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take...but by the moments that takes our breath away"
[size=75]
Husband Joel, 58 dx 10/18/04 Smoker since age 15 stopped when diagnosed
Adenocarcinoma- stage 1B
Lobectomy Left upper lobe on 12/15/04
biopsy on lymph nodes - negative NED
1/13/04 Oncologist appt.to see about preventive Chemo.
Cancelled due to chronic fatigue
1/12 fentynal patch for pain
1/14 discontinued Fentynal patch bad reaction
1/15 Blood test showed high T levels
2/1 Endoconrinologist visit diagnosed over-active thyroid
2/8/05 took Radioactive Iodine to kill thyroid
2/16/05 appetite back, fatigue leaving
2/24/05 visit with Pulmonary Doc. Breathing at 96% capacity,
Next visit 3 mos.
3/9/05 Endocrinologist visit -T levels went from 25 down to 5.
3/30 started Synthoid(thyroid med)
3/31 Oncologist. appt. CT results NED...
4/14 starting adjunctive Chemo (carbo/taxol) 4 treatments
3 weeks apart.
6/15/05 Joel finished chemo, chest X-ray clear, Next CT in August
9/01/05 1st CT since Chemo.. NED
11/17/05 CT - small nodule found 4 or 5 mil. in his good lung
1/10/06 CT - nodule Stable
7/2006 CT/ Nodule stable
10/2006 CT Nodule seem to have grown from 4 to 7 mil.
10/2006 Pet- showed some uptake
10/2006- operation- wedge section right upper lobe turned out to be cancerous 2 nodules next to each other. 2 different types of cancer. 1 squamous cell carcinoma (new primary)2- adenocarcinoma-(not sure if new primary or metastasis)
May be restaged to IIIB
11/07/2006 will start 4 rounds of taxotere. 3 weeks apart. Will take Decadron before, day of and day after. Will get a shot of Leunesta the day after. Here we go again.. Joel's attitude.... great as usual
Horrible reaction to the neulasta shots. One night(New Years eve) went to ER. Spent 3 days in hosptal.
Feb 2007 finished chemo.
March 2007 had his CT .. as expected right now all is clear.
June 2007 NED!!!
Sept 07- CT- small nodule 3.5 mm
Going to do another CT in 6 weeks.
October 07- CT done, results STABLE...YEA
Jan. 2008... STABLE!!!
April 2008 little growth but still called stable
July 17 208 nodule doubled in size to 9mm. Needs Pet Scan, tests, hopefully cyberknife...
July 29 met with his surgeon... said Cyberknife is the way to go.
August 1- Cyberknife visit... Joel is a canidate, its a go...Happy B-day Joel...
Sept 22, 2008 finshed up the last of 3 cyberknife procedures
Nov. had CT scan
Nov. 9th results of CT from Cyberknife..... Tumor completely gone... right now NED!!!
Feb. 09- Pet/CT results. . . NEd!!!
May 09 Pet/CT results. . . NED!!!
Sept. 09 Pet/CT results.....NED!!
Jan. 2010--- NED!! Pet now will be every 6 months.
June 8,2010 Pet scan on our Anniversary... hope thats a good sign..
June 17, NED!!!
Dec. 30,2010... NED!!!
June 20,2011... NED!!!
March 2012....NED!!!

pic of Joel and our daughter Nicole at walk NOV. 07

[img]http://www.freewebs.com/beansprouts2005/nik_and_dad_1LC_walk.jpg[/img]

http://www.babababies.com