Hello,
I am a 2 pack a day smoker and have been smoking for 20 years. Ido not have a smokers cough(yet), but was wondering about getting a check up. Is there any sings what so ever in the beginning stages of lung cancer. Was wondering cause i feel healthy.

The symptoms of lung cancer would be a persistent cough; sputum with blood; chest pain. There could be others but these are the ones that I'm aware of.

Well the common symptoms are shortness of breath and chest pain, I had shoulder and neck pain a year before I was diagnosed with stage iv lung cancer. The biggest problem with lung cancer is by the time most people start experiencing symptoms and go to the doctors office it is usually too late. That is why the majority of people diagnosed with lung cancer are already stage iv, and that is one of the reasons why lung cancer has such a high mortality rate. I have stage iv lung cancer and I am only 28 years old. I was diagnosed in september of 00. If you are concerned, and you should be, because lung cancer is the leading killer of all cancers in the US and Japan, you should go to the doctor and request a chest xray (at least), at CT scan would be better and a PET scan would be best. If your insurance doesnt cover it, pay for it yourself. You only get one chance. I would have gladly paid anything to have caught this any earlier than we did. There are research studies that you might be able to participate in for early detection of lung cancer. My sister is looking into one of siblings of those who have lung cancer for herself. I hope this information helps you. I would give anything to go back and make so changes. I hope that everything works out for you.
Michele

[This message has been edited by mreed (edited 06-02-2001).]

[This message has been edited by mreed (edited 06-02-2001).]

Michele:

You are so right about early diagnosis for Lung Cancer. My husband was diagnosed Dec. 99 with Stage IV Lung Cancer. We have gone through countless Chemos. Originally he was responding (tumors decreased in size dramatically). But later CAT scans showed stable or very little reductions. He is now scheduled for a CAT scan on Friday. He has been coughing alot lately and feeling very weak due to his Anemia and Cell count being so low.

How are you doing with your disease? Has anything proved helpful? You are so young to have this dreadful disease. My prayers are with you.

Please e-mail me and let me know how you are doing. my e-mail is margareth@pbcbonline.com.

Take care, Marge

My wife was just diagnosed with Stage IV Adnocarcinoma lung cancer (both lungs) and has been given 3 to 6 months to live. She had no warnings except for shortness of breath that surfaced in mid-April. She quit
smoking approximately 10 years ago. We also learned that she has diabetes. She had no previous medical problems.

Bill S

Hi Margaret, I had trouble emailing you.
I was diagnosed in Sept. 2000 with nsclc - stage iv, I have a 7 inch tumor in my right lung and small nodules spread thoughout both lungs. I have also tested positive for paricardial and pleural effusion, which means they found cancer cells in the sack around my heart and the sack around my lungs. I have gone for second and third opinions at University of New Mexico Cancer Center and MD Anderson. They both agreed with what my oncologist said. I was originally admitted into the hospital with pneumonia. They drained 1200cc (almost 1 liter) of fluid from the pleural and that is why I couldnt breathe and 120cc of fluid from around my heart. Since they drained the fluid and released me I immediately started chemotherapy. My Dr. started me with Taxol and Carboplatin every 21 days. After 7 treatments he decided that he would like to see some shrinkage, the taxol only kept things stable. So he put me on Gemcitabine and Navelbine. I had 4 treatments of this, two weeks on and one week off. I feel miserable the entire time and finally found out that the drugs didnt work and only made things worse, there were a few more nodules and some of the fluid came back. I could not breathe when I was one those drugs and felt awful. I am so glad to be off. Dr. Binder finally put me back on Taxol and Carbo and two treatmetns ago I had an allergic reaction to the Carboplatin, so then I was on just taxol.....but I get neuropathy with it, my feet keep getting numb and I cant feel them. I am going to get on ISIS now. I just found out that I can start soon, hopefully in a month or so. I have been following this drug since Dec. 00 and it has had some good results for some people with nsclc. I know I am in stage iv, but I still have hope. I just got married in April and would love nothing more that to spend the next 50 years with my husband.
Please email me, I am interested in hearing about your husband.
I dont think I answered all your questions, I am in pain too. I have trouble breathing and my body aches all the time. My feet have have huge knots in them and I feel tired all the time. I get headaches and now I have been getting hives alot. Seems like there is always new pains and bad news all the time. I still feel strong though, I have a strong will to live and am willing to do whatever it takes to fight this.
Thanks for your message, I look forward to hearing from you,
Michele
mreed88693@aol.com

Hello,
I am a 2 pack a day smoker and have been smoking for 20 years. Ido not have a smokers cough(yet), but was wondering about getting a check up. Is there any sings what so ever in the beginning stages of lung cancer. Was wondering cause i feel healthy.

I don't know if there are any symptoms per say:

My Mums cancer was caught by accident, Her fingers and toes were swelling and she was feeling pain in them, they thought it was gout for ages and did blood tests and stuff, eventually they did Xrays of the joints, and when they looked at the joints for the shoulder area thats when they discovered the black area of mums lungs..