hi, i am a 25 yo female and i have been smoking since i was about 17 yo and recently i have had some throat problems and it's been really bothering me. it's better now but for about a week it was hurting me when i swallowed and i coughed and coughed. i thought it might be throat cancer, but could it be lung cancer? i have a doc. appointment on friday but i can't sleep at night because i am so worried. i know i did this to myself and whatever consequences comes out of my decision to smoke i will have to deal with. i did quit smoking though, though it may be too late. if there's anyone who can tell me the symptoms i would be really thankful.

I wouldn't worry too much. You are young, your history of smoking was relatively short, and you have quit.

Lung cancer doesn't have to have symptoms. I lost my best friend of 30 years to lung cancer. She wasn't diagnosed until she was already at stage IV--the next to last stage. She died three months later. However, when I would spend weekends with her (she lived about 75 miles from me), she would cough a lot every morning for years.

But listen, this probably won't happen to you--especially since you've stopped smoking. If you parents are dead or if you have close relatives who have died, did they die from lung cancer?

Your doctor will probably recommend a chest xray once per year for a while. They say the chances of getting it go down every year you are smoke free.

I would look at family history, talk to your doctor, and go from there.

Good luck.

Mary

thank you so much for your reply. im sure your right and im just being over cautious. i will get it checked out and i will look into my family's history because as far as i know, there isn't anyone who passed with lung cancer. i am really sorry about your friend. it must of been unimaginable. thank you again for sharing your thoughts with me.