I'm 16 years old, and have been exposed to second-hand smoke since I was a baby.

For the past three years, I've been experiencing a nagging cough/hoarseness (has recently been becoming paralytic at times), I have been coughing up phlegm/mucus (sometimes a bit bloody), shortness of breath, constant chest pain, bouts of extreme fatigue and breathlessness, loss of appetite, and joint pain. They've steadily become worse over time.

I'm worried because these are symptoms of lung cancer, but I'm too scared to talk to my parents about it. I don't want to make them mad and have them think that I'm crazy. What do I do? Should I talk to a teacher at school or something-- someone who will listen? Is there a place where I can get tests done without the need of a parent/guardian?

I'm scared, confused, and in pain...

Tangerinem,

Hon, you dont have to tell your partents that you think its lung cancer. But you need to tell them your coughing up blood.. they need to know that.. as a mom myself, I would want my children to tell me if they are having medical problems. If you don't think you can, then yes, tell a teacher or counselor. That is nothing to mess around with.

I agree, you must tell your parents or another adult of your symptoms. Coughing up blood is nothing to mess with. My son who is now 27 yrs old had a coughing up blood problem a few years back and it turned out to be gastric stomach problems. Please speak to someone and get it checked out soon.

In my opinion I doubt you have lung cancer, you are very young. But you could have a problem, like asthma, or some kind of lung infection. Smoking can cause asthma and if your asthma is uncontrolled it can lead to sevear coughing, (at least it is for me since I have asthma, I get a lot of coughing) and the more you cough the more you irratate your throught which could produce blood as well. I would go to the doctors and get a check-up, and maybe a chest X-ray to rule out anything. Good luck and don't worry yourself, just get it checked out okay.