Possibly Lung Cancer? - Cancer: Lung Message Board

chambers18 · 06-11-2008, 08:50 AM

I'm a 26-year-old male with Crohn's disease and a very mild form of PSC (Primary Schlerosing Cholangitis). Last October, I began experiencing a soreness in my abdomen. The soreness would migrate to anywhere from my side to beside my belly button to just below my rib cage. To make a long story short, I underwent some tests and ruled out anything having to do with my known conditions.

Recently, I began experiencing a soreness in my back. At times, it was a numbness of the mid back, but now it is more of a soreness/weakness of the shoulder blade area and ribs. I also find that when I wake up in the morning, there is some soreness near my hip area and upper buttock. I have been seeing a chiropractor and hope this is nerve related, or that some of this new soreness is related to the adjustments, but I am not sure.

I have had a fairly persistent cough for the last few years and during my search for answers about my mystery ailment have discovered that with lung cancer it can affect the nerve that runs from the shoulder blade to the arm. I have always attributed the cough to allergies and had taken Clarinex for a time, which seemed to work. But now I am concerned.

I do not smoke, and never have been a regular smoker. Like most teenagers, I tried a few here and there, but nothing more than that. And my cough doesn't feel like a deep cough, but more like a tickle in the throat. I never cough up blood and my ribs don't hurt when I cough or sneeze.

I would just like to rule out the possibility of lung cancer. I'm running out of ideas of what could be bothering me. It only affects my right side. Could it be a nerve? If it were lung cancer, wouldn't have first felt the affects somewhere other than my abdomen? Would the soreness travel, and come and go with lung cancer? Would I feel it only on one side?

I see my doctor again next week, but I am desperate for answers.

Christine73 · 06-11-2008, 10:10 AM

It's very very unlikely to be lung cancer given your age and the fact that you say the cough has been there for a few years.

I am taking a guess that it might be deferred pain from the Chron's. You could, of course, have trapped a nerve in your back/neck somewhere which would also explain the numbness...go see a doc

chambers18 · 06-11-2008, 10:49 AM

Thanks for the reply. I have seen my doc, which is what makes this more puzzling. And I see her again next week.

I've undergone an ultrasound, MRCP (MRI of pancreas and common bile duct), as well as my yearly colonoscopy. Everything came back fine. Some minor active Crohn's (I forget the exact location). So maybe that could be it. But, as of yet, my doc doesn't have an explanation for me.

Thanks for the assurance, though. I thought lung cancer seemed unlikely, but with every possibility I can come up with there's something that doesn't fit.

chambers18 · 06-11-2008, 09:49 PM

Question: if I had lung cancer where the only symptoms are a cough and soreness in shoulder blade, would physical activity aggravate it? Like if I were to go jogging, should I experience pain or have difficulty breathing? Or not necessarily?