Scared - lung cancer (not diagnosed)

Hi all,

im a 34 year old male, father of 2 young children. 
 

First of all, I just wanted to say how inspiring this forum is, the strength and support you all show is amazing. 
 

For me it all started in October last year, I suddenly felt unwell with rigours and a high temperature. Inflammation markers were high and I was in hospital for 4 days on antibiotics. 
 

In January I developed a cough and pain in my upper back and shoulder blade and fatigue I stopped eating so lost weight which has come back onnnow since my appetite returned. Cough is 95% none productive witht the occasional clearance of green phlegm. The doctor kept on listening to my chest and saying that it sounded perfectly clear. Blood work all came back fine apart from an overactive thyroid which was diagnosed in March this year and I'm on tablets and under an endocrinologist for - had an ultrasound scan and I have benign nodules all small on the thyroid. 
 

The shoulder blade pain is a sharp ache and seems more related to movement than breathing, although the odd deep breath does cause pain too. And the dry cough is still there, it's not a strong cough but more of a clearing throat cough - phlegm seems to gather in my throat all the time which is why I'm constantly clearing it. 
 

I got sent for an X-ray finally, which was Wednesday last week and my anxiety is through the roof which it has been for some time. Now with the bank holiday I'd imagine my results will be delayed. 
 

Im not really sure of what I want to achieve by posting on here, I suppose I want to find some comfort which will realistically only happen when I get results. 
 

I've made the ultimate mistake of googling, which has become a obsession and I need to cut it out - but I'm finding that really hard to do. 
 

Thank you for allowing me to rant! 
 

p.s I have been a smoker, on and off  and also electronic cigarettes. 

  • Hi there and welcome to our friendly forum.  So first of all stop panicking, and googling, it's pointless and makes you expect the worse as nearly everything you put in will point to cancer.  So my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer and he had no pain, no weight loss, no ill health, just an annoying tickly cough but no nasty pleghm.  He was a smoker all his life so although a shock to us both his was smoking related.  But he was twice your age at diagnosis.  Your results will be through soon, I've just had a chest x Ray due to getting covid and the results were back in my surgery within four days as it's mainly electronic now.  So call your surgery Tuesday and ask if they are back.  All I can say is that all the anxiety, worry and thinking the worst will not change whatever the outcome is, so stay busy, stop googling and I hope that all is well for you when you finally get your results.  Carol

  • Thank you for your kind words Carol. I have read a lot of your posts and you are so helpful replying to posts similar to mine. It's appreciated ! 

  • Keep thinking positive and let me know giw it turns out. Carol

  • Just thought I would update you. My chest X-ray came back clear. I'm still in a lot of pain in my back, had a massage there yesterday to try and help but no joy. 
     

    I think next steps are to be referred to muscular department at the hospital, so just wanted to give you an update and thank you once again for your kind response 

  • That's such good news for you all.  Just remember that not everything points to cancer!  I'm so pleased that in my younger days we didn't have Google.  Look after yourself and trust your real doctors advice!  Carol 

  • Thank you, I wish google didn't exist, they should at least block medical searches somehow.

     

    thank you for responding and take care of yourself!