Hi,

I can only share my experience, but I hope it gives some perspective.

I'm 42 and have had similair symptoms to you. I was recently told I have IBS which had had me in severe pain for half a year. This pain has thankfully subsided since starting the low FODMAP diet. Feeling so much better since the diet is finally what stopped me worrying about bowel cancer. I was sleeping terribly, full of anxiety, tired all the time, couldnt focus, and in real and severe pain for half a year.

IBS isnt fun but its not bowel cancer. I am glad i have I way to manage it. 

I then found a lump on my chest, I found it becasue i have had pain in my right shoulder for a while and was just pushing my shoulder around trying to pop my shoulder. I have been a heavy smoker for decades but am fit and strong for my age.

The NHS gave me an urgent X-Ray, which had me in panic after being kind of fobbed off for so long with my stomach issues ( I suppose they had to wait 3 months for me to have consistant pain before telling me it was IBS - thats protocol). 

I thought being sent for an urgent xray (literally the next day) meant my GP was particularly concerned. I was in a state of severe panic. On the day of the X-ray I was told there was nothing of obvious concern (thats all the nurse can say unless there is an obvious problem when i expect the nurse will say something and the next phase of testing will be accelerated). 

I just recieved my final results today - "normal and reassuring" and something about a minor deformation in my collar bone (thats what the lump was). So I am feeling pretty releived. You may have some kind of deformation too, the xray will be able to tell you. not all lumps are cancer! In fact very few are. They are of course worth having checked. 

I write all of this to say that I think I have to finally face up to the fact that after 6 + months of various cancer fears (albeit coupled with some real physical pain - IBS), that I am suffering from health anxiety. My levels of anxiety have rocketed since covid started and that is now manifesting itself in constant fear of having cancer. 

You are right to have yourself checked but try not to panic (easier said than done i know) based on what you have written you sound very anxious as well (or maybe just stressed. 4 children is a lot of work). At 42 I am doing yoga for the first time in my life - it is helping - there are loads of resources on youtube. 

I am not a doctor but from my research online lung cancer is typcially a dry cough, it sounds more like you have a chest infection of some kind. also it is hugely unlikely that you would have stomach pains and chest issues both relating to cancer. You are very young too, even i am way younger than a typcial lung cancer patient - the chances for me were very small, they are even smaller for you. 

In my case i think, rather than the x-ray meaning there was cause for serious concern, it was. simply an easier and faster way than having to wait 1-2 months for a specialist appointment to look at the lump on my chest. an Xray can also tell you how serious a lung infection is. A lung infection is not fatal as you will know. 

If you smoke -please stop, i have stopped for 2 months -it sucks but smoking it just so stupid and pointless - I wish i never started. 

I know it is not easy, but you will have your results soon. I hope you will be able to relax after that. 

Good luck and try to take some deep breaths (try wimm hoff breathing techniques too)

Hi! Thankyou so much for your reply. I read it earlier today but wanted to reply properly so I waited until I had finished the school run. I 100% have health anxiety and I think being a mum has amplified it due to worrying about having to leave them, I have had some therapy for it but unfortunately it didn't help. I'm so glad you are finding some ways to cope and I hope to be able to do the same eventually, it really can rule your life at times. It's good to hear your X-ray was normal, what a relief that was I'm sure. I know my issues could be lots of things but again my mind tells me it's life threatening. I have never smoked, well done for stopping! I'm hoping my X-ray date is soon so I can get this over with and find out what's going on, waiting doesn't help my fears. 

again, thankyou for replying. I needed someone to talk to today and who better than someone that understands how I'm feeling :)

I'm glad i could help,  I do know how you feel :) 

Best of luck getting the xray done quickly and I hope you can relax a little.