I am 32 years of age. About six months back I had a bad pain radiating from my chest to shoulder. I quit smoking after that for about 2 months. The pain was so bad that I could not breath for a few seconds. I had my X-ray and MRI then when came out clean. I did suffer from shoulder pain after that for about 2 months. There was tickling sensation in my lungs for a couple of days.
I started smoking 2 months later for about 3 months. And suddenly I lost my urge to smoke. I mean there was not a single craving or withdrawal symptom. I started reading about this on internet and found that this is a very bad sign. Suddenly loosing urge of quitting smoking is a early sign of Lung cancer. As these are latest research topics I could not find much of data on the same except for a few articles. I wanted to know if this is true for all those who loose urge suddenly? Are there people who this has not been true for?
I mean for young people too? I have been a heavy smoker for about 6 years with total smoking for about 9 years. Not sure if this is relevant to discuss here but, this is the best forum I know for this topic.I will be thankful if you answer this question. Also, I have been experiencing pain in my right chest when i deep breath. My chest specialist said it was because of muscle problem as it would pain when I press it from outside.
Reply # - February 4, 2014, 04:59 AM
Reply To: Sudden Urge to Quit Smoking!
Hi prakashkamat,
There are a number of reasons to think it is unlikely that you have lung cancer.
Although there are always exceptions, the lung cancer caused by smoking tends to take a number of years to develop and is usually diagnosed in patients much older than you.
Second, If the pain you were feeling from chest to shoulder was caused by lung cancer, it would not be likely to get better; cancer pain tends to get progressively worse without treatment.
Third, one of the problems with lung cancer is that it tends not to cause symptoms (especially those as significant as yours) until it is advanced. If you had advanced lung cancer, it is very likely that it would have appeared on one of your scans.
Finally, although it is true that some smokers quit smoking just before a lung cancer diagnosis, it is not true that everyone who suddenly quits smoking has lung cancer. Also, the data tend to show that more smokers quit before any symptoms appear. You can read about the research here: http://cancergrace.org/lung/2009/11/30/can-smoking-cessation-be-a-prese…
Although it is wise to continue to follow up with your doctors, I do not believe you should assume that lung cancer is the cause of your symptoms.
JimC
Forum moderator
Reply # - February 4, 2014, 12:10 PM
Reply To: Sudden Urge to Quit Smoking!
Since you asked I wanted to say that my husband was a smoker until he was dx with lung cancer. Though a couple of years before he started having symptoms he quit smoking for a couple of months, no reason better than he didn't want to stop at the store on a long drive home. It wasn't for a couple of more years that he started having symptoms. I've not read it since Dr. Weiss first pub it but D fit into to that group.
A CT isn't likely to miss cancer with such symptoms you describe (D had xrays and an MRI that missed his 3cm tumor hiding somehow though I've got no details why. and CT didn't miss it or the damage it'd done). Like Jim said symptoms don't go away without treatment you'd have gone to a cancer center for. It takes years of smoking to develop the mutations needed to cause smoking related cancer and you don't fit into that age category either. It's easy to see why the doctors assume you don't have cancer.
On a more personal note, With the very little I know I'd ask for a CT to further look for causes of pain that are obviously diminishing life's quality. I was talking to a fellow bikrim yoga student last night about our past yoga experiences and realized one of the reasons I got so far out of shape in the 15+ years since strict workout sched is that if my neck, back, arm, attitude started bothering me I'd do this or that posture for a week and it'd go away, no need to keep up a formal schedule, the same type of symptom management we all know isn't the optimal way to go. Yoga, done correctly, with a well educated instructor is a good non medical way to look, find, and often solve problems of the body (mind and spirit;) ).
I hope you find what's bothering you you're so young.
All Best,
Janine
Reply # - February 4, 2014, 06:00 PM
Reply To: Sudden Urge to Quit Smoking!
Thank you JimC and Janine.
After what has happened over last couple of months I have a feeling that the symptoms that have been coming and leaving is not related to lung cancer. But, I think I will talk my specialist for a CT scan, just to be compleately sure.
But, Jim I understand when you say that not all smokers who quit suddenly have lung cancer, is it true for those who quit without any urge or withdrawal symptoms aswell? I mean, even now when I smoke to find out, I don't get the same feeling out of the smoke that I use to get earlier. There seems to be a disconnect somewhere. No urge is what bothers me more than anything else.
Thanks.
Reply # - February 4, 2014, 07:20 PM
Reply To: Sudden Urge to Quit Smoking!
It is absolutely true that not all (or even most) people who lose the urge to smoke have or get lung cancer. The fear of being sick or being sick are 2 such examples (I've done both). The lose of urge because my husband spent 2 agonizing weeks in the hospital after surgery to diagnose lung cancer was good enough for me (a absolute last time for me).
No one over the internet can guarantee you won't get lung cancer or don't have lung cancer. I hope you don't and I very much suspect you don't. I hope you can come to the same conclusion soon.
Janine
Reply # - February 5, 2014, 03:06 AM
Reply To: Sudden Urge to Quit Smoking!
Janine, I understand what you say. Thank you so much. I know age is on my side and that is a very strong point. Its just that after so many efforts to quit with very bad cravings and withdrawal symptoms this times it was very easy. That is what made me anxious. My body was not accepting smoking anymore though I mentally was not preparing for it. And then I read this article which worried me. No cravings scared me. Even now if i smoke there is no feel of it. Its strange. Thus I posted to find answers.
Thank you for your answer. I guess its the scare from some other thing that happened to me which must have affected my mind.
Reply # - May 16, 2014, 01:21 AM
Reply To: Sudden Urge to Quit Smoking!
Want to know more info? Then visit http://www.topquitsmokingguide.com
Reply # - November 13, 2014, 11:23 PM
Yes, smoking causes lung
Yes, smoking causes lung cancer and due to this addiction you fell pain in your chest. Lung cancer can be causes by smoking, alcohol, drug addict etc. To overcome these problem, various addiction counsellor are available who can guide you in a proper manner.
Reply # - May 28, 2015, 12:06 AM
Hi Prakash,
Hi Prakash,
Hope you are doing well.
Have you undergone any test for it?
Even I dont have any cravings for the last 1 week, So please share and guide me.
If you don't mind, pl share your email ID or reach me @ k_v_1@yahoo.com.
Thanks.
Venkat.K
Reply # - May 29, 2015, 06:07 AM
Hi Venkat,
Hi Venkat,
It doesn't appear that Prakash has posted since the above post in February of last year. I think that absence of follow-up posts is a pretty good indication that Prakash was not diagnosed with lung cancer, which is a very good example of how quitting smoking suddenly does not necessarily indicate the presence of lung cancer.
JimC
Forum moderator
Reply # - May 29, 2015, 09:12 AM
Just to add an example,
Just to add an example, almost 20 years ago I became involved with bikram yoga. It's a very intense healing regimen if done consistently over a period of time. Without trying or even thinking of doing I started eating better, I stop smoking, and I decided and left a bad marriage. Sometimes your body is in the right shape to insist on having better without your pushing it to be so.