Firstly, having looked at this forum in the past, I am in awe of the knowledge, courage and empathy of those that use and support it.
So to my respectful request for advice if i may. I am a 46 yr old non-smoker.
For the past 9 months I have been experiencing slow progressive pain in the scapular (right hand) area that has gotten worse, and now moved more into the shoulder area, with weakness, and now numbness down my right arm a symptom.
During this period I have visited various Osteopaths, through to a shoulder specialist, with no specific diagnosis. Shoulder doc, thought it may be a torn muscle, but EMG proved negative. Only comments were that scapular area is 'puffy', and i did show positive on a 'Whipples' test (in the right arm)
I have also experienced (last 3 months) droopy eyelid, constricted pupil, but in the left hand eye. Every professional has said that you cannot have Pancoast syndrome, if those symptoms are co-lateral (opposite)
MRI scan of spine/brain in November showed nothing significant, and so a CT scan (with contrast of the chest/neck was carried out recently. Results back yesterday state, no issues, but small shadow likely to be post inflamatory in the right lung. No further action.
My concern through all this time is the slow progression of symptoms, and the obvious concern of what it may be. Also that now the comments of 'small shadow, which is likely post inflamatory' have not reduced my fears.
I would welcome any comments on the above, and thank you in advance.
Reply # - May 10, 2018, 08:18 AM
Hi broadlands,
Hi broadlands,
Welcome to GRACE. I'm sorry to hear of your symptoms, and I hope you can find some answers and relief from your pain. It's extremely unlikely that this is caused by a pancoast tumor. A CT scan that fails to show a significant-sized tumor essentially rules out that possibility. You would need to have a fairly large tumor, easily seen on a CT, to cause the type of symptoms you describe.The typical problem with lung cancer is that it doesn't cause symptoms until the cancer has reached an advanced stage, rather than experiencing symptoms before a tumor has grown.
Again, I hope that you can find a resolution to your issues.
JimC
Forum moderator
Reply # - May 10, 2018, 03:32 PM
I'm sorry you are having pain
I'm sorry you are having pain and know how worrisome the symptoms you describe can be. I hope you find some relief in Jim's assurance that it is very unlikely at this point to be a lung tumor. I have also had shoulder and arm pain and was worried for awhile that my lung cancer had come back. It is very easy for these thoughts to get the better of a person sometimes. I had several xrays and have started going for regular massage. This has helped immensely and I am no longer in pain. Perhaps you can also find relief with a massage and/or physical therapy.