Pancoast tumour or Lung problems?

Lexi1991
Posts:1

Hey everyone,

I'm needing advice as I've been in a considerable amount of pain for 3 month with my left shoulder blade and just below it.

The pain is like a deep, gnawing dull ache that some times feels like a burning ache. I'm 29 and have been smoking on and off 10 years. I'm booked in for an MRI next month but need some advice and if anyone else has had similar problems.

I phoned NHS 111 today and they sent an ambulance and they did my blood pressure and ECG and they said they look fine and just to wait for the MRI scan but I cannot help but worry because I would say the first time in my life I've ever had this type of pain and to this magnitude.

I'm also getting alot of muscle spasms all over my body, especially my left eye and this is really worrying me as well. I just don't know what to do, I'm taking co codamol and aspirin but the pain still remains. What's the chances I have a pancoast tumour or lung cancer? That always seems to pop up on Google annoyingly. I just can't seem to escape this pain and discomfort. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you

Danny 

JanineT GRACE …
Posts: 635
GRACE Community Outreach Team

Hi Danny,

 

Welcome to Grace.  I'm sorry I didn't see this post yesterday.  I will address your question by the end of the evening. 

 

Janine

I joined GRACE as a caregiver for my husband who had a Pancoast tumor, NSCLC stage III in 2009. He had curative chemo/rads then it was believed he had a recurrence in the spine/oligometastasis that was radiated. He's 10 years out from treatment.

JanineT GRACE …
Posts: 635
GRACE Community Outreach Team

Hi Danny,

 

I'm sorry you're having so much pain and worry.   I can't say you don't have a pancoast tumor but it really is extremely unlikely.  At 29 years you haven't lived long enough to develop the multiple mutations that cause smoking related lung cancer.  On the rare occasion when a 29 year old gets lung cancer it's not from smoking.  Some people get cancers from a single acquired mutation (not to be confused with inherited mutations). 

Too, pancoast tumors don't cause the facial problems you've described.  (In the other post that I also didn't see, very sorry about that, you described the face issues with more detail)  Hornor syndrome causes different symptoms on the face and eyes. 

 

As far as google is concerned I don't know how pancoast tumor got to such a high status in the results list but there are many too many people finding their symptoms point to pancoast tumor when it's not.  Out of probably 50 threads asking the same questions as you on this forum, no one has come back to say they do have it.  So you're not alone. 

 

You might want to keep a journal of your symptoms to share with your doctor I don't know but they could point to something specific or they may not be related. 

 

I hope you find relief soon,

Janine

I joined GRACE as a caregiver for my husband who had a Pancoast tumor, NSCLC stage III in 2009. He had curative chemo/rads then it was believed he had a recurrence in the spine/oligometastasis that was radiated. He's 10 years out from treatment.

Debra K
Posts: 1

Danny, please do not worry. Worry creates anxiety and it will make all of your muscles twitch and tighten.  If you haven't been diagnosed with cancer than don't worry. I am in remission from a pancoast tumor that I was diagnosed with 3 years ago. Quiet your thoughts and wait to hear if you have a tumor or not. Don't throw your body off by worrying. Stay positive. Please don't worry when you don't have to. But do stop smoking. Cigarettes stink and they're dangerous. Chances are that you don't have a pancoast tumor.