my father is a smoker for years…he is 41 and he thinks he has lung cancer. he wont go to the doctors though, because he is scared it actually might be cancer. i know..stupid.
He has been feeling this pain in his back just under his right shoulder blade for about 7 months. Not constant, but every now and then when he takes deep breaths. smokers cough, but not every five minutes or anything. Not any bloody mucaus, i dont think. he actually has been gaining a little weight rather than loosing like lung cancer symptoms say and still has his appetite.
I know no one can diagnose him but it would clear my mind for now with other options, than cancer. He said he would let me set up an appt. after thanksgiving. please ease my mind untill then, if you can.
Pain In Back, Under Right Shoulder Blade, Maybe Lung?
November 15th, 2009 · 7 Comments · Pain
Tags: Back·Blade·Lung·Maybe·Pain·Right·Shoulder·Under
Is your Father on the computer a lot? if so, it could be a pinched nerve related to computer use…..or anything else where he might be straining his back…..I was a smoker for twenty years and quit cold turkey because of a coughing scare….I went out purchased a carton of cigarettes put a pack in my car, in the kitchen, in the bedroom, in the living room etc., so I wouldn’t feel as if I couldn’t have them if I wanted to……and it worked, I have never smoked since that time. After awhile (2,3 months) He will start feeling things like better breathing, food starts to taste soooo good, and you’re not carrying around that odor, just to mention a few . Good Luck, I hope it isn’t cancer and I hope he quits smoking. He is still so young and has a whole life in front of him to enjoy…
This is so funny because I came on here to ask the same question! I’m 48 years old and have smoked for 5 years I too am haiving the same pain in the same place. I keep thinking of Cancer Because my Dad just passed away with it he was 77. So its always in my head. But i do a lot of heavy lifting I work outside doing lawn mowing and landscaping and I’m alway lifting more than I should. But its so funny that it is on my right side around my shoulder balde hurts worse when I take a deep breath byt it also hurts when I move the muscle. I’m thinking its just from lifting But I’m going to the doc next week and tell your Dad to go to. We will all feel better knowing.
ask doc to do chest xray and see what shows or doesn’t
then you will know for sure
can be pneumonia,cancer,or something else
if you can make it ache more by pressing it or moving the shoulder, then it is on the surface, muscles. being on the right side could mean he works on a posture that is making it poorly irrigated by blood which injuries the tissue, making it hurt., maybe using a mouse too long, a telephone on the right side, some repetitive movements or posture that causes that. It would be wise to analise the workplace in order to identify bad postures, or maybe swap devices from left to right. by being a couch potato one can feel like having all kinds of diseases, since all of your “external body” is prone to ache every now and then, by focusing on it you can “have all kinds of cancer”. exercise release endorphin and end the pain also conditioning the muscle. does he do any stretching at work? he should. Its also a sign of guilty, by smoking you always expect somethng like that, the first possible sign you take it for cancer. His having gained weight could mean depression, if started after, its due to preocupation, if before, could be the very cause, since when depressed we get paranoid and feel all kinds of illness and morbid thoughs.
Well, since you want other options, how about the simplest solution. Maybe your father has back and neck pain. Because the nerves run through the spine, it is typical to feel pain somewhere and have the problem be somewhere else. Pain in the shoulder, back and lungs, could mean your father has a neck problem.
i have pain there too but ive never smoked before in my life so it might just be pain
Honestly, this does not sound like lung cancer. Generally, lung cancer doesn’t have any definite manifestations until quite late in the disease (hence why it has such a high mortality rate…people don’t know they have it).
He could have possibly COPD, which isn’t curable, but it’s manageable.. Or possibly even just a pinched nerve, etc.
Still, have it checked out…but really I don’t think it’s anything huge to worry about.