Lung cancer paranoia

Suitman55

Okay so, I'd just like to start out by saying I'm new here and going out of my mind. I don't know where to begin, nor which forum to go to before actually going to see a doctor about it, so I just went here because it was recommended to me. 

Simply put, I'm worried about cancer. I'm a 19 year old male, with no previous lung-related health complications which is why this disturbs me even further, I've also never smoked in my life, but have been subject to secondhand smoke and relatively mild air pollution all my life. I lead a relatively dormant life but am generally in good health. No one in either side of my bloodline (mom or dad) has ever suffered from any form of serious illness, except for my mom's mom who suffered from chronic bronchitis and died from an attack caused by it. I want to also preface all of this by saying I'm an extremely anxious person and hypochondriac as of recently, most likely due to isolation because all my friends are busy and i'm stuck doing nothing much, since I finished school recently, so this may be making these things worse.

Symptoms: So this all started almost a month back with a bad throat infection, which seemingly went away after the use of antibiotics which were perscribed to me. At the time I also went to see a neurologist, worrying I might have MS, as I was having very specific symptoms, only to find out I don't have anything at all after an MRI. However, during that time I also had strange uncomfortable chest sensitivity and very mild pain coming from all around, as if bubbles were forming underneath the skin and then going away eventually, this is present even now, though much less frequently. It is made worse or even sometimes caused by feeling anxious and thinking about stressful things.

After a while, though, the very mild pain started to concentrate only on my right lung area, almost like a burning, aching type of feeling, not always there, but worsened sometimes by flexing my chest or breathing very deeply, also a spot under my ribs on the right side is painful to the touch, though this may just be paranoia. Also, it can barely be called pain, more like discomfort(the ongoing ache). It didn't get any worse during these 3-4 weeks I've been feeling it. At about the same time, I had a dry cough and a low-grade fever, both of which persisted to even now. However, I don't know if I had recurrent fever the entire time, I only noticed I still had it last night when I got suspicious due to small head pain while moving.

The cough was worse when it began, and was slightly more intense, however never nearly as gutwrenching as the stories I heard. It is a fairly weak cough, though consistently dry, and it is becoming less and less frequent, sometimes being triggered after a meal or drink, sometimes coming randomly. So, it never became productive.

I am sorry for the long description, I'm training to see how to describe all this to my specialist anyways, and looking for opinions to see if anyone has an idea as to how to go about it when facing my doc. Should I summazire by saying: 'Chest discomfort and right side mild pain, persistent dry cough and low fever', or tell my entire history right off the bat?

Sidenote: I know it might be a thousand other things and I'm also aware I could be subject to a type of bronchitis, but with the overlapping symptoms, I am mortified it might be the worst. Last thing: There is an epidemic going on here with people coughing their 'brains' out, with mucus, blood, etc., along with low-grade fevers, all turning out fine after x-rays and such. My symptoms slightly differ from the usual case of this and it's enough to make me worry. That's because my case started slightly earlier from the epidemic itself and might have just been prolonged because of it, as almost all of my close relatives are affected severely by it. 

-Thanks so much in advance for any replies

     

jorola

first thing - take a deep breath

Seriously you can. Nothing I read leads me to think cancer hun. Anxiety appears to have a firm grip on you and that will lead to these symptoms and/or make any symptoms worse. As someone who suffers from chronic bronchitis (very sorry to hear of your mom), MRSA and asthma it sound more like a lingering cold, allergies or even coughing asthma...all very treatable. I mean this with nothing but caring - you need to see your dr about your anxiety and you need to take care of yourself mentally and socially. I bet you do that and these other symptoms will disappear. But talk to your dr - they are the medical proffessional not I. At least for your peace of mind but please also talk to them about your anxiety - suffering like that is not necessary but you need to take that first step. ONe final note - remember only a biopsy can confirm cancer - not an MRI, CT, x-ray or blood tests only a biopsy.

Suitman55

jorola said:

first thing - take a deep breath

Seriously you can. Nothing I read leads me to think cancer hun. Anxiety appears to have a firm grip on you and that will lead to these symptoms and/or make any symptoms worse. As someone who suffers from chronic bronchitis (very sorry to hear of your mom), MRSA and asthma it sound more like a lingering cold, allergies or even coughing asthma...all very treatable. I mean this with nothing but caring - you need to see your dr about your anxiety and you need to take care of yourself mentally and socially. I bet you do that and these other symptoms will disappear. But talk to your dr - they are the medical proffessional not I. At least for your peace of mind but please also talk to them about your anxiety - suffering like that is not necessary but you need to take that first step. ONe final note - remember only a biopsy can confirm cancer - not an MRI, CT, x-ray or blood tests only a biopsy.

Thank you

Sincerely. That's very nice and reassuring. My heart's been pumping full throttle for weeks now. I'm still going to the doc for peace of mind but this simple response allowed me to calm down enough to eat without feeling like throwing up. My stomach is easily irritated by stress. Blessings and best wishes to anybody suffering from anything like this, people living with these things are unspoken heroes and an endless source of motivation.

Though I know these things aren't necessarily immediate death sentences, I don't think I'd be able to handle them whatsoever. Here goes nothing with the appointment.

Cheers.

jorola

Good to hear

my response helped. I feel that you have stressed so much over this and hope that you can have a good appointment with your dr and get some help with your anxiety. You are too young with so much living yet to do that you should not be held back by anxeity when it can be treated. Go live, laugh and love - have a blast - that is what life is meant for.

Suitman55

Thank you for reading, sorry for the trouble.

To update and close this thread, I had the checkup and got scanned. It was a negative on anything even potentially malignant and needed no further evaluation. This along with blood and urine tests confirmed health stability, and if anything, stated the opposite of usual anomalies that appear when it comes to cancer growth somewhere in the body. 

Thank you all for at least reading, and jorola for offering comforting words -- it made me get a grip of myself. 

With the amount of people who read my initial post, I am surprised and actually slightly relieved that not many replied, giving me the impression that it most likely wasn't anything serious. 

I count that as support, and I will do my best to reciprocate in any way I can during the course of my life, whenever the opportunity is granted. This goes without saying, but I wanted to make it absolutely clear.

jorola

That is awesome news!

Now go live, laugh and love.