Does My Partner Have Lung Cancer

jemma191 · New User Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 2

Hes 56 a heavy smoker for 3 decades, has diabetes, has had a cough for about 1 year. Ive always worried about the cough as it never went away only when he tried giving up smoking. For the last couple of days hes been complaining of shoulder pain thats getting worse, he says hes lethargic he also had severe bad back pain as well. He also has a metal plate in his leg from a motorbike accident. He says the shoulder pain is from when the police pushed his arms right up the back of his head. He trys to say all his motorbike and crashes are to blame for his shoulder pain. Ive always had this deep feeling that theres more to it and he has lung cancer. He doesnt have blood in his sputum. Im now depressed because I think he does have it and I cant stop worrying. I tell him go to the doctor but he wont, Im not to sure if I want him going 2 as it will freek me out if he does have it and I probably will get more depressed and lose sleep over it, I cant see life being fun without him.

jemma191 · New User Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 2

and have been diagnosed witth lung cancer, does the shoulder pain come and go or is it constantly there

onecoyote · Experienced user Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 67

Hi Jemma,
Sorry that you have to meet all of us on a forum like this, but welcome.
None of us here are qualified to diagnose anyone especially over the cyberwaves. However, all of us would agree that your partner needs to see a doctor and the sooner the better. Cancer has been nicknamed "the silent killer" for a reason. Symptoms are seldom seen or they are attributed to other problems. By the time you have visible or "unlivable" symptoms it is too late.
I for one can attest to the idea of being screened often. My husband was a smoker, had off and on pleurisy and bronchitis, and refused to see a doctor. He blamed his throat clearing and subsequent coughing on allergies. Needless to say, he ended being dragged to the doctor (by me) for a physical and through an xray found lung cancer. My husband was lucky because had he waited any longer, his cancer would have spread to the point where surgery would not have cured him. Yes, he is cured of the tumor but also lost his entire right lung.
So, do everything you can to get your partner to the doctor, it is a matter of life or death.
Good Luck,
Onecoyote
_________________
Husband Danny, age 65,
diagnosed June 6, 2008,
downstaged to 2A squamous cell NSCLC.
Pneumonectomy performed on Sept. 4, 2008.

"Women are like teabags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water!"
Eleanor Roosevelt

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1386

Hi Jemma,

I'm sorry you are having such concerns over your partner. He really should see a doctor -- period. The only advice I can give is that our oncologist told us that if the pain went away with an over-the-counter pain killer, it was probably not a metastasis. The pain could also be related to pleural effusion. How is his breathing overall?

Again -- this is a symptom that I've seen many have before diagnosis and this is NOTHING to play around with, so get him to a doctor. I know --men are lunkheads about this sometimes.

Maybe it's nothing, but better safe than sorry.

Good luck!

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

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