Have Had Chest Pain. X-ray Normal. Have Dry Cough And Do Smoking. Suggest?

Posted on Thu, 5 Sep 2013

Question: I am a 29 year old former smoker of 5 pack years. I have had persistent chest pain for 3 months with a negative xray one month ago and little to no cough every couple of days a dry cough arises on e or twice in the day. I am messaging to ask if lung carcinoma specifically sclc due to my smoking is possible at such a young age. How often do lung carcinoma and sclc occur from smoking at an age under 30.

Thanks in advance

Answered by Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
The chances of cancer are less

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for posting the query on XXXXXXX After going through your query, I would like to comment the following:

1. Considering your dry cough and smoking history, you are at a risk of COPD rather then lung malignancy. It could be smoker's cough.

2. In absence of any other symptom, lung malignancy is less likely. SCLC is a very aggressive tumor and progressess very fast and hence other symptoms do manifest unlike your case.

3.Most cases of SCLC occur in individuals aged 60-80 years and it is very infrequent in the young age.

4. However, you need to visit a Pulmonologist and get yourself evaluated. Basic Investigations required - chest xray, pft and sputum examination.

5. Remember, its never too late for smoking cessation.

I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer follow up queries if any.
Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.

Regards

Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB
Consultant Pulmonologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra (12 minutes later)

Thank you for your response. I have had peripheral nervous symptoms. Fasciculations and stiff crampy extremeties for 11 months. 8 months ago I had a Chest Ct which was negative with no findings. I had a chest x XXXXXXX additionally one month ago due to the chest tightness/pain and a cough that occurs very seldomly maybe 1 or 2 days a week at most and only once or so during that day. My concern is that the neurologic symptoms of the peripheral nervous system are from a lung carcinoma specifically sclc. My symptoms started occuring when I was 28 and it being nearly 1 year now with no findings, I am still symptomatic. I have also had brain MRI as well as all 3 segments of my spine.
All radiographs of chest(CT 8 months ago, x XXXXXXX 1 month) ago were negative as well as spine and brain mri's 3 months ago.

Answered by Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Peripheral nervous system symptoms to be evaluated

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for the follow up.

1. The peripheral nervous system symptoms are unlikely to be due to SCLC lung, since it is a very aggressive type of malignancy and very fast growing, so fast that it is selodm diagnosed in initial stages. 8 months and all tests negative is a very unlikely scenario for sclc lung!

2. Please get yourself evaluated for COPD. Please visit a pulmonologist and get PFT done.

3. You can visit a neurologist seperately for the neurological symptoms.

I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer follow up queries if any.
Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.

Regards

Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB
Consultant Pulmonologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar