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Overweight, Smoking And Alcohol Addiction, Have Tightness In Upper-middle Chest. Family History Of Lung Cancer. Chances Of Me Having Cancer?
I am a 38 year old woman, about 140 pounds overweight . I have abused alcohol for a few years. A few years ago, I smoked two or three cigarettes per month. My grandmother had lung cancer (she never smoked), diagnosed at age 75 or so. My mother (her daughter) has frequent bronchitis . Today, I woke up with tightness in the upper-middle chest , on both sides. I am worried about lung cancer. Is this probable?
posted on
Sat, 30 Jun 2012
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 14 Jul 2012
Answered on
Mon, 16 Jul 2012
Last reviewed on
User's Response
Dr. Tushar Sahasrabudhe's
Response
Hello.
Not all who smoke get lung cancer. Similarly, not all cancer patients are smokers. The risk increases when your smoking index crosses 200 (It is defined as number of cigarettes per day multiplied by number of years smoked). You seem to have smoked little, so the risk is very low.
The chest tightness is usually due to bronchitis, acid reflux, sometimes angina (unlikely in your case). You are overweight and you take alcohol. If you are also snoring at night, this may indicate sleep apnoea!
For the moment, get a X-ray chest done which should rule out cancer adequately and close the topic. Reduce weight and stop smoking/ alcohol abuse.
-Dr. Tushar
Not all who smoke get lung cancer. Similarly, not all cancer patients are smokers. The risk increases when your smoking index crosses 200 (It is defined as number of cigarettes per day multiplied by number of years smoked). You seem to have smoked little, so the risk is very low.
The chest tightness is usually due to bronchitis, acid reflux, sometimes angina (unlikely in your case). You are overweight and you take alcohol. If you are also snoring at night, this may indicate sleep apnoea!
For the moment, get a X-ray chest done which should rule out cancer adequately and close the topic. Reduce weight and stop smoking/ alcohol abuse.
-Dr. Tushar
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