Are heavy-feeling lungs a symptom of lung cancer?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
I am a former smoker. My left lung (bottom lobe) feels heavy when I lay down to sleep at night and has felt that way for the last couple of months. I've had a chronic cough for the past couple of weeks, but this could be leftover from a cold. I've had a lot of colds this season since my son started preschool.
Should I see a doctor and try to get an x-ray or cat scan? |
Anonymous
| !! I am not a doctor so I don't know. Please see a doctor ASAP. |
Anonymous
|
My first thought is emphysema from the smoking. Go to a doc ASAP.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001153/ |
Anonymous
| Could be pneumonia. Please see your doctor asap in any case. |
Anonymous
| Stop worrying, googling, or guessing. Take action, get to a doctor already! I would say that to anyone whose lung felt funny for two whole months, smoker or not!! |
Anonymous
| I thought emphysema too. Go to a doctor. |
Anonymous
| OP, please see a doctor and let us know what the doctor says. We are concerned. |
Anonymous
This is my first thought, too, and my dad just died from lung cancer. He had a persistent cough for YEARS and never talked about a heavy feeling. But his lungs felt "heavy" the several times he got pneumonia. However, go to the doc immediately. The history of smoking may have damaged lung tissue or other things, possibly permanently. My mother is a former smoker, and she was diagnosed with colon cancer within months of my father's cancer diagnosis. The docs are pretty sure her smoking history is what caused the colon cancer. She is very healthy today. The two things she had going for her is that she was a "former" not current smoker, and that she got regular screening exams and good health care. If something is wrong, finding it early can help tremendously. Best wishes. |
Anonymous
| I'm a breast cancer survivor. Breast cancer often spreads to the lungs, and when I have check-ups, my oncologist always asks whether I have a persistent cough or difficulty breathing. I therefore assume these to be common symptoms of lung cancer, but I'm sure there are others (and sometimes no symptoms at all). I've never been asked about "heavy lungs." That said, if something feels off, you should definitely get it checked out. At least for peace of mind! |
Anonymous
| Go to the doctor. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks everyone for your comments. I went to the doctor and had a chest x-ray. He said that the x-ray was clear and that I should not be worried. Thanking my lucky stars for this great news and for all of your encouragement. Thanks. |
Anonymous
| Wow, great news! Best wishes to you, OP. |
Anonymous
| Great news, OP! Glad you made the appointment and thanks for updating us. |
Anonymous
| great news! I would recommend a spirometry too with a pulmonologist just to rule-out mild emphysema though (you just blow into something). |
Anonymous
| Phew!!! SO happy for you!!!! |