Have I got lung cancer?

[Silver_Serpentine]

Well, do you have any family history of people gettig cancer at young ages?

I’m no expert, but I don’t think sudden appearances of symptoms (only two days of it) means cancer. It takes a while for cancer to grow and manifest.

Am I right? If not, someone correct me.

Maybe you just have a nasty cold?

A few years ago, one of my friends had snoked nothing but Camel Nonfilter. 6months of this resulted in coughing up blood. Switching to lights made the blood stop (I’ve never known any of my friends to actually stop smoking, heh). No cnacer in him.

IfI smoke too much in one day (an entire pack), when I wake up, if I inhale too deeply, I cough. This lasts for about 10 minutes, unless I drink something thick (like chocolate milk). I’ve been smoking for about 3 years, Lights mostly.

I switched from Marlboro to Camels because M’s were just too harsh. Made me cough more, gave me sore throats. Camel Special Lights are much smoother for me.

Oh, and after days of nasty coughing during a cold (before I started smoking) I would occasionally cough up a little hint of pink, or blow my nose and have a bit of red. It wasn’t anything to worrry about (so said my mother, the nurse).

I wouldn’t be worried. But if going to the Dr. makes you feel better, go for it.

[hijack]
Once, I was told that the lungs begin to heal themselves 20 minutes after you finish a cigarette. And I’ve read that after someone stops smoking, at about 3 years later, your chances for heart disease and cancer goes back to almost the same level as before you started smoking. True or false?
[/hijack]

[levdrakon]

*Originally posted by AnimistDragon *
**[hijack]
Once, I was told that the lungs begin to heal themselves 20 minutes after you finish a cigarette. And I’ve read that after someone stops smoking, at about 3 years later, your chances for heart disease and cancer goes back to almost the same level as before you started smoking. True or false?
[/hijack] **

I’d say your blood pressure goes down after 20 minutes or so. Your lungs probably start to heal sometime between immediately and overnight. I heard it’s 3-5 years before your heart disease and cancer risk return to their non-smoking levels. I imagine that’s a bell curve though, and my WAG is most of your risk is gone much sooner than 5 years.

[artemis]

*Originally posted by Ben Hicks *
I’d love it if a qualified MD could come and give me his/her professional opinion.

You’ve had a an MD’s professional opinion - mine. Of course, given the limitations of the internet (no way to take a complete history, do a physical examination, or perform necessary laboratory testing), it’s not worth all that much. That’s why you need to see a doc in the Real World to ge the treatment you need.

[Paco]

Dude don’t worry about it. Anyway, I cough up blood/have blood in my phlegm quite often in the winter.

You should be more worried about this:
http://quitclinic.tripod.com/quit1/id31.html

[don_t_ask]

*Originally posted by Ben Hicks *
**Does anyone know if the same effect can be achieved with heavy coughing? **

Sorry, I thought you’d just assume that. Read this and find that:

Indeed, the most common cause of hemoptysis is the least serious – a ruptured small blood vessel caused by coughing and/or a bronchitic infection.

[SnoopyFan]

I’ve coughed up tiny bits of blood when I’ve had really bad upper respiratory infections (lots of hard coughing), exactly as you described. And I’m not a smoker, and wasn’t at the time this happened to me.

IANAD, but I think you’re worrying over nothing. However if this is what it took to make you stop smoking, good. Go to the doc, get your clean bill of health and go on your smoke-free merry way.

[choosybeggar]

edwino, I’m with you. But I’m a derm resident so what do I know. Good response IMHO.