Thursday 30 September 2021

Can Shoulder Pain Be A Sign Of Lung Cancer

Can Shoulder Pain Be A Sign Of Lung Cancer
Can Shoulder Pain Be A Sign Of Lung Cancer

Patient Presented With What Was Assumed To Be Rotator Cuff Injury

Can My Shoulder Pain Be Cancer?

byKate Kneisel, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today September 21, 2020

A 60-year-old man presents to an emergency department in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, with ongoing burning pain in his right shoulder. He notes that the pain began about 6 months earlier, has gradually worsened, and has not responded to pain killers. He says he experiences the pain throughout the day, and rates it as 7 out of 10 on the severity scale. He explains that the pain has started to interfere with his sleep and quality of life, that it is non-radiating, and that he has no weakness or sensory changes.

The patient notes that his work involves manual labor, but that he has not had an injury that might account for the pain. He says he has been assessed by several general practitioners and was diagnosed with rotator cuff injury based on the nature of his work. He was prescribed several analgesics as well as physiotherapy, but neither of these measures has relieved the pain.

The patient is in otherwise good health, with no history of chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, headache, or seizures. He notes no changes in appetite or weight, and his medical and surgical history are unremarkable. He notes that he quit smoking cigarettes about 2 years earlier, after a 30 pack-year history.

Physical Examination

Physical exam shows the following:

  • Blood pressure: 110/70 mm Hg
  • Heart rate: 90 beats/min
  • Temperature: 37.0°C
  • Oxygen saturation: 98% on room air

Discussion

Disclosures

Extreme Thirst And Frequent Urination

Thirst is common with the sudden onset of warmer weather, but sudden extreme thirst is a symptom that you should always discuss with your doctor. Some lung cancer tumors create a protein that acts very similar to the parathyroid hormone produced by the parathyroid gland. The parathyroid gland and kidneys normally regulate calcium levels in the body.

Cancer tumors can disrupt the process of regulating calcium, and lead to too much calcium in the bloodstream. Having a higher than usual level of calcium in the blood is called hypercalcemia, and about 10% to 20% of people with cancer develop hypercalcemia. High calcium levels are associated with being thirst and frequent urination.

Lung Cancer Diagnosis And Treatment At Moffitt Cancer Center

If youre experiencing shoulder pain or any other lung cancer signs, you can turn to the experienced team at Moffitt Cancer Center. Our Thoracic Oncology Program handles all stages of lung cancer, including rare malignancies. To speak with one of our lung cancer specialists, call or complete a new patient registration form online.

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Signs Lung Cancer Has Spread

Cancer that has spread beyond the lungscalled metastatic cancercan cause other symptoms as well, says Dr. Wert. For instance, if a patient has any ‘constitutional symptoms’ such as drenching sweats at night, persistent/unintentional weight loss, unexplained fevers, loss of appetite, persistent fatigue, these would be considered ‘red flag’ signs that should prompt urgent medical attention, he says. Other symptoms may arise depending on where the cancer has spread, he saysfor example, yellowing skin could occur if your liver is involved, and bone involvement could lead to joint or back pain.

The Fda Approved The Drug For People In The Early Stages Of Alzheimer’s Disease But Many Questions About Aduhelm Remain

Lung cancer symptoms: A sign of the deadly disease you ...

For the first time in almost 20 years, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease. The agency approved the drug aducanumab to potentially slow the progression of the devastating illness.

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, which is the most common form of dementia and makes up about 60-70% of all cases. Anyone who has had any experience with the disease knows how traumatic it can be for everyone involved, whether you’re a patient, family member, or caregiver.

But what started as good news has turned into controversy. Unclear results, conflicting information, high prices, and a refusal to prescribe from some well-known medical institutions including the Cleveland Clinic has resulted in countless questions and an investigation by Congress.

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Breathing Changes Or Wheezing

Shortness of breath or becoming easily winded are also possible symptoms of lung cancer. Changes in breathing can occur if lung cancer blocks or narrows an airway, or if fluid from a lung tumor builds up in the chest.

Make a point of noticing when you feel winded or short of breath. If you find it difficult to breathe after climbing stairs or performing tasks you once found easy, dont ignore it.

When your airways become constricted, blocked, or inflamed, your lungs may produce a wheezing or whistling sound when you breathe. This can have multiple causes, some of which are benign and easily treatable.

However, wheezing is also a symptom of lung cancer, which is why it merits your doctors attention. Dont assume that wheezing is caused by asthma or allergies. Have your doctor confirm the cause.

Exercises And Stretches That Offer Relief

Remember that if treatment doesnt work, its also wise to ask about the potential for cancer.

Some exercises and stretches that can help heal frozen shoulders include the following. These can also help stretch a tight and sore shoulder:

In addition to the above stretches, try these strengthening exercises when youre ready:

  • Outward rotation: Hold a rubber exercise band between your hands with your elbows at a 90-degree angle close to your sides. Press your hands out, rotating the lower part of the arms outward. You should feel your shoulder muscles working. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds, relax and repeat 10 to 15 times.
  • Inward rotation: Hook one end of a rubber exercise band around a doorknob. Grasp the other end with the hand of the affected arm, holding the elbow at a 90-degree angle. Pull the band toward your body aiming for the stomach area a couple of inches and hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat 10 to 15 times.

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Lung Cancer Symptoms No One Talks About

by Health Writer

When you have lung cancer, there are certain symptoms that may seem more obvious than otherslike persistent coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. But there are also symptoms that may not seem directly related to your lungs that could also be the result of this cancer. Keep reading to learn about eight symptoms that can result from lung cancer, plus, why they happen and how to manage them.

Metastatic Or Advanced Lung Cancer

Cancer symptom pains – Lung Cancer

About half the time, a type of cancer called non-small-cell lung cancer isnât diagnosed until it spreads beyond your lungs. Thatâs called metastatic or advanced cancer.

When this happens, it can damage bones, internal organs, and nerves. In rare cases, it can affect your muscles too. Itâs not typical, but intense shoulder pain may be one sign that this cancer has spread and damaged your muscles.

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If You Notice This Pain At Night Get Your Lungs Checked Experts Say

Discomfort in this body part could be a sign that something is wrong with your lungs.

When you’re in pain in the middle of the night, it’s impossible to sleep. On top of hurting, you’ll often feel restless and ultimately groggy the next morning. But those late-night aches may trying to tell you something. According to experts, pain at night in one specific spot could be a sign that you need to get your lungs checked for cancer. To see if you’re experiencing discomfort in this area, read on.

Read the original article on;Best Life.

Can Shoulder Blade Pain Be A Symptom Of Breast Cancer

Pain is not a common symptom of breast cancer. However, breast cancer that has metastasized can sometimes cause shoulder blade pain.

One of the most common locations for breast cancer metastasis is in the bones. Pain can be related to the cancer itself or fractures that happen when bones weaken.

Bladder, prostate, thyroid, uterus, lung, and kidney cancers can also spread to your bones. Lung and kidney cancers are also known to spread to the shoulder joint and shoulder blade.

It is also possible that pain near your right shoulder could be an indication that breast cancer has spread to your liver, because some of the nerve networks around the liver originate from the same nerves that attach near your right shoulder blade.

If youve had breast cancer in the past, and youre now experiencing shoulder pain, its a good idea to see a doctor about it as soon as possible. If it is a cancer relapse, treatment may help slow the cancers growth, relieve your symptoms, and protect your bones.

Yes. If youve had chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, you may have pain around your shoulder blade because of those treatments.

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Sudden Desire And Ability To Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking isnt easy, so being able to spontaneously do so is certainly the most ironic lung-cancer warning sign. According to a study published in the Journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, 48% of the 115 lung cancer patients evaluated quit smoking spontaneously and with very little effort before they were diagnosed with lung cancer. The proposed reasoning behind this is that early lung cancer tumors may secrete a substance that blocks a nicotine addiction.

The First Sign That Anything Was Wrong Was When He Coughed Up A Load Of Thick Blood

Lung cancer symptoms: 12 things to know about lung cancer

Early diagnosis of mesothelioma is difficult. The first obvious sign of illness may be when an effusion occurs. This is an accumulation of fluid which gathers in the pleural space around the lung, , which causes breathlessness. However, other symptoms may occur too. One man with mesothelioma initially complained of chest pain and a dull ache in his shoulder. Another man had backache, a croaky voice, weight loss and breathlessness. Several tests and biopsies may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis, and this can take a few weeks.

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What Is Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder is so named because it causes the shoulder to stiffen, reducing its mobility and making it feel like its frozen in place. Doctors dont know exactly what causes it, but they know that when it occurs, it is often the result of a problem in the joint capsule.

Fractures and overuse injuries like bursitis and tendinitis can lead to inflammation and a thickening of the connective tissues around the main shoulder joint. These tissues and tendons from the joint capsule that surrounds the joint and, as they become inflamed and scarred, they get stiff and lose their capacity to stretch.

This results in pain that, in turn, makes the patient less likely to move the shoulder. However, the lack of movement only makes the situation worse, further contracting the tissues. As the capsule tightens and shrinks, the shoulder joint has less room to move in, and the lubricating synovial fluid inside the joint capsule can become depleted.

Without treatment, bands of scar tissue form between the joint capsule and the bone, further limiting movement. The condition takes time to develop, with stiffness and range of motion gradually becoming worse over a period of three stages:

The following factors increase the risk of experiencing frozen shoulder:

When Back Pain Is A Symptom Of Lung Cancer

It is not uncommon for people to experience back pain with lung cancer or even to have back pain as their first symptom. While it may seem an unusual associationlinking the back to the lungsthere are defining features that are as telling as they are unique. Chief among them are the location and types of pain experienced, which may be quite different from your typical, chronic backache.

All told, around 25% of people with lung cancer will report back pain as a;symptom at some point in their disease.

Verywell / Hugo Lin

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Why Is The Approval Of Aduhelm Significant

According to the FDA, Aduhelm targets what is largely considered to be a marker of Alzheimer’s the presence of amyloid-beta plaques in the brain. In a clinical trial, Aduhelm was found to reduce these plaques, which could lead to a reduction of the patient’s clinical decline.

The FDA said it “examined the clinical trial findings with a fine-tooth comb” and used its Accelerated Approval program to make its decision. For scientists, this decision opens the door to new research and possibilities.

Redness And Swelling Of The Face

How to Spot Lung Cancer Early | Cancer Research UK

Although not common, persistent redness or swelling of the face may be a symptom of lung cancer, says Michael Wert, M.D., a pulmonary disease specialist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, OH. can be the result of a lung cancer compressing vital nerves and blood vessels within the chest and neck and always prompts urgent evaluation by a doctor, he says.

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Shoulder Pain As A Symptom

Unfortunately, shoulder pain related to lung cancer or mesothelioma can be very similar or identical to that of conditions such as arthritis. If you have any question at all about shoulder pain, it’s better to be safe and talk to your doctor. Yet, there are a few symptoms that make lung cancer more likely.

Symptoms that may be more concerning for lung cancer include shoulder pain that’s worse at night, pain that occurs at rest, and pain that’s not associated with any loss of motion with activity.

Shoulder pain is also more likely to be something non-skeletal if you do not recall any injury or activities in which you may have overused your shoulder.

Shoulder pain is also more likely to be a symptom;of lung cancer if you have other symptoms of lung cancer, such as shortness of breath a persistent cough, wheezing, hoarseness, coughing up blood, fatigue, or if you are losing weight for no reason.

Keep in mind that the symptoms of lung cancer in women and symptoms of lung cancer in non-smokers are often less typical than those in menand sometimes very vague, such as the gradual onset shortness of breath with activity and fatigue.

Many people dismiss the early symptoms of lung cancer as being due to age-related changes in exercise tolerance, weight gain, or being too sedentary.

Be Alert Shoulder Pain Can Be A Sign Of Lung Cancer

Windowofworld.com Shoulder pain can be a natural sign of lung cancer, especially if it is accompanied by other health symptoms such as muscle weakness and tingling. Check in full here.

Shoulder pain is a common health condition. Improper posture, carrying a heavy bag, or sitting in front of the computer for too long can cause shoulder pain.

This condition can generally be treated by taking pain relievers or warm and cold compresses. However, if shoulder pain often appears and does not improve, you should be careful. Therefore, shoulder pain can be a sign of lung cancer.

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Blood Clots: Dvt And Pe

Someone with lung cancer is more likely to get a blood clot in their legs or arms and lungs . We don’t know exactly why. The cancer could cause inflammation that triggers the clotting process, or chemicals from the tumor itself might cause clots. Your doctor may do tests if you have a blood clot and other symptoms of cancer, too, like unexplained weight loss. Ã

Can Lung Cancer Ever Be Responsible

Lung cancer symptoms: Signs of a tumour include shoulder ...

Yesbut, says Alex Little, MD, a thoracic surgeon with a special interest in esophageal and lung cancer, and clinical professor at the University of Arizona.

The only way a lung cancer can cause pain is by invading through the pleural lining of the lung and growing into the chest wall, explains Dr. Little.

This occurs but is an infrequent occurrence. The most common example is the Pancoast tumor at the top of the lung that causes shoulder pain by invading the nerves in that area.

Im sure most back pain is due to etiologies other than lung cancer.

Pain that persists over time despite standard treatment would be consistent with a lung cancer but, again, lung cancer as a cause is unlikely.

Though lung cancer as a cause of back pain at rest, even in a smoker, is not the most likely cause, theres something else that must be considered.

Other cancers can cause back pain. The concerning issue is if the pain persists at rest, no matter how comfortable the patient tries to get.

What would be more reassuring is if chronic back pain can clearly be associated with certain activities or body positions, and goes away when those offending activities or motions are ceased.

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The Link Between Shoulder Pain And Lung Cancer

People who get shoulder pain may worry about it being caused by lung cancer. While this is possible, its much more likely that your shoulder pain is caused by something like an injury, tendonitis, or arthritis. Your doctor can help you determine the cause of your pain.

Shoulder pain can be a symptom of lung cancer from early through late stages of the disease.

Read on to learn about the types of lung cancer that can cause shoulder pain.

Early Warning Signs Of Lung Cancer

Most lung cancers dont cause symptoms until the disease has advanced, in part because the lungs have few nerve endings. When lung cancer does cause signs in its early stages, they may vary from person to person but commonly include:

  • A new cough that is persistent or worsens, or a change in an existing chronic cough
  • Cough that produces blood

Less common symptoms of lung cancer may include:

  • Swelling in the face or neck
  • Difficulty swallowing or pain while swallowing
  • Changes in the appearance of fingers, called finger clubbing

Although most of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by something other than lung cancer, its important to see a doctor. Discovering lung cancer early may mean more treatment options are available.

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