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Are Intermittent Chest Twinges Between The Ribs Signs Of Lung Cancer?
Question: I am a 66 year old male. I smoked from age 17 to age 32 one pack per day and stopped 34 years ago. My latest physical was good with good blood work. My chest X-ray one year ago was good. My latest ekg good. I'm pretty active but a bit of a stress case forever. I have some intermittent chest twinges or pain...just below my breat between the ribs near the sternum...minor intermittent pain. I play tennis 1-2 per week. No weight loss no cough no clubbing no blood no feeling ill at all. Should I worry about lung cancer or very unlikely?! I'm sure it's not my heart...I was strong I'm my last treadmill. Is it likely chest wall pain like chostrocondritis or or from sleeping with my are stretched in a funny position? Would chest pain from lung cancer be more consistent and other symptoms like cough weight loss etc I continue to beat myself up over smoking even though I quit years ago. I also have severe cervical spinal stenosis and I have read that it can cause chest pains??? Thank you
Brief Answer:
lung cancer unlikely
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
getting diagnosed with lung cancer after having mild intermittent atypical chest pain would be very unlikely. It would have been more likely if you had chronic cough or hemoptysis (spiting blood). Central chest pain should initiate investigation for heart related problems but your pain seems to occur out of nowhere (or at least you haven't mentioned any connection with physical activity) and you seem to get on well with physical activity like playing tennis.
Physical examination is important in your case. Palpation may identify sensitive spots on the chest wall. I doubt that auscultation or the rest of the physical exam would help. An X-ray might help to exclude bone disorders. Although we haven't talked in much detail about your pain, stress seems to play a role in your case. Costochondritis may cause pain but it should be reproducible with palpation of the affected area. Severe cervical spinal stenosis is expected to cause numbness and/or weakness of the extremities and cervical pain. Bending the head may cause 'electric-shock' like pain in severe cases but you seem to be able to play tennis, so I guess this is not the case with you.
So in conclusion, although I believe that stress-related symptoms is the most likely cause of your situation, you should proceed with investigation, starting with clinical examination by your doctor and an X-ray of the affected area.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
lung cancer unlikely
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
getting diagnosed with lung cancer after having mild intermittent atypical chest pain would be very unlikely. It would have been more likely if you had chronic cough or hemoptysis (spiting blood). Central chest pain should initiate investigation for heart related problems but your pain seems to occur out of nowhere (or at least you haven't mentioned any connection with physical activity) and you seem to get on well with physical activity like playing tennis.
Physical examination is important in your case. Palpation may identify sensitive spots on the chest wall. I doubt that auscultation or the rest of the physical exam would help. An X-ray might help to exclude bone disorders. Although we haven't talked in much detail about your pain, stress seems to play a role in your case. Costochondritis may cause pain but it should be reproducible with palpation of the affected area. Severe cervical spinal stenosis is expected to cause numbness and/or weakness of the extremities and cervical pain. Bending the head may cause 'electric-shock' like pain in severe cases but you seem to be able to play tennis, so I guess this is not the case with you.
So in conclusion, although I believe that stress-related symptoms is the most likely cause of your situation, you should proceed with investigation, starting with clinical examination by your doctor and an X-ray of the affected area.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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