Ok, as this is “smoking is your own fault if you die” central, I’m not expecting sympathy, but I am worried.

[CathyTre]

I am a smoker. Have been since I was fourteen or so and never a “casual” or “social” smoker, a really heavy one. I’m addictive in many ways. I was anorexic for many years from about fourteen to about 27. Then a period of bulimia. Then, after my ex left me for the other woman, I decided (didn’t decide, but on some level I guess) to drink heavily. Stopped that. Got help.

Still smoke. Periodically bite nails down to the quick. Have started controlling food again, but am quite aware so trying hard not to delve down into anorexia again.

Am now suffering symptoms that I’m scared are lung cancer. Painful upper back. Sometimes chest pain below the ribs. Weak left arm.

I saw GP on Tuesday. He thinks is trapped nerve in shoulder. And referred pain in chest. But have a chest X-ray on Tuesday. Just in case. I’m scared.

AIBU to be scared, when if I do have lung cancer, I did it to myself?

I’m so sorry you’re going through that. People who’ve never had an addiction will always struggle to imagine what it’s like. I hope you get some good news and some good support.

Is horribly addictive.
YANBU to be scared. Can you use the fear to help you stop?

Its enough to shock you into stopping I hope.

Of course you are scared. Quite rightly.
Hopefully your gp is right and you have a trapped nerve.
In the long term you should probably tackle your smoking habit. You've done well to curb the anorexia and cut out the drinking.

If you really want to stop smoking ask your gp for ways to help you.

I’m so sorry for all you have suffered, but you are one tough cookie to get through it all! And this will help you beat smoking.

YANBU to be scared but I think your GP is probably right, in my experience they don’t sugarcoat things - so please try not to worry. But it’s a good opportunity to try & stop smoking. Best of luck

I realise this might sound flippant, but my current mindset is that if this is actually is symptomatic lung cancer, there wouldn’t be much point in stopping now, as on average I’d have about six months to live.

Or it could be a trapped nerve, as my GP thinks. In which case, it definitely would be worth using it as a shock to stop.

I am massively anti-smoking, but anyone who has no sympathy for someone who is scared they might have cancer is an arsehole, regardless of what the cause of the possible cancer might be. Hope you get good news and that the scare pushes you to get help to stop smoking.

YANBU to be scared
YABVU if it doesn’t scare you into stopping smoking

No judgement here. We're all just doing the best with the cards we've been dealt. I hope the x-ray results are good xx

Of course you are not being unreasonable to feel scared.

It is much more likely to be a trapped nerve, but could you use this to propel you into quitting? Or if not, making peace with smoking? Hating ourselves doesn't improve our chances of health.

I used champix after trying hundreds of times to stop. Killed any desire for cigarettes dead.

I hope you can settle yourself and take comfort that if your GP was concerned about lung cancer he would be red flagging you for the relevant test/investigations.

If you have a trapped nerve it's absolutely nothing to do with smoking x

Tbh what your describing says gallstones to me OP.

@CathyTre
If you have lung cancer, it's not necessarily a death sentence, not these days. See what treatment options you have.

If it's a trapped nerve, get treatment for it, and then address your smoking.

Come on, you put the drink down, you can put the cigs out too, you're a fighter.

Oh I have those symptoms too, I thought it was my posture/bed. How old are you? I keep thinking I am too young for lung cancer

I didn’t find controlling eating easy to stop either. And getting terribly underweight and my hair falling out. But I’ve pretty much conquered that and now look and am completely normal weight wise, if a bit anxious about food, but I hide it well.

If I actually do have lung cancer with symptoms there wouldn’t be much point in stopping smoking really.

I’m just scared.

While I genuinely hope for your sake that your GP is correct, I hope that you don’t have cancer. You have virtually described my mother’s story, including the anorexia and the age she started smoking. I very much doubt that you smoke as much as she did (over 100 per day at the heaviest). I hope it’s your shoulder and you can do something to alleviate the pain!

I missed some replies! Thank you! I really appreciate it; I’m getting into an anxious spiral ffs 🤦‍♀️

No judgment here - I also started smoking around 15, was addicted before my brain was capable of making mature decisions.

I switched to vaping, mostly because it is nicer - less stinky, cheaper, no nasty butts, I can stay indoors in the warm, I can take a couple of puffs and put it away instead of having a whole cigarette when I'm nervous - but I am not going to put myself through nicotine withdrawal.

I agree with your doctor that it sounds like a pinched nerve, try not to let these catastrophic thoughts overwhelm you - are you under a lot of other stress at the moment, not getting enough sleep? That can make everything seem more bleak and scary.

What age are you op? It is very possible it's not C.

Lots of empathy here from one addictive personality to another . No judgement.

Wishing you well in your test results.

Isn't a cough the main symptom of lung cancer? I hope it's just the trapped nerve OP and it can be sorted. And then, please stop smoking. You may have smoked for years, but there are lots of benefits to stopping.

My mum needed life-changing surgery for a smoking-related cancer, she took her last drag on the hospital steps the morning of her surgery.

She'd been smoking 50 years and struggles with the desire to smoke every single day - 6 years later.

Please let this be the kick up the bum you need x

I’m 42. I have a twenty year old son and two little sons aged seven and four.

My doctor said it would be very unusual to have lung cancer. But not impossible. He thinks more likely pinched nerve, and “let’s just be sure and then you can get physio and smoking cessation”.

How old are you OP?

I bet you've just become anxious about it and convinced yourself you're seriously ill. I used to do it too when I smoked.

I ya e an X-ray on Tuesday and physio in three weeks. My doctor is very good!

Have, sorry