“Cancerous? Or something else?”
I'm a 36 (almost 37) year old male, 6'2, 167 lbs, non-smoker, not overweight, casual drinker. In mid-February (it's June now) I started noticing what felt like a strained muscle in my upper right chest area just under/around the collarbone, but it mostly only occurred when taking deep breaths or sort of "activating" my chest muscles with certain positions or movements. I am fairly active athletically, so thought perhaps I'd strained something. However, it never went away...and it wasn't sensitive to the touch, really, like a sore muscle would be (if I press with some firmness near the area I can sense some mild discomfort though). I notice that in some positions I can almost assuredly cause some discomfort (such as the pushup position, just for example). Now in June it additionally sometimes causes some neck discomfort and every now and then some slight discomfort near my right shoulder blade, especially if I sleep on my right side (so I try to avoid doing that).
I was diagnosed with GERD in 2013 but haven't had significant flair-ups for some time (only if I really overdo it with certain food or drink). In any case, I've taken some PPIs for the last month or so...it hasn't made a difference. I have continued to train athletically - not overdoing it, but I guess that's all relative. My main activity is running and cycling, with a bit of weight training every now and then. The pain is not sharp. It is dull. I wondered if it might be persistent costochondritis. I can pop or crack my sternum dozens of times per day (which sometimes helps the discomfort just slightly), especially when straightening from a period of slouching. This has been going on for years, with varying frequency (but never goes away). But from what I understand costochondritis means that the area would be sensitive to the touch (which it isn't, or not much).
I am concerned that this is some kind of cancer - perhaps lung or - due to the GERD, esophagus cancer (or something else I don't know). Could a growing tumor be causing this? If it's musculoskeletal, I'm not too concerned (relatively). A doctor when I was a teen suggested I might have a touch of scoliosis... but it's never caused problems.
ps. I scheduled an appointment with a new family doc, but it's only in Sept - as there's a delay in seeing new patients.
I was diagnosed with GERD in 2013 but haven't had significant flair-ups for some time (only if I really overdo it with certain food or drink). In any case, I've taken some PPIs for the last month or so...it hasn't made a difference. I have continued to train athletically - not overdoing it, but I guess that's all relative. My main activity is running and cycling, with a bit of weight training every now and then. The pain is not sharp. It is dull. I wondered if it might be persistent costochondritis. I can pop or crack my sternum dozens of times per day (which sometimes helps the discomfort just slightly), especially when straightening from a period of slouching. This has been going on for years, with varying frequency (but never goes away). But from what I understand costochondritis means that the area would be sensitive to the touch (which it isn't, or not much).
I am concerned that this is some kind of cancer - perhaps lung or - due to the GERD, esophagus cancer (or something else I don't know). Could a growing tumor be causing this? If it's musculoskeletal, I'm not too concerned (relatively). A doctor when I was a teen suggested I might have a touch of scoliosis... but it's never caused problems.
ps. I scheduled an appointment with a new family doc, but it's only in Sept - as there's a delay in seeing new patients.
Male | 36 years old
Complaint duration: 4/5 months.
Conditions: GERD
5 Answers
Hello,
You are concerned with the cause of a pain syndrome that has been ongoing for several months. You give an excellent summary of your medical history.
However, the list of possible causes is enormous. It is not possible to make a definite diagnosis based on the information that you have provided.
Your appointment with a physician is an excellent step. A physician can take a history and perform a physical examination and order appropriate blood tests or X-rays.
Good luck with your investigations.
You are concerned with the cause of a pain syndrome that has been ongoing for several months. You give an excellent summary of your medical history.
However, the list of possible causes is enormous. It is not possible to make a definite diagnosis based on the information that you have provided.
Your appointment with a physician is an excellent step. A physician can take a history and perform a physical examination and order appropriate blood tests or X-rays.
Good luck with your investigations.
A musculoskeletal condition is the most likely cause of the problem, but to address your concerns about cancer, you would need a chest x-ray at a minimum. Something like a CT scan may be necessary if the chest x-ray is abnormal. A shoulder x-ray may also be necessary. Esophageal cancer is lower on the list of possibilities. Costochondritis is still a possibility.
Based on your symptom description it does sound like pain related to bone/joint/muscle structures of the upper chest, possibly clavicle or even pinched nerve in lower neck, upper chest spine.
Based on your age and what sounds like very healthy lifestyle, I would be less worried about cancer. GERD typically causes esophageal cancer with first manifestation typically being difficulty swallowing. GERD as cause of lung cancer would be quite uncommon. Some other cancers that theoretically could cause such symptoms and are relatively more common at your age would be advanced testicular cancer or cancer of lymph glands (lymphoma). You should have other symptoms if there were the cause.
When you see your new doctor, make sure you get s good physical exam of your neck including lymph glands, chest including lymph glands in the armpits and MD presses hard on your chest to elicit any painful points. Getting a chest x-ray would also be important.
Given that musculoskeletal cause is high on the list, you may want to see a chiropractor if your pcp cannot find anything obvious.
Thank you and have a great day.
Igor H.
Based on your age and what sounds like very healthy lifestyle, I would be less worried about cancer. GERD typically causes esophageal cancer with first manifestation typically being difficulty swallowing. GERD as cause of lung cancer would be quite uncommon. Some other cancers that theoretically could cause such symptoms and are relatively more common at your age would be advanced testicular cancer or cancer of lymph glands (lymphoma). You should have other symptoms if there were the cause.
When you see your new doctor, make sure you get s good physical exam of your neck including lymph glands, chest including lymph glands in the armpits and MD presses hard on your chest to elicit any painful points. Getting a chest x-ray would also be important.
Given that musculoskeletal cause is high on the list, you may want to see a chiropractor if your pcp cannot find anything obvious.
Thank you and have a great day.
Igor H.
It’s unlikely you have cancer yet likely you have a persistent ongoing inflammatory process in your gut. The gut inflammatory process is causing your GERD and is associated with diet (or foods not good for you) and exacerbated with stress. For 3 weeks did not eat any grains, dairy or sugar (including sweet fruit). Everything should start loosen up. BTW, make sure have 2 BM’s per day. This is managed by you diet.
God be with you.
Peter J. Muran, MD
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God be with you.
Peter J. Muran, MD
Please note that this message including any attachments is from Longevity Healthcare, Inc., a Medical Practice. This message contains information that may be confidential and protected by the patient-physician or medical privacy privileges. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient promptly delete this message, any attachments, and all content and notify the sender of the delivery error via return email or telephone at the above number. You may not forward, print, copy distribute or use the information in this message if you are not the intended recipient.
The pain sounds musculoskeletal. Cancer does not present like this.
