Lung Cancer And Shoulder Pain

My mom has lung cancer, not sure what stage now since she has stopped going to oncologist. Probably Stage 3 by now. She has had persistent shoulder pain in the past month or two and headaches (which she never had before) practically daily. She is nauseous also but the Compazine the DR recently prescribed is helping. I read on a web site that shoulder pain is consistent with lung cancer since the tumor presses against a nerve that goes to the shoulder. So far Tylenol and aspirin has helped. Has anyone that has lung cancer or knows someone that has lung cancer experienced this? I was just wondering if it could be tied to the lung cancer.

Thanks,

Debbie 

On 1/1/2007 Jasmin wrote:

My mom has lung cancer, not sure what stage now since she has stopped going to oncologist. Probably Stage 3 by now. She has had persistent shoulder pain in the past month or two and headaches (which she never had before) practically daily. She is nauseous also but the Compazine the DR recently prescribed is helping. I read on a web site that shoulder pain is consistent with lung cancer since the tumor presses against a nerve that goes to the shoulder. So far Tylenol and aspirin has helped. Has anyone that has lung cancer or knows someone that has lung cancer experienced this? I was just wondering if it could be tied to the lung cancer.

Thanks,

Debbie 

 

Hi Debbie, my husband has metastic rcc since April of 2006 he has had his kidney removed,part of his lower lung removed, two brain tumors removed, wbr, stereo-radio treatment, tpn put in and now a feeding tube. The Dr. has gave him two weeks to two months to live, called in hospice the whole nine yards.But now all that everything has been put on hold.Now we're just waiting on to see if this feeding tube will help him, 205 lbs to 135 lbs..When he first had his kidney removed he complained his shoulder was herting but to find out he had a torn cuff after his surgery they say it was cuz the lenght of time in surgery and the way he laying on the table????????????Now his other shoulder is in pain thats when we found out now that he has 2 lesions on his other lung and a 3.0 tumor on his spine. He has now had 6 radiation treatments on his spine and not sure what their going to do about the lung yet.My husband says he doesn't what any more surgery.The dr. is now going to start him sutent but I think that should have been done at least 6 months ago.As far as all this shoulder pain my husbands came from after he had surgery.                Good luck, Lou

Hi Debbie

My dad has adenocarcinoma of the lung.  The biggest tumor he has in the upper (apex) of his right lung.  He too has had alot of shoulder pain.  His doctor said that tumor (previously 3.cm x 2.2 cm) is probably laying on a nerve and causing pressure.  Since he's been on chem o the pain has subsided and the scans also show that his tumor is shrinking.  He is stage IV and inoperable because it is in both lungs and in his lymph nodes.  He also takes zofran and compazine for the nausea.  Right now all he's needed for the pain was just some ibuprofin .  Good luck with your mom and I hope all is well.

Tracey

My mom had shoulder pain for at least a year and the doctors kept telling her it was a muscle strain, or soft tissue injury.  Finally, an x-ray was done of the shoulder and they found a huge tumor in her lung.  After further scans and such, she was dx with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer with met to bone and brain.  She had NO SYMPTOMS except shoulder pain.  So the possibility is there.  I would really check it out.  Good luck!

Gretchen (Motherhen)

Thanks to all for your input. I'm not sure if that is what I wanted to hear but at least it sounds like what could be happening with my mom. I don't know if I want to push my mom for another CAT scan because if it shows the tumor has really increased then she'll be more depressed and give up. She is already on morphine pills (15 mg) for a pre-existing condition (diabetic neuropathy) and I have suggested she ask the doctor to increase the dosage but it makes her so drowsy she doesn't want to increase it. Meanwhile she is taking aspirin/Tylenol every 3-4 hours for the pain which really doesn't make it totally go away. I feel so helpless...she is not a good candidate for chemo or surgery so I don't know what else we can do.

Debbie 

On 1/1/2007 Jasmin wrote:

My mom has lung cancer, not sure what stage now since she has stopped going to oncologist. Probably Stage 3 by now. She has had persistent shoulder pain in the past month or two and headaches (which she never had before) practically daily. She is nauseous also but the Compazine the DR recently prescribed is helping. I read on a web site that shoulder pain is consistent with lung cancer since the tumor presses against a nerve that goes to the shoulder. So far Tylenol and aspirin has helped. Has anyone that has lung cancer or knows someone that has lung cancer experienced this? I was just wondering if it could be tied to the lung cancer.

Thanks,

Debbie 

 

I was diagnosed on January 5th with lung cancer. i am in the 3rd stage. shoulder pain and numbness were 2 of the symptons that sent me to the emergency room and after diagnosis i was told the same thing about tumor laying on certain nerves which cause this pain. i am currently on percocet and oxycotin. i am 48 yrs old.

Renee

Hi, I am new to this site but had to send a message after reading your comments on shoulder pain.  My husband was diagnosed with lung cancer a year ago - specifically a pancoast tumor on his upper left lung.  He went through 2 surgeries prior to this diagnosis at Cleveland Clinic.  He went to a local dr. in December 05 because his pain coming from his shoulder blades had gotten so bad he wasn't sleeping and just could not function at all.  Pain went down his left arm and had numbness down to fingers.  The dr. said he had a torn muscle is his left shoulder and removed a bone spur.  This was in Feb 06.  By August he was worst so we made our own appt at Cleveland Clinic.  We still went to the spine institutue thinking it was some kind of should injury.  The dr. there knew within 3 hours what it was.  Without having the chest xray back she said this tumor caused all problems he was describing and the chest xray confirmed it.  The tumor was laying on all nerves and blood vessels to cause his pain and numbness down his arm.  This was August 24, 2006.  He started chemo and radiation a few weeks later.  The tumor responded to the treatment and is gone but the cancer spread to both lungs and the dr. said this is rare for this type of tumor to spread.

I caution all to not commit to any surgery for a suspected 'shoulder' injury without getting a second opion and more xrays and scans.  He goes for scans next week - every 9 weeks now and has a bio drug treatment - not Chemo every 21 days.  good luck

On 2/26/2007 Rdawson618 wrote:

 

On 1/1/2007 Jasmin wrote:

My mom has lung cancer, not sure what stage now since she has stopped going to oncologist. Probably Stage 3 by now. She has had persistent shoulder pain in the past month or two and headaches (which she never had before) practically daily. She is nauseous also but the Compazine the DR recently prescribed is helping. I read on a web site that shoulder pain is consistent with lung cancer since the tumor presses against a nerve that goes to the shoulder. So far Tylenol and aspirin has helped. Has anyone that has lung cancer or knows someone that has lung cancer experienced this? I was just wondering if it could be tied to the lung cancer.

Thanks,

Debbie 

 

I was diagnosed on January 5th with lung cancer. i am in the 3rd stage. shoulder pain and numbness were 2 of the symptons that sent me to the emergency room and after diagnosis i was told the same thing about tumor laying on certain nerves which cause this pain. i am currently on percocet and oxycotin. i am 48 yrs old.

Renee