Could I have cancer?

Dr. Google can be dangerous and create much worry. I would not be looking for cancer with a 2 day history of an acute pain. As an 11 year cancer patient, I know exactly how any pain becomes a new tumor in my mind. My surgeon at Mayo Clinic once said that cancer pain will be constant and not improve, which is exactly how it was originally for me. So I utilize that advice whenever I start to worry about a new pain. In your situation, I would be pressing my doctor for a diagnosis and treatment, though if breast feeding you are quite limited in what you can take for pain. It could be a nerve irritation from overuse in how you are holding the baby as he/she gets heavier. A diagnosis and perhaps Physical Therapy could be helpful via your PCP. My sister used to get trigger point injections for a recurring nerve pain like that. Keep working with your PCP on a diagnosis and perhaps you will need a CT or MRI for that. Insurance requires that those expensive tests be justified and that is up to your PCP. Good luck to you.

I agree with Sue. Do not add anxiety about a possible cancer to your pain. Do get proper testing and diagnosis promptly. Hopefully this is only a transitory issue for you.
Best wishes.

@izzylizzy1998, Prior to any cancer diagnosis, I was blow drying my hair and had a sharp pain in my back and shoulder blade area. It was so sharp, it sent me to my knees. It hurt for days, but eventually got better. I determined that it was a severe muscle spasm. With the new growing baby (congratulations!), this may be muscle related. The massage may not be able to get deep enough, and the muscle relaxers may just not be strong enough. You need to stay alert to take care of that little one.
You mentioned that you did have a clear chest x-ray. While CT scans are the standard for finding lung nodules, lung nodules are often picked up on a chest x-ray too. My lung cancer was found on a simple chest x-ray in an urgent care office. Also, if a lung cancer patient is at the point of exhibiting symptoms, they almost always have a cough.
How are you feeling today? Any better?

I’m feeling a bit better today! I saw a chiropractor who took further spine and pelvic x-rays. Not sure what those showed; however he believes it might be a pinched nerve from a slipped disk. The pain is about a 7/10 and not constant, it gets worse at night then improves while I sleep and is gone in the morning. Same thing each day. I have no cough, chest pain (other than that first day), or shortness of breath. I do feel heavy in the chest today but I quit vaping two days ago since this scare so I’m wondering if it’s just a side effect of my lungs cleaning themselves out.

Hello, @izzylizzy1998,
Reading your situation brought back a few memories of when I was in my late twenties/early thirties. Of course, I cannot say for sure whether you have cancer, but the odds are against it. There were two incidents in my younger (I am now almost 65) years that sound almost identical to what you are experiencing. In the first, I woke up one morning with a pain in my right shoulder. At first, it was just a nuisance, but soon it radiated down to my ribcage. The pain got so bad I could hardly breathe because breathing would cause the pain to become almost unbearable. In my mind, it seemed I must be having a heart attack. After a few days, with increasing pain and anxiety, I went to the doctor, and after an examination was prescribed muscle relaxers. Almost immediately, the pain subsided. That doctor questioned me as to whether I had done anything new...like shovel heavy snow, change a flat tire, or lifted anything heavy. Voila'! We had just bought a stick-shift car, and I was learning how to drive it! The stick-shift was very stiff, so it caused muscle injury. It is hard to comprehend that our muscles can cause such pain!
The second incident caused pain so bad I could not sleep. Laying down would cause the pain to skyrocket. Once again, it was muscle related. I had just had a baby three months earlier, was breastfeeding sometimes while on my bed with pillows propped up. Once again, the pain went away, but this time I worked it out. This meant doing sit-ups (even though very painful to do) and doing Yoga-type stretching exercises.
I sincerely hope and pray you find relief. Congratulations on your new baby and may God Bless You & Yours.

I agree with the others that it sounds like a muscle spasm. They can be incredibly painful! A muscle relaxant and anti inflammatory medication might help the most, but you’ll want to make sure you’re careful carrying the baby if you’re taking a muscle relaxant. Always have a nearby quick convenient place to set her/him down if your muscles feel weak. Or use the stroller to push around the house until your back is better.
As for the chiropractor- a slipped disk most likely would not have pain that comes and goes like you’ve explained. He absolutely should be able to explain the outcome of the x-rays he took. And, we all need to be careful of the amount of radiation we expose our body to. A good physician would request a copy of your first x-ray before doing more. Treatment for a slipped disk can get into risky areas. Please make sure you’re very comfortable with any treatment he suggests, have him explain what he is basing his decisions on, and what the expected outcomes are.

@izzylizzy1998 , I'm glad that you are feeling even a little bit better. It's hard to be strong when we are in pain! A slipped disk and pinched nerve may cause the kind of pain that you are experiencing. Best of luck to you in feeling better, and with stopping vaping.
There is a group for Smoking & Quitting. I would think vaping would be covered there too, if you are interested and have questions or need support that may be a good place for additional help too.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/smoking-quitting/

Should I be pushing for cancer testing?

Should I push for lymphoma testing?

28F

For the last 3 months I’ve been dealing with the following symptoms:
- Rash on my ankle that won’t go away with creams, it is extremely itchy and scaly/red
- Chest and back pain with increasing body aches (almost like with the flu)
- Swollen submandibular lymph nodes and cervical lymph nodes
- Neck pain and vomiting when drinking alcohol
- Daily fatigue

I am not sick and have not been sick since March 2023. I’ve had four EKGs, a chest x-ray, and an echocardiogram - everything came back clear.

I consistently have low end WBC counts (4.0) since back in 2016. Recently my WBC has been dropping, as well as my lymphocytes. Yesterday’s WBC was 3.7 (normal is 4-10), and lymphocytes 0.8 (normal is 1-10). I also have low iron with suspected anemia. My RBC is consistently borderline low and my neutrophils are borderline low.

My platelets are normal (fluctuating between 200-300).

My doctor seems unconcerned despite my frequent visits. She believes I have health anxiety and referred me to psychiatry. I feel so frustrated that I’m not being listened to and am wondering if I am right to be concerned?

Have you considered mononucleosis? Rash, fatigue, and swollen lymph glands made me think of that.

I have looked into it but I don’t have swollen tonsils or a sore throat of any kind. I’ve also been kissing my husband and baby and they haven’t been sick at all and I read it’s extremely contagious.