Lung Cancer: A Harrowing Journey of Unexplained Chest Pain and Misdiagnosis

Mr. Phong, 53 years old, had been experiencing chest pain for over a year. He was hospitalized for pleural effusion and it was discovered that his lungs had multiple dense nodules due to metastatic cancer. The pain in his left chest, below the shoulder blade, worsened when lying on his back or moving. Despite visiting multiple doctors and undergoing various treatments, the pain persisted.

After a low-dose CT lung scan at Tam Anh General Hospital in Hanoi, abnormal thickening of the pleura was detected. A thoracoscopic surgery was performed to biopsy the pleural lesion, revealing lung cancer with pleural metastasis. A treatment plan was developed by multidisciplinary specialists at the hospital to address his condition.

Associate Professor Dr. Chu Thi Hanh, Head of the Respiratory Department at Tam Anh General Hospital, explained that lung cancer typically presents symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, hoarseness, and hemoptysis. However, Mr. Phong did not exhibit these symptoms. The lung computed tomography showed pleural nodules and faint pleural thickening, leading to chest pain that could not be diagnosed for over a year.

Following the diagnosis, Mr. Phong received a combination of treatments tailored to his condition and palliative care at the Oncology department. His health is currently stable.

Lung cancer is often caused by smoking and although Mr. Phong had quit smoking nearly 5 years ago, he still faced a risk of developing this disease due to factors like exposure to carcinogens in secondhand smoke or environmental pollution.

Associate Professor Hanh recommended low-dose lung CT scans as an effective lung cancer screening method due to its diagnostic accuracy and lower exposure to X-rays.

It is especially beneficial for individuals at high risk of lung cancer due to factors like exposure to carcinogens or family history of lung cancer.

Mr. Phong’s experience highlights the importance of seeking medical attention if you are experiencing chest pain or any other symptoms associated with lung cancer.

It is also important for individuals with a history of smoking or other risk factors to undergo periodic lung cancer screenings as early detection can lead to better treatment outcomes and increased chances of survival.