Humira Warnings - Serious Infections, Cancers & Reactions

Lung Cancer Symptom That Appears In The Shoulder And Shouldn't Be Ignored

Lung cancer often doesn't have symptoms in the early stages, but as the cancer grows, it can cause a wide range of warning signs

Many people may not be aware of this symptom(Kinga Krzeminska via Getty Images)

Lung cancer is often only detected once it has spread, making it particularly dangerous. Each year, almost 50,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer, the majority of whom are over 60 and/or smokers.

However, the disease can also be caused by second-hand smoke, radiation, and exposure to substances like asbestos, chromium, and nickel compounds. The most common form of lung cancer affects the airways leading into the lungs, causing symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and a persistent cough that may produce blood or phlegm.

While these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions, maintaining good overall health and avoiding risk factors can help reduce the chances of a late-stage lung cancer diagnosis.

Shoulder symptom

If a tumour develops at the top of the lung, it can put pressure on the nerves and blood vessels leading to the arm, resulting in pain and weakness arm and/or shoulder. This can often be accompanied by a persistent pins and needles sensation, reports as previously reported..

Another early sign of lung cancer is finger clubbing, where the fingertips swell due to a lack of oxygen. In addition to causing pain or weakness in the arm, shoulders, and sometimes the chest, the tumour may also obstruct blood flow to the head, causing facial swelling.

Lung cancer symptoms list

The most common symptoms of lung cancer are:

a cough that doesn't go away after 2 or 3 weeks

a long-standing cough that gets worse

chest infections that keep coming back

coughing up blood

an ache or pain when breathing or coughing

persistent breathlessness

persistent tiredness or lack of energy

loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss

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The tumour might also release large amounts of hormones that cause symptoms further away in the body. Similar to other forms of cancer, those with lung cancer may find themselves experiencing fatigue and weight loss as well.

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Quite often lung cancer can present with lung infections. So if have been suffering from a long-term lung infection that hasn't responded to antibiotics or other treatments, consult your GP and investigate for lung cancer.

You should also seek medical advice if you have any lung cancer symptoms, or are otherwise concerned.

Woman, 84, Is 'cured' Of Terminal Lung Cancer...and Shocked Doctors Have Fascinating Theory

By BETHAN SEXTON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: 08:03 EDT, 31 March 2025Updated: 13:52 EDT, 1 April 2025

A Utah grandmother given just six months to live after she was diagnosed with an aggressive lung cancer has confounded doctors by seemingly beating the disease.

Dukhi Hong, 84, was devastated when she was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in 2019.

Medics told her the rare cancer had spread to her brain and her family braced themselves to say their goodbyes.

However, last week she defied all expectations to receive her 100th immunotherapy dose.

'It feels like a dream,' the Korea-born patient told ABC4 Utah from the Salt Lake City hospital where she has been receiving treatment for the last six years. 

The senior has further astounded doctors after her latest lung scan came back cancer-free.

'We certainly don't understand everything,' Dr. Stephan Kendall said, explaining that it could be the grandmother's immune system which has helped her respond so effectively to the drugs.

'I've never had a patient receive 100 doses of any kind of treatment, honestly.' 

While doctors aren't certain as to how Hong enjoyed such a surprising recovery, research has shown that patients with strong immune systems will reap greater benefits from immune therapy. 

Utah grandmother Dukhi Hong (center), who was given just six months to live after she was diagnosed with an aggressive lung cancer, has confounded doctors by 'beating' the disease

Steps as simple as a good diet and plenty of exercise are known to improve immune health and can help prevent cancer in the first place, although Hong has yet to share her own lifestyle secrets. 

Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment which uses the body's own immune system to fight carcinogenic cells. 

It has advanced greatly since it was first discovered in the 19th century.

Patients can take drugs that helps attack part of a cancer cell that the body refuses to attack, which can help the disease take hold. 

Immune cells can be removed, modified, then reinserted to tackle cancer cells, with vaccines also used to help boost patients' immune systems. 

 While the outlook is promising, Hong is not completely in the clear year as small lung cell cancer can reoccur and is harder to treat second time around.

The scan also revealed some cancer in the brain, although at an early stage.'She's doing really well,' Dr. Kendall said.

Hong was first diagnosed with cancer after she was hospitalized following a seizure.

'Our whole world crashed,' her daughter, Mitzi Maughan, told KTVX.

But Hong has always been a survivor, managing to make a whole new life for herself in the US after emigrating from Korea while seven months pregnant in 1965.

Seven years after her arrival, she became a single mom to her four children.

'It was tough, but somehow, I just lived on,' she explained. 'I didn't know how to speak English. I had just learned the ABCs.'

Her resilience has stood in her good stead for the tough fight against her cancer, which includes monthly immunotherapy treatments.

Hong, 84, was devastated when she was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in 2019

She began an intensive course of immunotherapy administered every three to four weeks which has proven extremely effective

Her latest scans showed that there is no cancer in her lungs and only minimal cancer in her brain

While the sessions used to cause her family anxiety, they have learned to live with their new reality and now use it as an occasion to spend time with the beloved matriarch. 

Her 100th dose was marked with a huge celebration featuring cake and balloons. 

'She's our hero,'  Maughan added.

Lung cancer kills more than 127,000 in the US each year, figures show. 

Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, accounting for more than 70 percent of cases, according to health experts.

However, even people who have never smoked can also develop the disease, which mainly affects older people. More than four out of 10 people diagnosed are over 75.

There are two main forms of the disease — non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

The former accounts for eight in ten cases and is a less aggressive form of the disease.

Whereas the latter, small-cell lung cancer, is very aggressive and usually spreads faster. The survival rate tends to be lower for SCLC.

Hong arrived in the US while seven months pregnant in 1965 and set up a new life for herself

Lung cancer kills more than 127,000 in the US each year, figures show

The main warning signs of lung cancer can include having a persistent cough, such as one that doesn't go away after three weeks, or a long-standing cough which gets worse.

Breathlessness is another common sign, as well as recurrent or lingering chest infections.

Aches and pains when breathing or coughing, pain in your shoulder, or coughing up blood are also signs to watch out for.

Woman, 24, With Shoulder Pain Went Into 'complete Shock' When Doctor Read Out Results

21:15, 31 Mar 2025Updated 11:02, 01 Apr 2025

A 24-year-old woman "went into complete shock" when the doctor drew round the curtains and told her what was actually wrong with her.

Eve Perry, from Bromborough in Wirral said she began noticing her symptoms in 2023 and they continued for a few weeks. She told the Liverpool ECHO: "I started getting a bit of shoulder pain which developed into a cough and a stabbing pain down my right side. I had it for a few weeks".

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After several visits to A&E she was then admitted to hospital for 11 days when she was finally given her diagnosis. She added: "They came back, drew the curtain around the bay I was in, and told me they had found a tumour."

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Eve was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in her right lung called a carcinoid tumour. She said: "I was on my own and went into complete shock. All I knew was that in the lungs you have three windpipes, and the tumour had blocked my middle two – that's why I was getting pneumonia and why my lung had collapsed."

According to Teenage Cancer Trust, the five main symptoms of cancer are lumps and swellings, unexplained tiredness, persistent pain, mole changes and unexplained weight change

Eve described the impact on her family during the ordeal: "My sister was on maternity leave, and she was a brilliant support. But looking back that must have been so stressful for her alongside caring for a baby. And during that time my nan died, so it was a lot for everyone."

Eve had to undergo a seven-hour operation to remove her tumour which left her with lifelong scars. Even following the successful surgery, she described how she struggled readjusting to normality. She added: "I feel like because I never looked like people's idea of a cancer patient – I wasn't bald – I looked young and healthy – people didn't always understand how poorly I was - and I have felt judged at times."

She added: "When I went to get a Blue Badge so I could park in a disability parking space, I looked well, my scars are hidden, and I felt the assessor was grilling me as if I was lying. But physically all of this has taken its toll, it's really limiting. I can't even open a tin."

Eve is now in remission and on Saturday, March 29, Teenage Cancer Trust took Eve and other young people receiving support to visit London's Royal Albert Hall, for an exclusive tour of the venue and dinner backstage

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They were then treated to a live showcase of acts such as Darius Dare, singer-songwriter and LIPA graduate, from the best seats in the house, as part of the charity's Ultimate Backstage Experience programme.

Eve said: "Seeing the show on Saturday was a once in a lifetime experience, the entire trip I was in awe of the amount of time and effort each member of staff had put in to make the event possible."

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She and the group were even invited on stage to take a selfie with the 5,000 strong crowd, who lit their phone torches in solidarity with young people with cancer. The group also took part in an interactive musical workshop.

Teenage Cancer Trust has raised over £34m through its annual series of gigs at the Royal Albert Hall to fund its specialist units, nurses and youth support teams across the UK.

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The VIP 'Ultimate Backstage Experience" received backing from Domino's Pizza, who have donated to Teenage Cancer Trust for ten years.

Kelly Scott, head of youth work and programmes at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: "Friendships, mental health, body image, studies, work, relationships and choices about the future are hard enough to navigate – but a cancer diagnosis can make that even more challenging, leaving people feeling isolated."

She added: "Special events like the ultimate backstage experience bring young people together to connect, make friends, and to have fun."

Eve said: "I'm so grateful to Teenage Cancer Trust – for me they are like the royalty of charities for young people with cancer. If I hadn't got help from them, I don't know what would have happened to me".

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