A woman has shared a video warning others about the common symptoms she experienced before being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
Linda Chavez was 34 when she was diagnosed with a type of lung cancer called Metastatic Bronchial Carcinoma. Linda had been suffering with the condition for years when she was diagnosed and unfortunately, the cancer had spread to her brain and bones.
Linda documents her cancer journey over on her TikTok - @theterminalcancershow - where she is trying to raise awareness of lung cancer under the age of 50.
In one particular clip, Linda lists the signs and symptoms she experienced prior to her diagnosis.
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Persistant cough
Linda says she had a mild cough for years before she was diagnosed, but it became more painful and 'piercing' later on.
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"Eventually it was deeper [in my chest], it felt very painful, it felt piercing in my chest," she said.
"However, definitely, please do not ignore persistent cough."
The most common symptom of lung cancer is a cough that does not go away or gets worse over time.
Headache
Linda said she woke up 'every single morning' with a headache for over nine months, regularly taking Tylenol to deal with the pain.
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Although a headache isn't a common symptom of lung cancer specifically, in Linda's case, the cancer had also spread to her brain.
According to Mayo Clinic, you should see a doctor if your headache:
- Occurs more often than usual
- Is more severe than usual
- Worsens or don't improve with painkillers
- Stops you from working, sleeping or participating in normal activities
- Causes you distress
Aches and pains
Linda also experienced a number of different aches and pains prior to her diagnosis, which she describes as a 'throbbing pain'.
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"Number three symptom was pain in my bones and my body," she said. "[It was] kind of like when you stub your toe, that initial throbbing, pulsating pain."
Tiredness and fatigue
Fatigue is a common symptom of cancer and a sign that Linda also experienced.
"Number four, I was definitely exhausted beyond belief and out of breath. I literally had to take shallow breaths due to the pain that I was feeling every time I was inhaling or exhaling," she recalled.
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According to Cancer Research UK, cancer-related fatigue can include:
- Lack of energy, for example, wanting to stay in bed all day
- Needing to rest after little activity
- Struggling to sleep
- Finding it hard to get up in the morning
- Feeling anxious, sad or depressed
- Feeling breathless after doing small tasks
- Finding it hard to concentrate
- Loss of interest in sex
- Negative feelings about yourself and others
Nausea
"Lastly, number five, was nausea," said Linda. "I was definitely very, very nauseous towards [the time I was] getting diagnosed. It was due to the brain [...] cancer."
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Nausea and vomiting can be a sign of brain cancer. This is due to the cancer taking up space in the skill and increasing intracranial pressure.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.
Lucy Devine