A man’s workplace injury inadvertently led to the discovery of a severe cancer diagnosis, despite him having experienced symptoms for a long time.
Last year, Brian suffered a work-related accident that resulted in a broken hand and a shoulder injury at the age of 40.
While recovering, Brian experienced persistent pain in the shoulder and armpit area, prompting him to request an X-ray.
Initial scans showed a mass in the lung; doctors thought it might be a bruise or bronchitis. However, further investigation revealed a more serious condition.
In December 2024, Brian received a diagnosis of limited-stage small cell lung cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, ‘limited-stage’ indicates that the cancer is localized to one side of the chest and treatable with a single radiation field.
“This generally includes cancers that are only in one lung, and that might also have reached the lymph nodes on the same side of the chest,” the organization explains.
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Brian had earlier exhibited symptoms before the shoulder and armpit pain became apparent.
“I’d been having this heartburn for years,” he mentioned in a video shared on The Patient Story’s YouTube channel.
“I went to the emergency room a couple of times and I was sure [that] I had cancer, but they assured me that I didn’t.”
Doctors, at the time, attributed it to gastroesophageal reflux disease.
“That was like three years ago when I went in,” Brian shared in a recent vlog update. “That was the only sign.”
“I was doing really heavy work,” he continued. “I was taking 25,000 steps a day, exerting myself and doing a lot of heavy stuff and I felt fine.”
Following his cancer diagnosis, Brian has begun chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
His treatment regimen includes three consecutive days of therapy followed by a 21-day break, with radiation therapy administered twice a day over a five-day week, according to The Patient Story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MlVEGrHZgA
Despite the rigorous treatment, Brian has only dealt with fatigue and flu-like symptoms.
NHS England notes that chemotherapy can also lead to temporary hair loss, blood clots, nausea, and cognitive difficulties.
Radiotherapy side effects may include sore skin, tiredness, hair loss, and issues with eating and drinking.
If these issues have affected you and you seek confidential support, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or through their live chat, accessible 24/7 every day of the year.