Shoulder Pain Can Be A Sign Of Lung Cancer. Here’s Why

It may come as a surprise to many that pain or weakness in the shoulder can be a sign of lung cancer. This may happen if a lung tumour exerts pressure on a nearby nerve that passes through the shoulders, or if lung cancer spreads to the bones in the shoulder or surrounding regions, according to Moffitt Cancer Center, a Florida-based non-profit cancer research centre.Shoulder pain is more likely to indicate lung cancer if it occurs while resting and worsens at night. ALSO READ | Endometriosis Impacts 42 Million Women In India. Know About Advanced Treatment Options And New ResearchShoulder pain as a result of pancoast tumoursA person suffering from pancoast tumour (superior sulcus tumour), a rare type of lung cancer that starts in the rounded upper section of the lung and spreads to surrounding areas of the body, may experience shoulder pain. Shoulder pain is the most common symptom of pancoast tumours. The pain may travel down the arm from the shoulder or up the head and neck, according to Cancer Research UK.The longer lung cancer goes undiagnosed, the more excruciating shoulder pain, if any, becomes. “Although shoulder pain is not commonly linked with lung cancer, there are several potential reasons why someone with lung cancer might experience it. These include pleuritic pain, pancoast tumours, metastasis, and referred pain. Pleuritic pain refers to inflammation of the lining around lungs, which is called pleura. Pancoast tumours can infiltrate nearby nerves and cause shoulder and arm discomfort. If lung cancer metastasises, it can spread to bones of the shoulder joint, resulting in pain in those regions. Pressure exerted by the lung cancer on nerves passing through the shoulders is referred to as referred pain,” Dr Rajesh Kumar Verma, Director and HOD, Orthopaedics, Trauma and Spine Surgery, Marengo Asia Hospital, Gurugram, told ABP Live.He also said that such associations are not exclusive to lung cancer and can occur as a result of other conditions too. “Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. People who smoke have the greatest risk of lung cancer, though lung cancer can also occur in people who have never smoked. The risk of lung cancer increases with the length of time and number of cigarettes you've smoked. If you quit smoking, even after smoking for many years, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing lung cancer. Lung cancer typically does not cause signs and symptoms in its earliest stages. Signs and symptoms of lung cancer typically occur when the disease is advanced,” said Dr Sanjeev Kumar, Consultant, Surgical Oncology, Manipal Hospital Gurugram.This means that shoulder pain may start occurring once lung cancer has reached an advanced stage.One must not immediately correlate shoulder pain with lung cancer, but may take it as a sign to be aware and get themselves checked if they experience other symptoms of lung cancer too.ALSO READ | What Is The Future Of Birth Control? Know Advances Expected In Hormonal, Non-Hormonal, And Oral Options