Hi, I'm a 21 year old male. I started smoking when I was 15 but I didn't smoke much. When I turned 16 I smoked weed heavily and cigarettes. One time I think I smoked something that was laced. I thought I was going to die and had pains in my lungs and chest although I didn't quit smoking for another year or two. I even kept smoking while I still had this pain (I know retarded!). I quit because I was terrorfied. I haven't smoked since I was 17, only a few times. I quit because I felt my lungs were damaged and I was terrorfied of lung cancer. I would get winded easily and would get burning sensations in my lungs when I'd smoke.

Like I said I haven't smoked a cigarette since I turned 17. I never smoked cigarettes that heavily but I smoked marijuana almost everyday. I used to take 3 big hits at a time and hold them in for long periods of time. I think I smoked alot of marijuana that was laced. I also had frequent panic attacks where I sensed eminent doom and felt like my heart was jumping out of my chest. I didn't even realize that I had panic attacks until about a year ago when I had one at work. I was having panic attacks smoking marijuana for months and thought it was just the pot.

I smoked weed, only a few hits maybe 3-4 times since I was 17. I'm 21 now but I still worry that my time smoking has severly effected my lungs and I'm still worried about cancer. I've grown to despise smoking. I hate it more then anything else in the world. I try desperatley to avoid second-hand smoke but it's impossible. My best friend just started smoking again. I'm over his house alot and the whole family smokes. I can't take it! 5 people smoke in the house! It's horrible!

I've noticed that I've been coughing alot more lately. I cough especially when I'm around smoke. I try not to breathe or breathe shallow or turn my head to avoid inhaling second hand smoke. I've been around smoke my whole life. My parents even admitted that they never kept me away from second hand smoke.

I'm really worried now. I also used to get a sharp pain in lungs. A sudden sharp pain when I'd breathe. It would eventually go away but I'd have to breathe really shallow until it subsided. My coughing seems more frequent now and I feel discomfort in my chest that I'm assuming is my lungs. I know my lungs have to be damaged or scarred. I also used to have frequent respiratory viral infections when i was younger. I'm really worried about my lungs and cancer.

My lungs just don't feel like they used to. I'm coughing right now infact. I have bouts where I cough and can't stop and minor chest pain. I think my oxygen count is low. I try my best to stay fit. I ride bikes regulary and try to work out but I get winded easy. I never, EVER! get chest pain when I work out or ride my bike for miles. The doctor told me my heart is like a hammer before. I can work out vigorously and never get chest pain so I'm sure my heart is fine and the doctor said my heart sounds good so I'm not worrying about that. My blood pressure is also excellent. I had some problems where I was battling anxiety and I was nervous all the time. I couldn't even eat. I thought it effected my heart but I don't think so.

I'm just really worried about my lungs. Everytime I've gotten my lungs checked the doctor says they sound good but I never told him about my smoking habbits.

Any advice would be most appreciated. Thanks.

P.S. I must admit that I've become quite a hypochondriac this passed year. I know my lungs aren't right though. I'm just hoping and praying that I don't have lung cancer. I know the coughing isn't normal. The sharp pain I used to get that would go away I believe was puelurisy or however you spell it although it was never diagnosed. I haven't got that in a long time however it would be really bad sometimes and last a long time. It seems the pain is most frequent in my left lung.

I would have got it checked years ago but I didn't want to tell my doctor I had smoke marijuna. I just hoped and prayed that it was nothing. I haven't had viral infections since I was maybe 14 or 15. All I know is that my problems are definitley attributed to smoking. I should have imediatley quit after I got those pains from smoking that one time. I'm older now and I regret my past but there's nothing I can do. I was young and easily impressionable and influenced. I've always been very healthy. Everytime I get a physical they turn out great. The only thing I'm really worried about is my lungs. I'm terrorfied to get a chest x-ray but leaving it go isn't going to help only make things worse.