I smoked for 30 years and then stopped for 4 years. Before I quit I experienced black phlegm periodically. I started back smoking on 12/30/13 and am having trouble stopping. I don t have a cough, and am experiencing very little shortness of breath. However, sometimes in the morning when I wake up I can hear my lungs when I attempt to cough. My back also hurts. I know I need to stop smoking, but is this a sign of copd or cancer?
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. In my opinion you should get done some investigations like chest x-ray and Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) to rule out COPD and cancer. As smoking causes both and symptoms like shortness of breath is also seen in both. Back pain is mostly due to weakness, and again it is seen in both. So we need to get done basic investigations. In my opinion chances of COPD are more in your case. So get done chest x-ray and PFT for the diagnosis of COPD. And suit smoking as soon as possible.