My sore shoulder wasn't just a muscle problem - it was terminal lung cancer and I was given a year to live. Here is why you should never ignore nagging joint pain or 'pins and needles'

Adam Holloway initially assumed his shoulder pain was a simple strain caused by regularly playing an energetic new virtual reality (VR) computer game. As he explains: ‘Unfortunately, lung cancer can progress silently until it’s locally advanced or has spread. This is exactly why lung cancer screening is so important.’In Adam’s case, the tumour was pressing on a nerve leading to his neck, causing shoulder pain. So for example, a heart attack might appear as pain in the left shoulder, arm, neck or jaw – while a gallbladder or liver problem might manifest itself in right shoulder pain. He also urges anyone eligible to take advantage of the NHS lung cancer screening programme for those aged 55 to 74 with a significant smoking history.