Pls help me on this one... I'm so paranoid!!!

i'm 22 years old, male, and a smoker... i started smoking when i was 18years old so, i'm on my 4th yr as a smoker. as to a number of sticks per day, i consume less than 20 sticks per day.

with regards to my health history, my mom used to tell me that i had a "primary complex" when i was a child... and i was cured for that..

the problem goes like this... i just noticed something really strange happening to my body.. i observed a "gray colored" sputum when i spitted out some phlegm... but that doesn't happen most of the time. i don't have cough... and sometimes, i can feel some back pains (tolerable back pains) that can be relieved after some time...

i don't know what's wrong... i'm a nurse and i am thinking of the most serious disease for my case... i'm so paranoid. i really wanted to quit smoking BUT it's so hard!! i know, what i'm experiencing right now is a product of my smoking habit.

i really need help!!! i want to know what's happening within me... i'm so afraid to go to the doctor or to the radiologist...

pls.. can somebody suggest me something?????? can someone as young as 22 years old have lung cancer??? i am so worried!

[sunshineoh]

you should know that answer ...what kind of nurse are you? any way i know waht you mean on the but you need to stop no more cig's .... you can get lung cancer at any age  sad but true ...iam also worried about having lung cancer i smoked for 10 years and 7 months i hope tp never smoke again i have quit yes it's hard but do it for yourself  the only way to find out if you have cancer is to get checked out  i too think the same way as you but you need to know how your lungs are do it
i wish you well and hope you will be ok