Father's health - hardened mass found on lungs and lymph nodes. Doctors have hinted at cancer but haven't organised a biopsy. Is this normal?

Hi there

My dad started coughing about 4 weeks ago and seemed to have deteriorated. The GP gave him antibiotics and when that didn't work, she referred him for the 2 week pathway. However, his oxygen levels dropped and he ended up being rushed to hospital where they found a hardened mass in his lungs and masses in his lymph nodes. He also had a lung blood clot and water around his heart. He was sent home and had a PET scan and we are now waiting for the results. The nurses and doctors have hinted at cancer but haven't bothered to organise a biopsy. I find this strange: does this mean they are sure it's cancer but are just waiting for confirmation? Also, cancer in the lymph nodes means stage 3 or later, right? The nurses have been ringing and said for him to come in if he has been feeling unwell but this seems odd to me. Any advice?

  • Hi Rose1234H and thank you for your post. 

    I'm really sorry to hear about your dad. I understand this must be a very worrying time for you and your family.

    biopsy is the best way to find out for sure if a lump or tumour is cancer or not.

    Your dad’s PET scan will likely be looked at by a group of doctors who work together as a team. This is called a multidisciplinary team, or MDT. They will talk about all his test results and decide the best plan for his treatment. This way of working helps make sure your dad gets the right care, based on the latest research and NHS guidelines.

    Sometimes, a PET scan is done to help doctors find the best way to take a biopsy. But in some cases, it’s not possible to take a biopsy if the tumour is in a hard-to-reach place.

    Staging lung cancer can depend on many factors,  you may  find it helpful to look at our webpages about lung cancer  and the stages and types of lung cancer.

    I hope you know more about your dad’s diagnosis and treatment options soon.

    Please get back to us if you need any more information or support

    It might help to talk things through with one of our nurses on the helpline. You can call for free on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

    Kind regards

    Tina