Waiting for a Suspected Lung Cancer Diagnosis...

I had Covid in Feb 2021 on top of Tonsillitis and a Chest Infection, which i had to have 2 lots of antibiotics and steroids for, but still breathless and lots of other symptoms related to having Long Covid.

Anyway, i had another Chest Infection and sore throat 6months later and antibiotics didn't clear it, so doctor gave me another lot and sent me for a chest xray.

Results came back Abnormal and showed my heart was slightly enlarged compared to a previous image, but also showed a 15mm irregular opacity protruding between 6th and 7th posterior ribs, so my Doctor Fast Tracked me for the 2wk Referral with Suspected Lung Cancer.

A couple of days later i got an appointment for a CT Scan and was told that the Doctor would ring me in a couple of days with results, but will still be inside the 2wk Referral Dates, which is either today or tomorrow.

I also received a letter from the 2WW Lung Referral Clinic to ring and make appointment, and they said that the Doctor had looked at my notes and chest xray and thought it best and quicker to have a CT Scan first and she said the same, that the Doctor would ring for a Telephone Consultation.

Surely you wouldn't be told you had Cancer over the phone, so do i look at that as a positive...?

Maybe it's some kinda Infection from Covid or from having Long Covid, bit my doctor wasn't convinced of this as my chest sounded clear of infection, and he said i shouldn't be this out of breath after walking just 20 steps to his office.

I keep thinking that 15mm is a very small size and surely not big enough to cause that much damage, especially when you hear about people with tumours the size of golf balls and bigger, and still have successful treatment, but i read that 5-7mm is bad enough and any bigger shows that whatever it is i have, has definitely grown as something that is 15mm does not just appear out of nowhere - It must have started off as something smaller and grown, and so that is a worrying point...

Sorry for all the details, but it's cos i just wondered if anyone had gone through anything similar or had any info that they could give plse.

I know it's a case of just sitting and playing 'The Waiting Game', for now, but now that I've done that and the end of my 2wk Referral is here in just a matter of hours, I'm more anxious than i was last wk, so any kind of insight, whether good or bad, i would be grateful to hear plse...

I'm 49yrs old and an ex-smoker - I quit smoking over 18yrs ago...

Thanx. Dianna.x

 

  • Hi and thanks for posting

    It's difficult waiting for results to come through and it's inevitable that you think of worse case scenarios or the 'what ifs'

    It's easy to overthink things and to focus on specific details, but I'm sure you are aware that unfortunately, it's just not possible to say what the CT scan will show. It's certainly possible that your symptoms may be Covid related, but it is about just waiting.

    I don't think you can read too much into the telephone appointment as though ideally a conversation about cancer should be face to face, hospitals are not functioning necessarily in the same way as before Covid. It may well depend on how busy the hospital is and availability of staff.

    I do hope you get to hear in the next few days, although again, it's possible there may be a delay of a few more days. If you don't hear by early next week, do try and get back to them.

    Once you have all your results, if there is anything you would like to go over, please do give us a call - the number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    All the best

    Wanda