Lung cancer?

hi not sure this is the right place to post..

I know this probably gets asked a lot but the simple reason for this is doctors don't have a very good communication with patients. My mum is ill. Shortness of breath and bad cough. Doctors didn't want to see her (because of the covid situation)for 3 months she's been like this. The just kept prescribing different stuff over the phone antibiotics after antibiotics then inhalers then oral steroids. The inhalers seem to make her worse like a lot worse. She finally managed to see Dr and he just said its from smoking and it would stay this way. My mum who normally is very energetic and on the go cant leave house now because of how out of breath she is. He ordered a routine x ray that was 3 weeks away and was told 10 days for results. Well i had to take her to a and e one evening because of how out of breath she was. 9 hours later they told us they found something on her lung ( that one lung that doesnt produce any sound under stethoscope) and she would be sent ct appointment in the post. Thing is my mum had a small nodule on lung 2 years ago they said it was nothing but kept monitoring so last x ray she had year ago didn't show anything new. The a and e doctor told me to stop all the medication she has as it won't help. When I asked what to do if she gets out of breath she said nothing that can be done. Today we received a letter that was sent to her gp that said the chest x ray was severly abnormal. What does this even mean. She has a consultant appointment in few days but I am going mad with worry and the a and e doctor told me to make sure I come with her. I mean how can I be a support to her when I am not prepared for anything myself

  • Hi there ..

    I'm sorry, but in my opinion your mum has been really let down by her G Ps ... them using covid as an excuse is not right .. seeing she had something on her lung before hand ..I'd deff put in an official complaint ... she should have had an x ray a long time ago .. they are still doing x ray and scans even with covid ...

    But at least now she is getting sorted .. and I know how traumatic you must be feeling ... but remember it was your mum held you, fed you, caught you when you fell .. and saw you through all those childhood years by holding your hand, ... you need to now, do the same for her ... this is a scary time for you both .. but she needs you now to hold her hand ... it's o.k to feel what your feeling but when she can't see you .. but then get your boxing gloves on and be her support... you can do this ... 

    The definition of being brave is being scared witless but you do it any way.... so hold on in there .. and you'll always find someone here to listen and hold your hand ... as we've been where you are now ..and know how scary this is ... sending you a vertual hug.... Chrissie x

  • Thank you so much for your reply. I do want to put a complaint in. I am also not happy that they think its OK to send a letter saying significant abnormality and dont feel a need to explain further. You just have to wait and be patient. I know i jave to be her support and I am doing my best. All those moments you describing is what keeps playing in my mind and although I am an adult now she is still ready to catch me when I fall or offer an ear to listen when I had bad day like noone else can. I honestly cannot imagine that she could be gone. I dont want to say anything to her thats why i reached out here I need to be a support to her and telling her my worries wouldn't be that. We are seeing respiratory consultant tomorrow but honestly all this wait is a torture i vannot even function properly I am mentally drained from worry. What doesn't help is that before all this I had a horrible dream that she passed away. Thank you again for taking time to reply

    Marina