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Petrified - Lung Cancer

Brimay
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Hi All

I am new to this forum and just need some advice. I have been a heavy smoker for many years. Last Sunday the 18th I coughed up blood. I have been coughing up since -they seem to be little streak, look like a vein. It is not a lot of blood -small amounts in my sputum. I immediately gave up soking and as I am clearing my lungs there are small streaks still. I am actually too afraid to cough. I do not have any major chest pain, no pain in shoulders so I just do not know what is happening.

I am not wheezing and my chest is clear apart from the sputum clearing from my lungs cos os stopping smoking.

I went to my GP on Monday the 19th who looked at the photos of the sputum and did not act very worried but did send me up to Lincoln hospital for x rays which I had on the same day. That was Monday - I have waited everyday for some results. It is the 24th and still no contactfrom my GP surgery about the x ray results. I am terrified that I may have lung cancer.

The next day the GP will be open is 28th after the Christmas holidays. So I am left in a state and ruining my and my familys Christmas with my worry.

My issue is that I was under the impression that if there was anything serious found on the x rays it would be reported to my GP as quickly as possible and I would get a call. I have not heard from anybody and my GP actually only works as a locum at the surgery Monay and Tuesdays. So it was from Monday to Friday (yesterday) that I could be called and nothing.

Can anybody shed some light on the time it takes and if it is indeed true that when the radiographer finds a serious condition on the xray - should i know by now.

Any help or support would mean so much to me as I am just so worried.

Thanks all in advance.

Regards, Brian (46 years old)

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    Hi Brian, I recently had aches the X-ray for coughing up blood. The radiographer told me that he'd had a quick look and it looked OK and that he would have a thorough look and report to my GP surgery which took another 4 days. I've always called my GP surgery for results, they never phone me. You know what they say, no news is good news. Please don't pick up a cigarette again though. :-)

  • Offline in reply to Michelle1978

    Hi Michelle, a Merry Christmas to you. Did you find out the cause for your coughing up blood. I agree, I should have called on Friday, but was just to scared to get any bad news.What was the result of your x rays? Defo not going to pick up another cigarette that is for sure...

  • Offline in reply to Brimay

    Hi there, my chest X-ray was clear so it wasn't taken any further. All the times I've coughed up blood have been the tail end of chest infections and swine flu. If you cough up blood you always get sent for an X-ray.  All in all if the X-ray showed anything suspicious they should of called straight away. If you keep coughing up blood and your chest X-ray is clear make sure you persist with further investigation. Good luck x

  • Offline in reply to Michelle1978

    Hello Michelle, thank you so much for your encouragement over the holidays. I called today and my x rays have come back clear. Turns out they were there last week but the surgery did not bother letting me know. Changed surgeries today to a more proactive one. Thank you all and God Bless. Brian x

  • Offline in reply to Brimay

    Hi Brian, so happy you've got the all clear on the chest X-ray.  I hope you continue the not smoking. I lost my dad last year to lung cancer, if I could save another person from losing their hero through smoking then I'm happy. Take care and have a happy and healthy new year x

  • Offline in reply to Michelle1978
    Thanks Michelle, really appreciate the support from you. Still have the aches and coughing up all the rubbish as still have not and will not have another ciggie. This scare was enough to last me a lifetime. Take care and a very prosperous new 2017 to you x
  • Offline in reply to Brimay

    Hi All,

    The mystery continues. After initially posting in late December about coughing up blood and having a clear chest x ray, I took myself off to a private CT scan just to be sure. That came up completely normal - nothing found. I had a break from coughing up blood for about 3 weeks and now have started coughing up blood again and that is after a clear chest xray and clear CT scan.

    I started coughing up blood again yesterday. They are now going to do a Broncoscopy on me on the 20th.

    Has anybody out there got any idea why I could still be coughing up blood again. It is very strange.

    Look forward to your replies and Love to all.

    Regards,

     

    Brian

  • Offline in reply to Brimay

    Hi, I have no idea about the coughing up blood thing (I'm waiting on a biopsy on a neck lump) but a few years ago I had a chest X-ray and there were LOADS of lumps in my lungs and what they called a mass at the bottom of one. I was terrified, I had a broncoscopy, which isn't the most pleasant thing in the world, but it turned out to be sarcoidosis. The tests and wait is horrible, but it's not always bad news, I think for the most part of the pre diognosis section, it was cysts, boils and chest infections. So hopefully we're in that group!! X

  • Offline in reply to Brimay

    Hi [@Brimay]‍

    I hope you are well. What was the final outcome of your story? I am curious as I am currently having similar problems....

  • Offline in reply to Michelle1978

    Hi Michelle. Sorry to jump on this thread. I'm having some issues with coughing up blood and wondered if I could speak to you?

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