Petrified - Lung Cancer

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)

  • [@justzbiku]‍ 

    Did you ever get to the bottom of your problems?

    I am having similar too and don't know where to turn. Clear xray and nothing n CT scan

    Andrea

  • Hi [@andrea15]‍ 

    I've had a cough for the whole month and then it magically disappeared. 
    I never went to the doctor so in fact I don't know what it was. I never took any medicines as well.

    Are you a smoker?
     

  • Hi

    I am in the same position too 

    Been having blood in my sputum for a week now

    X ray & Bloods we're both fine 

    Had A CT scan but waiting for results

    I now worry I'm loosing weight too 

  • Hi Jonny

    I've sent you a friend request if you want to have a chat. It's a very personal and disturbing thing which I have found hard to talk about publicly on here in comparison to private messages. Offer is there if you want to

    Andrea

  • Hi All,

    I have the same issue. It happened first in April 2019 when i travelled back to UK. Second time in April 2020. Third time on 30th May 2020. For the first two incidents, i took antibiotics as doctor said it was probably due to lung infection although not certain through X-ray. Today i had the x-ray again and waiting for the results. [@andrea15]‍ , [@Brimay]‍  could you please share your latest update so as to help me in taking any necessary action at this stage.

  • Hi. Nothing was found on my x-ray, CT or bronchoscopy. I had the bronchoscopy because I insisted they investigate thoroughly and this is what the guidance was that I found online. It was a very unpleasant experience and they had to sedate me early because I panicked over the prep. But it was done. The bleeding happened for a few more weeks and was often in my mouth on waking. No reason was found but it's believed to be from damage inside my mouth or my gums as I do have gum problems.

    On my CT they found a nodule in my breast which turned out to be malignant so I've now had an op and waiting for radiotherapy. If I'd not had the bleeding in wouldn't have known the breast cancer was there!

    If you smoke, are over 50 and cough blood the guidelines say you need a CT so push for that as x-rays are not so sensitive to picking things up.

    All the best. Let me know how you get on

    Andrea

  • Thanks a lot for sharing the information! My prayers and wishes are with you for your fast recovery. 

    I am 35 and do not smoke. But as you suggested i will try to get all the testing done in order to figure out the reason behind it.

    Please keep me informed too about your well being.

     

    Best,

    Sanjeev