My mum has had a really nasty cough for 3 weeks. Spoke to her GP, who prescribed antibiotics and sent her off for an X ray. The antibiotics did make the cough a bit better but it's still there - now the GP referred her for an urgent CT scan, mum asked if it was cancer but GP said after a looong pause, "I can't rule it out" and "I'm sorry, I wish I was telling you in person" (all over phone thanks to Covid).

She had the scan today and I am completely losing it. She just turned 50, never smoked, has a healthier lifestyle than 95% of people I know! To top it all off I lost my dad 6 months ago as well to an accident who was in his forties so I am completely distraught and can only think of the worst. 

I have severe health anxiety as a result of two of my closest friends suddenly passing away as well and this is just too much to handle, I don't know what to do. I'm HOPING it will be fine or could be something else but the GP's pause when she said "I can't rule it out", haunts me. 

I know nothing about lungs or cancer or medicine really so I just don't know at all what else it could possibly be, I am already thinking of the worst.

I feel so alone in this, I don't know how to help my mum either. Has anyone had something similar? Any words of encouragement? I just don't know what to do...