Fear

[Hollyhops]

Hi.. I had chest infection in May for which I was hospitalised for 3 days. I had repeat xray after 6 weeks which showed infection still there a white shadow on left side of lung..where infection was.. got letter in post for a ct chest scan Which is not until end of October which would be 4 months since my 6 week follow up chest xray.. Had follow up appointment in August from my 3 days in hospital doc said he wasn't sure about shadow.. Couldn't say what it was because it has no defined shape to it...thats why I'm worried.. I've read that lung cancer shows a shadow with no defined shape..it is on the outside halfway down of my left lung.. Can anyone help me as to what it could be..

[Hollyhops]

Ps.. I have mild copd and Asthma diagnosed 1 year ago. Have had 3 chest infections since being diagnosed.. Last one was the one I was hospitalised for..

[Caspiana]

Hello Hollyhops . 😁

It is to be sure worrying when we get an abnormal x-ray result, but I would say not that uncommon when suffering with infection. If you were hospitalized for the infection, then it must have been a bad one. And probably is lingering. Of course I can't and neither can anyone else say what the shadow is but a big possibility is the infection is still there and or has left some scaring. I think we all tend to think the worse, but please don't panic just yet and stay away from Google . It really does not help your stress levels which in turn will not help you heal. Please do update us when you can. Sending hugs to you.

Cas xx 🌼

[Hollyhops in reply to Caspiana]

Thank you so much for your reply Cas..i am really worried what that shadow is. It is only a small white shadow on outside of my left lung.. I've seen it on my xray.. But because it has no defined shape to it that's what worries me.. I thought it maybe a lung nodule but there supposed to be round solid mass which mine is not.. Hopefully it will be result of infection pg.. 🙏❤️

[Caspiana in reply to Hollyhops]

We can only hope Holly. But most of the time it turns out to be nothing. BUT and this is a huge BUT if it is anything sinister we must roll up our sleeves and deal with it as we do in these situations. You aren't alone. You have us for support. xx 😘

[Hollyhops in reply to Caspiana]

Thank you Cas.. ❤️.. I've had xrays with my previous chest infections and they were both clear so maybe it is just from my last infection for which I was hospitalised. Hopefully 🙏.. Xx

[2greys]

If the Radiologist and Consultant thought there was a chance of Cancer then be assured that you would have been fast tracked for a CT Scan with contrast within 2 weeks. So no need to be worried about that. I have been through a Lung Cancer diagnosis so know about this first hand.

[Hollyhops in reply to 2greys]

Thank you 2greys..i was thinking that too.. Why they are leaving me 4 months for scan. Altho I read somewhere they do normally leave it 3 months to see if shadow has changed since last xray.? So I'm presuming it hadn't changed from 1st xray when I had infection to the 6 weeks follow up xray.. Hopefully 🙏

[santisuk]

The positive is that you have been having regular monitoring of your chest image so anything appearing that does require attention is likely to be treatable.

I had a shadow appear 6 years ago before my bronchiectasis diagnosis. The pulmonologist/thoracic surgeon ran me through various stages of scans telling me along the way that he was convinced it was cancer - but he also assured me it was early stage and could be cut out and that was very likely to be the end of it.

A CT guided-biopsy proved him wrong and other less one-track minded specialists at Papworth Hospital determined it to be a malt lung lymphoma. Good care from a lymphoma specialist and a short series of easy-to-deal-with radiation therapy treatments essentially cured it.

When you are moved to think about worst possible diagnoses don't forget that you live in a developed part of the world where diagnosis does not mean the end!

[Hollyhops in reply to santisuk]

Thank you santisuk.. The consultant said he wasn't too worried about it that it could be a number of things..?. Cancer wasn't mentioned.. I'm having chest ct with contrast and that worries me why I have to have the contrast.. Hope your doing OK now.. Xx

[cofdrop-UK]

Hi Hollyhops

Please try not to get ahead of yourself (easier said than done). I have had shadows in the past and worried myself silly - they turned out to be remnnts of an infection. I appreciate the fact you are concerned about the shape but much better to know what you are dealing with. It sounds as if the shadow was found about July and they have a duty of care to check it out. I would have thought if they were hugely concerned your recall would have been before October.

Wishing you the best. Please let us know how you get on.

Cx

[Hollyhops in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Thank you for your reply cofdrop.. Shadow was on chest xray I had in May when I was hospitalised for chest infection doc said it was infection on xray so had follow up xray 6 weeks ltr in June and shadow/infection still there.. That's why I am having ct chest scan with contrast.. Just praying it is remains of infection 🙏. X

[cofdrop-UK in reply to Hollyhops]

Yes I appreciate that and have my fingers crossed for you.

Cx