I have been spitting blood for 3 weeks, three or four teaspoons mostly in the morning and at night. I have shoulder pain and severe back pain.The back pain is ongoing since 2012 due to dead discs in lower back. I have hoarseness and night sweats. I am a 41 male ex smoker of 3 weeks I am a father of 4 young children under the age of 11. I am terrified I have lung cancer. I presented to the hospital last Sunday morning and had a chest X-ray and blood and urine taken. All came back normal. The doctor is sending me to a rapid access clinic for suspected lung cancer.
Has anyone attended one of these clinics any information would be greatly appreciated. I'm really scared.
Sorry to hear you are so unwell. Have the Dr’s ruled out Pulmonary Embolisms, was one of the blood tests a D Dimer test if it has not been done I would ask for it. Pulmonary Embolism do not show on x ray only CT scan.
Hi Tia4209, thanks so much much for replying. Yes one of the blood tests wa sa D Dimer. I hope and pray it's not lung cancer anything else I can handle. My GP informs me the fact I'm only 41, have no weight loss iv had two chest x-rays in the last 6 months both were clear my bloods fines are all positive signs although he didnt rule anything out. Its very frightening.
Hi this may sound silly I had a similar sorts of things to what you have been going through at the moment the blood was coming from A tooth.It may be worth checking your teeth with the dentist
Hi Jason. Thank you for taking the time to reply to me it's much appreciated. I am going to take your advise and book an appointment with my dentist. What harm can it do. Did you go to rapid access lung unit for assessment before you found out the cause was a tooth.
No this is a little bit complicated I’ll try to make it short I was losing blood spitting every morning same as you about the same amount My doctor sent me for an x-ray as he thought it may be lung cancer early stages fortunately it was not and then I was sent for a CT scan again no lung cancer but had kidney cancer instead they call it an incidental. In the meantime I was having problem with my teeth and had toothache I had a tooth removed and the blood stopped no more spitting blood in the mornings. Had my kidney removed about 18 months ago so I owe a lot to my tooth losing blood I hope this helps. Easy for me to say but try not to worry.
I'm glad that you are ok now Jason. The CT scan will hopefully tell the story. I'm trying not to get stressed about this as I know nothing is confirmed or ruled out yet except clear chest X-ray and bloods. Its just because of the kids I get scared and anxious. Thanks for sharing your story with me Jason.
So mine went like this. I was already on watch and wait for cancer, given my family and work history, with asbestos exposure, plus the fact that I had COPD and an ex heavy smoker. A suspicious nodule was picked up with a high resolution CT Scan, with contrast, I was immediately fast tracked to a PET Scan which then proved positive for lung cancer. The rest is another story, but I am in full remission after two years with another 3 years to go to be declared cancer free. Hopefully yours is just a false alarm, which believe it or not, is just what it is most of the time, a false alarm.
Thank you for taking the time to reply to me 2greys it means a lot. That's great your in recovery I wish you all the best. Thank you for sharing you story with me.
Hi Kinghenrik11, 2greys is spot on regarding lung cancer scares. Most often that is exactly the case. I had a nodule that had been observed for a couple of years...had a PET scan in November...it was benign. Prayers going up for you and family...J
Hi J, thank you for taking the time to reply to me. I am so much more positive today because of all you amazing people then I have been since Sunday. Thank you for your support and prayers ♥️
Thank you for replying to me Oshgosh. It is terrifying to be honest because I can't help but think the worst because I have young kids. Thank you for your kind words
It’s a really bad time for you.the fear of the unknown is the worst. The positives are that docs are listening toyouandhave directed to the right place..
This forum is a really good place to be.theres loadsof knowledge / experience, avaiable
I pray for you that it isn't what you think. It could be an ulcer, have you thought of that? I also coughed up some blood, not as continuous as yours, but that's what it was in the end. And yes it could be an embolism. Try not to worry. Wait for results. It is a very scary ride, but what will be will be....Keep the faith honey, try and stay positive. Let it go, hand it over to the universe. This too will pass. All the best and I know all the guys here will be wishing you well. Its pretty powerful this collective healing! Good Luck xo
sorry for late response, but no they didn't but it appeared one had been there but gone! Apparently that can happen, they can come and go. Just gotta watch the diet, and stay away from fat. Well that seems to be working thus far. All the very best to you and yours.
I would not try to worry to much ,i coughed a lot of blood up two years ago,had rapid treatment they obviosly looked into lung cancer,turned out i had bronchietasis a lung condition,i know you will worry i did but try to keep positive x
Hi Lyla, I appreciate you taking time to reply to me and share your experience with me. I'm ok with whatever comes my way it's just when I think of my kids I completely fall apart thinking the worst.
I would just like to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply to me. Your positivity and your support has made a difference to me and I really am grateful ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Wish you all the best and hope that this is just a false alarm Kinghenrik11, its always more of a worry when you have young kids, but look on the positive side if you do have anything it has been picked up early and that is on your side, keep us updated and try not to worry too much x
Thank you Izb1 for replying to me. I will update as soon as I get to the rapid access unit. Very comforting to have so many people giving advise and support it really does help.
Dont know if this helps but the only person I knew with lung cancer coughed for weeks before being diagnosed. The only people I know who cough up blood have bronchiectasis . Good luck !
I feel for you KH, I had similar three or so years ago, the waiting to hear is no fun. Turned out to be a cyst on my palate, nasty but curable. Praying for a good outcome for you and your family. Good sign about your weight and bloods
Hi stamford1234, thank you for taking the time to reply to me and for your support and prayers I really appreciate it. Yes the waiting game is awful, I am so glad I came on here everyones support is amazing. Thank you.
I have never heard of a "Rapid access lung unit" to be honest. I have however had the same problems.
I attended a COPD review in August 2019 - I told the nurse about a stage lack of breathing and Fr ordered an X Ray,
X Ray showed shadow on Left Apex. I also spit up blood but streaked in mucus, This stopped then started again.. At moment stopped.
I had to go for X Ray 2 - Two weeks later after a course of Amoxiclave - I was seen by specialist this time who ordered CT Scan.
CT Scan showed shadow still there.
Refered for a PET SCAN and day after they rang me up and said no spread to other organs, but now Right Lung had a shadow,
So I had to wait 6 weeks for CT SCAN 2 - I had this last Sunday and don/t know results yet. Lot of pain in arm, Dihydrocodeine no help so DP game me morphine. After that I again coughed up mucas and blood. - Now stopped.
I keep being told by GP and other they are looking for scars, advestos damage even TB or Pneumonia - but hey, that does not spread.
Reason I answered your post I am concerned about Lung Cancer although no worse chest symptoms - But pain alone can be a sign, I was stupid enough to consul Dr Google.
I feel rubbish and no go but how much is that stress worried at vack of mind about cancer? I also have hoarseness BYW and throat problems can cause bleeds.
I simply am not happy but do what I normally do - I even at my age play TR twice a week with a few drinks with the wife. It helps...
In short with a normal X Ray - I would have thought and I am no doctor that your cancer is slip; Good luck and even with all my positive results Cancer may not be the cause. _ The fear comes with not knowing, believe me I understand your fears,,, Lots of false alarms so try and be positive.....I should know in 2 days and will post whatever it is, my fear now is a biopsy. I hope you have good pain relief.
Hi Ern007 thank you for replying to me and sharing your story. I wish you all the best and hope and pray when you get your results it is not lung cancer and is positive please God. To be honest this is the worst experience of my life. The rapid access unit is basically to skip the que as far as I know to get checked out. In your comment you say" in short with a normal x-ray I would have thought I'm no doctor your cancer is slip"...did you mean slim by any chance..thank you for your support.
Hi Kinghenrik11 - First thank's for your concern, that's what we are about on here.. Second I apologise for my typo and you are correct - I did indeed mean "Slim" - in my case X Ray picked a shadow, - What an X ray can't do is say whether a shadow is cancer or not. In your case clear X Ray and bloods is good, I am no doctor and we can never say never is never. Glad you have got to The rapid access unit - Lots of things can cause coughing up blood, TB for example. Not nice but curable.. i don't blame you being scared, you have to experience even being associated with Lung Cancer to understand.. Just try and be as normal as possible. Really hope you know soon you are OK and hope, you let us know...
As soon as I know anything I will be sure to update good or bad Ern007. This forum really has gave me great strength and support I even sleep ok last night for the first time in days. I hope to God the next time I am speaking to you after you get your results that it is good news. Take care.
Sorry for your news, I can't give you any medical advice but I just wanted to say I think you are a very good Dad. You are not so worried for yourself, you sound strong and confident to face anything, but your first and major concern is your young children, not yourself, which is commendable. All the best.
Hi Fantwalk , thank you for replying to me and for you kind words and support. To be honest as long as I get to see my kids grow up I would take anything along the way health wise if that makes sense. This forum is truly a blessing, also my bleeding had stopped the last 5 days today so I am positive about that also.
After a year of constant infections, I coughed up about a couple of tablespoons of blood. This triggered a ct scan and bronchoscopy, diagnosis bronchiectasis. That was ten years ago. At the time the doctor said to me, its not unusual to cough up blood, and I said "it is for me!" . Still happens from time to time and I don't think I will ever not be alarmed by it.
I hope things turn out well for you, treatments are improving all the time. Love Iris x
Hi Lyd12, it's great comfort that people on here understand your fears because they have been there themselves. I said to my wife I will take anything except lung cancer but at the end of the day it's out of my hands. The bleeding has stopped for the last 4 days so I think that's positive. I wish you all the best and thank you for taking the time for me♥️
Night sweats and coughing up blood can be associated with lung infections which themselves might be associated by the emergence of other lung conditions like bronchiectasis. Such lung conditions are very unlikely to be imminently life threatening and probably manageable for a long number of years.
Even if it is lung cancer, provided it has been detected early it's not a death sentence. A lung surgeon who checked me out when a routine free NHS X-Ray revealed a shadow on my lung was convinced I had lung cancer. Ultimately a biopsy proved him wrong, but on the way through he had convinced me not to be afraid of early stage lung cancer. He was adamant that if he just cut out a quarter of my lung volume I would continue to live a normal life. Surgeons 'love to cut' so he was disappointed to not have me on the table.
Better lung specialists than him (at Papworth) found the cause of the shadow to be a 'malt lung lymphoma' and 12 sessions of mild radiotherapy - I felt no side affects whatsoever - had the regional lymphoma NHS specialist telling me we would not be meeting again and that I would 'die from something else'!
Hi Santisuk, Thank you for replying to me and sharing your experience. Wow...that must of been a real emotional rollercoaster for you. I am so glad reading that things worked out so well for you in the end. I hope to god mine is as positive as yours.
It was a rollercoaster but actually I found real strength and positivity from discovering that I could face a number of uncomfortable diagnoses without falling apart!
Just as well ... 2017 saw me diagnosed with osteoarthritis which has cut running and even jogging out of my life. 2018 prolapsed disc - successfully treated with microdiscetomy (micro surgery repair of the collapsed disc). 2019 triple bypass surgery; so far, so good recovery over last 6 months.
Still up and at life - still boss of a social running/walking/beer drinking group here in Thailand. Enjoying raising a family, which was something that passed me by in my pre-retirement workaholic years!
Your first paragraph reminded me of the old saying - "cometh the hour, cometh the man". x
You are one tough cookie. You have been through an awful lot and bounce back positively everytime which is a great credit to you. I hope you continue to enjoy life and raising your family for many many years to come. Best wishes Santisuk and thank you.
Hi lKeith, thank you for replying to me. I will update as soon as I go to my appointment. I will go through my experience then and my results. Best wishes and thank you.
Hi guys, here is an update on what has been happening. I have been to the rapid access clinic on Monday last. The consultant told me he thinks I will be ok, I have to go for CT scan and camera on February 10th, he doesn't seem too concerned which is positive. I have also been to ENT clinic. The doctor asked me for history and done a physical examination. He put a camera down my nose, wasn't too bad. He said I had nothing cancerous and that he was happy his end. His colleague took a look as well a she saw something white minute on my voicebox she said was common with smokers. Again she didn't seem too concerned. I have to have a ultrasound and go back in ten weeks time. I will update in a couple of weeks and once again would like to thank you all for your support.
Hi guys,
I went for a CT scan this morning. I also had the camera down my airways(didn't feel a thing I was asleep. The consultant told me the CT scan was good the nurse told me he took a biopsy and I will here the results in a week or two from my GP. Still in the dark a bit. Anyone go through something similar.
Hi Jayneh, thanks for your reply. I hope the biopsies are to check for infection.just have to wait now for the results.
Hi Guys,
I hope you are all keeping well in these strange times we live in.
I just wanted to upday you all on how things turned out for me and also to thank you all for the support that you all gave me. It is greatly appreciated.
Since January I have been to ENT doctor had an ultrasound done in my neck which was fine. I had a CT and a bronchoscopy in the lung clinic. The consultant was delighted to tell me my lungs were perfect. I also had a stress test on the treadmill which was perfect.
Around mid March I started to suffer from acid reflux symptoms, shoulder pain preesure on my right hip, my bloods were abnormal so after another ultrasound this time on my stomach the results showed I have gallstones, I am being referred to a consultant. My spitting blood has stopped this was down to my gums. I finally got the answers to my problems so I can get this sorted once and for all. Thanks again to everyone and I wish you all the very best going forward.
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