Coughing up blood and CT scan results

[Col178]

Hello, I'm new here. I'm wondering if anyone can advise me if possible. I've been coughing up some blood and bloody mucus over the last couple of months. Went to the GP and they referred me on the 2 week pathway. I had a chest x-ray last week which came back clear. I had a chest CT scan yesterday and today I've had a phonecall from the hospital appointment team asking me to come in and see the respiratory consultant in 9 days time. I'm assuming this is just for other respiratory tests and not any findings on the CT scan as surely they couldn't have looked at the results in 1 day? How long does it usually take the CT results to be looked at and has anyone else been asked to go in for other tests prior to getting their CT results? Thank you, Colin.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hi Colin

Welcome to the forum. This will likely be a worrying time for you waiting for results, even though your chest xray was clear, so I’m glad you reached out. There is much support available here.

CT scan results will be looked at immediately by the radiographer but then require to be processed and checked by another expert prior to being sent to your medical team. The time this takes varies for each hospital. It is possible that the appointment in 9 days is to give you results rather than additional tests. It will be useful to see your respiratory consultant quickly and formulate a plan over which tests or treatments, if any, are required.

If you would like to discuss anything you can call our ask the nurse helpline number on 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600, please note we close on the 23rd December, open for one day on the 29th December and return on 3rd January 2023. Alternatively you can email us at [e-mail] and we shall respond as soon as we can.

Wishing you all the best

Roy Castle Support Team

[Col178 in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thanks so much for your reply , much appreciated.

[JanetteR57]

we can jump to conclusions in all sorts of ways whether we get called back quickly or slowly - imagining the worst.

some hospitals now make automatic bookings so that at least the patient is in the pathway if referred to on an urgent request (2WW) .

Coughing up blood can have many causes - it's happened to me many times and despite investigations wasn't lung cancer but told I'd burst blood vessels whilst violently coughing.

I was investigated because in 2010 I had lung surgery and a 7cm lung tumour removed but I hadn't coughed up any blood.

However I had gone to A&E with worrying symptoms and the next day readmitted by ambulance and kept in for a week, misdiagnosed and mistreated as uncontrolled asthma despite the chest x-ray that clearly showed a large lesion on the left lung having been reported (at my request) the first night I was discharged.

I saw a respiratory consultant on the ward who said he wanted to see me in clinic and would book an appointment but he didn't want to see me until I'd had a CT so he could discuss any results with me then.

My CT scan was delayed by over a month as the scanner had broken down and I couldn't have it done whilst in the hospital as my by then violent cough prevented me lying still enough to lie in a CT scanner.

I'd be thankful in the current dire situation in the NHS that you have an appointment and hopefully the consultant can reassure you with either further tests or explain what the results are which they should have by the time of the appointment.

Good luck.

[Col178 in reply to JanetteR57]

Thanks for taking the time to reply Janette. Sounds like you've been through the mill. Thanks again, I appreciate it.

[JanetteR57 in reply to Col178]

I consider myself very fortunate - and appreciate every day.

I was back at work 3 months after my surgery and swimming and continued to work, swim and travel ever since.

I raised money for Roy Castle lung cancer foundation with swimming in memory of a dear friend we lost, then attended one of their events locally where I met a nurse who was a lung cancer patient advocate and encouraged me to get more involved.

I've gradually become more involved over the years joining the first cancer research role at the end of 2013. The situation for lung cancer has improved so much since my diagnosis - with many many more treatments and treatment combinations than before and even the more traditional treatments of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery have all changed to be kinder - given in different doses, orders and usually in combination with something else. Many are living their lives even with a diagnosis or after treatment.

fingers crossed that you're given whatever results promptly and onto treatment whatever it turns out to be. good luck.

[Ianhick]

Your referral to the respiratory consultant will probably be routine and to discuss your CT scan. As previously said, it could just be burst blood vessels, through violent coughing, I've experienced this myself and can be alarming. I was referred to a respiratory consultant after having coughed up blood and a chest x-ray showed a 6cm tumour. I've had surgery to remove the tumour, 7.8cm by then, but thankfully the biopsy has come back as benign.

Try not to worry, easier said than done I know, but it's best to wait and see the respiratory consultant.

[Col178 in reply to Ianhick]

Thanks for your reply Ian, much appreciated.