Worried I might have lung cancer

Hello everyone, I have had a cough for a while. For over four months I've had a pain under my left lung. My doctor thought it was muscular. I had a blood test which showed my calcium levels were a little high so I was sent for another one and get the results in a couple of days. I had an ecg which was fine. I had an xray and the doctor said the only way she could describe it was that my lungs look dirty. Does anyone know what that means please. I am now waiting for a scan and to see a lung specialist. All the doctor would say was don't worry but I am. Thank you for listening.

[Cockailschemocancer]

hi Sunflower

A scan really is going to be the only way to determine if an anything sinister is going on. Have you had covid? As the X-rays after covid can show as lots of things floating around? Hopefully it’s a nothing but it’s good they are checking to be sure!

[Hidden in reply to Cockailschemocancer]

Hi many thanks for your reply.

[happygrandma7]

Hello Sunflower, there are honestly many other issues that could cause your symptoms. I completely understand, as I have not been diagnosed but I am living as if I have lung cancer. I am changing my diet and lifestyle, and am going to quit sugar and try some fasting. The thing is, we are choosing the WORST possible case scenario, which is pretty harsh. I have a "nodule" and water in my right lung, shortness of breath, and a few interesting changes to what was recently excellent health. But getting older (55) and hormonal changes are a factor as well. SO, I think we should remain positive, and use this opportunity to take a good look at our health moving forward, and do whatever we can to stay strong and healthy. I was smoking for 4 years when I turned 50, NOT smart, and so I am pretty sure my body was very unhappy with that. But I'm taking turmeric, garlic, trying to cut back completely on sugar, and hoping to try 48 hour fasting soon. And exercise regularly. Stay strong, don't worry, and I wish you the very best and positive news. It's very likely NOT cancer, but take good care of yourself. Green tea is good for lungs too

[Hidden in reply to happygrandma7]

Many thanks for your reply and best wishes for the future.

[JanetteR57]

Understand your anxiety but as others have said, your symptoms could be many things. The lungs have no pain receptors which is why when we feel pain, it can be muscular, nerves or even infection affecting the pleura of the lung which can make the area tender and painful.

Is there a particular reason you've jumped to the conclusion it could be lung cancer? has a relative or somebody you know had similar? Many symptoms overlap with pneumonia, TB, infection, Covid, other respiratory conditions so it's unusual to jump so quickly to the scenario you hold.

I know there have been campaigns about coughs that last a long time to get checked out - but the vast majority turn out not to be anythings sinister - that doesn't mean they don't need investigation and treatment but that's not the same as lung cancer.

I had some sudden onset symptoms very strange for me and went to A&E in October and a 'lesion' showed on my left lung. The next day I was admitted, misdiagnosed as uncontrolled asthma (which I'd had a young person but not since early 40s and I was just 52). I didn't respond to the asthma meds and the cough got much worse so unable to have a CT scan. Eventually my breathing was at whatever the minimum percentage it needed to be for me to be sent home (after a week) and told I'd be called for a CT scan then to see a respiratory consultant. The appointment came through for 2 weeks later but the day before the scan I had a call to say the scanner had broken and they had to order parts. It took over another 2 weeks before I eventually had the scan then another week or more to get results then sent for another type of scan( PET scan) then the appointment I'd received for the consultant was pulled forward by over a week. I learned the 'large mass' in my lung had to be removed with half my left lung and sent away for analysis. I had the surgery 2 weeks later and a month after that learnt it had been a 7cm tumour - non small cell lung cancer. That was in January 2011 and I was back at work and swimming by the end of march. Since then, things have changed considerably in lung cancer treatments, diagnosis and earlier detection which is so important as too many people were being found when symptomatic which can alter the treatments available. There are many treatments but surgery is usually not possible if it's spread beyond the lungs.

However at the moment, you are under investigation - lungs looking cloudy/mucky can all be inflammation especially if you've had a recent chest infection of any kind, or scarring from previous infections including pneumonia, TB and covid. Your doctor is following the correct process - you'll be sent for a scan (CT) then referred to a lung specialist - the best place to be for them to investigate exactly what it might be. Whatever it is, there are millions of people living with respiratory conditions and many others recovering from infections that affect their lungs at any given time. Not every cough, wheeze or irregular x-ray is cancer.

Try not to jump to conclusions - distract yourself doing something to escape into or for others - far better to live life dealing with the 'what is' rather than making yourself anxious and creating even more symptoms worrying about the' what if'.

Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to JanetteR57]

Thank you JanetteR57

[happygrandma7 in reply to JanetteR57]

Wow that's an amazing and encouraging story, thank you so much for sharing! It's beyond great that you are thriving and healthy after that experience, and your advice is very helpful.

[JanetteR57 in reply to happygrandma7]

I attended an event with Roy Castle lung cancer foundation in autumn 2012 and that was the first time I'd met other LC patients and their relatives - and everyone had a different experience.

I was encouraged by a patient advocate to get more involved in lung cancer research and been involved since end of 2013 - I felt humbled and inspired when I met survivors who at the time were 10, 15 and 18 years out from their treatments and only 1 had surgery - so even the traditional treatments of chemotherapy and radiotherapy help many although as explained treatments now are more complicated and helping many more live longer with fewer side effects from some of the earlier treatments.

One of the advocates I met who I still work with virtually is 34 years out from his treatment and many even with advanced stage iv are 7-8 years out.

Never give up - whatever it turns out t be..... life is what we make it.... having lost my younger sister aged 40 in 2001, her daughter (33) in 2019 and recently my older sister (66) all unexpectedly and not one from cancer, taught me to realise it's much more important to live in the 'now'

good luck.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear Sunflower1963

Sorry to hear of your worry and there have been great replies on the forum, of which there is not much to add to. As others have said, it could be many things and a CT scan will hopefully provide some reassuring answers for you.

If you would like to discuss anything you can email ask the nurse at [e-mail] or call our free phone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600

All the very best

The Roy Castle Support Team

[Jcraig12]

Hi Sunflower1963

My mom had the exact same thing, the DRs described her X-ray results as “dirty” which got us all panicked. She has been a heavy smoker all of her life so naturally I assumed the worse. She was referrred to the chest clinic to get a breathing test however the appointment wasn’t until July and I wasn’t waiting until then. I paid for a private CT scan and all came back clear. There is some clear damage from the smoking, she has been diagnosed with COPD, chronic bronchitis but very thankfully has no tumours present.

If you can afford it, I would defo recommend paying private for a scan, as you’ll been seen very soon, we were fortunate that we were seen and had our results back within a week. If not, ask them to repeat the chest X-ray in about 6 weeks, ideally a CT scan is much more detailed and realistic, though a chest X-ray may provide some further reassurance.

Good luck, please give me informed. Take care.

[Hidden in reply to Jcraig12]

Thank you. Hope your Mum is doing well. By the way I don't smoke.

[Hidden]

Hi everyone, I went to see the lung specialist today. He listened to my lungs with his stethoscope. He said lungs are clear so all OK. He has made an appointment for me to have an allergy test and the test where you breath into the tube. This test is in four months time. I still feel the same. I'm still coughing but didn't cough at the appointment. I was expecting him to do a scan. Can they really say my lungs are OK just by listening. My doctor gave me water tablets last week which have probably removed the fluid. He then told me I have an enlarged heart but nothing else. I've read heart problems can cause the fluid. I'm now waiting for a phone call to see the heart specialist. He just told me to take it easy. I'd already got an appointment booked with my doctor for tomorrow. Thanks for listening

[JanetteR57]

Sounds as if they're investigating as they should. Finding out whether something triggered your lungs/cough reaction is good - that can sometimes take years/months to get such a referral. There are many tests to determine what is going on in the lungs and listening is one part of that - if they sound clear then there is no reason to refer you on for more investigations - although it's called a national health service, it's really a national illness service. it's not there to investigate and keep looking for anything that might pop up if the obvious investigations into symptoms don't turn up anything.... it sounds as if you're reading up on stuff - presumably on the internet? therein lies a road to madness - years ago when people had medical dictionaries, many thought they had worse things than they did and the internet has magnified that many times as have personal tracking devices.

Scans carry radiation risk which itself can lead to problems if too much exposure as it can distort cells so simply wanting a scan in itself isn't sufficient reason for a medical professional to send you for one. as others have said, you can pay privately as those organisations are often happy to take money whether or not somebody has symptoms but I'm curious why. you're so convinced you have lung cancer or something sinister when the investigations and tests are currently just that - trying to rule things out as well as in. If the ECG was fine, how has the doctor deduced you have an enlarged heart? from the x-ray? or have other tests been done? we often imagine everything related to breathing is lung related but it can be heart related or have other causes so if you've been referred to heart specialist, that's also good to reassure you and prompt any other investigations if necessary or discharge you if not.

If we focus on every twinge, symptom, cough etc as we get older, we can convince ourselves that a lot is wrong but it's a time of life (like adolescence) when our bodies are going through immense change but we're mostly unaware of those changes. hope you get some answers soon but in the meantime, do try and get on with your life - as the results will be what they will be irrespective of whether you wasted time, emotion and energy being anxious or doing something nicer for you with your time. good luck.