I have a cough most of my life, but just lately I have had a horrible, relentless tickly cough, to the point I gag, and pee myself!
I went to AnE in February for a cough that was really hurting my ribs.... They saw me and sent me to ambulatory care. They did test etc and discharged me..... I thought great I can stop stressing! I suffer with health anxiety and the slightest thing, just sets me off!
Last week I received a letter from hospital for a appointment for a CT scan! My doctor didn't know anything, and when I contacted the secretary of the doctor that referred me, she didn't know. Anyways I called them again today, and the referring doctor said I need to have the CT scan done, as he has found shadowing on the left side!
I'm absolutely terrified, not only do I have a shadow on the xray, but this cough is something else! I thought my tickly irritating cough was my throat and sinuses, now I'm thinking its lung cancer! I'm terrified can't help thinking the worst! Even my kids are like get that cough sorted!
Written by
Loosygoosey7
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Chest X-ray that shows a shadow on the lung is a way of describing an area that looks abnormal, this is not a diagnosis but an observation that will need further investigation. There can be many reasons for a shadow appearing on x-ray, this includes Hiatus Hernia, chronic lung conditions such as COPD or asthma, infections such as T.B, pneumonia, inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis, it can also be a sign of lung cancer. A CT scan shows the lung in greater detail and will be able to give a better indication of what the cause may be.
It is understandable that you will be anxious about this, your Gp will have a copy of the chest x-ray report and if you are concerned make an appointment and he will be able to discuss the findings and answer any questions.
If you are looking anything up on the internet, we would advise you to keep to the following sites as there is a lot of inaccurate and not up to date information out there.
If there is anything you would like to discuss you can email ask the nurse at lungcancerhelp@roycastle.org or call our free phone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600
Sorry to read of your chronic cough situation... and anxiety levels - try not to google - so much outdated and inaccurate information.
In mid October I went to A&E with strange symptoms for me - including chronic cough, difficulty breathing no voice and stress incontinence when coughing which I'd never had.... a chest x-ray was taken and an abnormality found but I was discharged with antibiotics and steroids. Readmitted next day when symptoms hadn't improved, misdiagnosed as uncontrolled asthma and kept in for a week as wasn't responding to asthma medication. sent home advised I'd be invited for a CT which couldn't be done due to my cough as I couldn't lie still enough in the scanner so hoped meds would suppress the cough enough for that to be possible. If you're still coughing violently I would phone the imaging department that has invited you as it may not be possible to scan until it has subsided.
Although sent an appointment for the CT scan, I was phoned the day before to say the scanner had broken down and they had to order parts. When I tried to rearrange it for a different site in the same hospital trust I was told that wasn't possible - only the consultant could change it and he was on a fortnight's holiday!
So over a month later, I had a CT scan then invited in for the results which having shown me a large white blob on the right hand side and saying this was the left lung and could be cancer created no end of anxiety. When I asked how could that be possible as I'd never smoked, the registrar retracted what she'd said saying 'it might not be - I can't interpret the scan'. My case was discussed by a multidisciplinary team 2 days later and I was phoned for immediate PET scan then received a letter to see a consultant in a couple of weeks time. However the following week I had a call inviting me to see the consultant first thing the next morning and given my results - a large mass in the top of my lung which needed surgically removing with half my left lung. They weren't going to waste time on a biopsy as it had now been a couple of months and clearly showed on all imaging. It would be sent to pathology for testing.
I had surgery on 16/12 , came home on 22/12. On 13/1 I learnt it had been adenocarcinoma - a type of non small cell lung cancer.
I tell you this not to scare you but let you know that was in 2010! I was back at work and swimming by the end of March 2011.
Even if you think the worst, you're likely unaware like most of the general population that lung cancer treatments have changed beyond recognition in recent years - there are now many treatments and many live with lung cancer as well as other lung conditions.
In the years from 2015 I have had some awful chest infections, dreadful coughs and pains as you describe and none were 'sinister' - although nasty - pneumonia, pseudomonas and RSV all produced far worse symptoms than my lung cancer. With a lung cancer history, it's hard to not jump to conclusions although I try to approach life realistically - so far all eventually responded to appropriate medication even if it takes a while to recover.
Shadowing on images can have many causes - including COVID, pneumonia, TB, scar tissue and other infections and inflammation.
Try not to get ahead of yourself - stressing yourself and your kids won't do anyone any good.
Unsure what you've done to relieve cough symptoms yourself - steam inhalations, hot drinks (with honey and lemon), suck boiled sweets and wear a mask if in public to prevent spread in case it's infectious.
Good luck - hope you get some answers soon and that you can relieve your symptoms in the meantime.
Noni juice is excellent for lung cancer (cure of three months) AND methylene blue (respect the dosage and separate cure!). Make injections of vitamin D + C + natural plants (privately). Diet according to your blood type is essential! Go see a nutritherapist.All the best to you!
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Lung Cancer diagnosis
Lung cancer and Keytruda
Lung cancer 
Symptoms of lung cancer 
Wheeze & cough for 2 years - I fear lung cancer!
