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CT Scan following chest x ray

Posted , 13 users are following.

thomas65043
thomas65043

I had a lasting cough that was not going away. I went for a chest x ray and was told straight away that I needed to go back for a CAT scan as there was something viewed that needed further examination in more detail. The radiographer said that it was the doctor that advised this. She said not to worry and tried to reassure me it might simply be an infection. I'm a life long smoker and I am not stupid that this could be lung cancer. Surely they wouldn't get me back for a ct scan if they simply thought to was an infection.

I am now waiting on appt. they said it would be within a couple of weeks and I am really worried now the more I think. Would they just get me back in for a ct scan to determine an infection or something other than lung cancer?

1 like, 22 replies

22 Replies

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  • poppysocks1
    poppysocks1

    Posted

    I am also waiting for an appointment after having a scan,as the scan showed I have a poss chronic lung disease...this scan was taken way back in November,phoned doctor after receiving letter from hospital ,she had a copy of the letter,she said she would refer me to a chest consultant,this was a fortnight ago,have heard nothing as yet as to when I will get an appointment sent to me !!!

    So hang on in there,we might be seen eventually...I'm 68,so I don't expect they will rush over me,getting too old I suppose...(sigh)

    I am rather concerned though,as I have many symptoms,that should be looked into quickly imo...

    Take care,hope all will be sorted for you soon...smile

  • Daffs
    Daffs

    Posted

    Thomas, Isn't this why your Dr has sent you for the CT, so he will know. I'm not against precautions. It's not getting them that bothers me, only to find if they had taken them, the results and I say if the worst, wouldn't be as bad.

    poppysocks, Did you know they can op on the lung now. Cut out the bad. I have bowel cancer, quite advanced, which if detected earlier wouldn't be. People although younger than me have really bveen thru the mill with ops. on liver and lungs, but they are alive. So too, younger people are also waiting for appnts. I'm 70 now, consider myself a young 70, but hope and you must have hope.

    Best wishes to both of you

  • poppysocks1
    poppysocks1

    Posted

    Hi Daffs,Tha digestive consultant sent me for a CT scan,after an endoscopy was done on my tummy...letter came back saying could find nothing wrong with tummy (only indigestion acid etc) but it also said possible Chronic lung disease was showing up on scan,I had a scan from the thorax to the pelvis.

    I am not thinking lung cancer,I am thinking maybe the start of COPD,I am a smoker (roll ups) have smoked since I was 15,so that is 53 years in all (hanging head shamefully)

    Had scan done early Jan,have not been sent appointment yet to see chest resp consultant,so if they are not worried,I am not going to worry if it is a cancer or not,I think I would have been seen again by now if they thought it might be a lung cancer wouldn't you ?

    Hospital said there is a waiting list,a long one,so waiting I am. smile Thank you for your post.

    Take care of yourself.smile

  • Daffs
    Daffs

    Posted

    Hello poppysocks,

    Didn't mean to alarm you. I thought you were worried about being seen because of your age (over 65). I wouldn't know if it were cancer.

    Do you have the full support of your GP and if so what do they say about the delayed appnt?

    Plenty of hope, but a little push push in the right dirtection, doesn't hurt.

    You are not the only one who smokes. I think they would do us all a favour if they took them off the market.

    I eat very healthily I can say and am thinking now of going veg. I don't really know what to substitute for protein.

    You take care

  • poppysocks1
    poppysocks1

    Posted

    Aww Daffs,thanks for your concern...I am not alarmed,and I didn't mean to come across that way in my post...

    I am concerned about the length of time waiting to be seen,and the long waiting list I was told of from a telephone call I made to the hospital enquiring about how long before I got an appointment.

    I have just last week changed my doctor to a new one,as the old doctor and I clashed so much on different things etc..

    I am hoping the new one will also be more updated on Fibromyaligia,which is another condition I suffer with plus Osteoarthritis...

    I eat veggies,(I do not like meat)..I like fish, I eat plenty of that with spinach and broccoli,and Brown bread,have cut down on sugar,cakes/biscuits...carbs,too many (not good),so have cut down on potatoes and processed foods...

    You take care also,thanks for your post...smile

  • Daffs
    Daffs

    Posted

    Hi poppysocks,

    I'm concerned about anyone over the 65 who hasw to wait. I've known a few people dying while they are still waiting. Dont mean to alarm you, no one shoul;d suffer unnec.

    Some 12 yrs ago I had a trapped nerve in my back. The pain in the legs got so bad even two crutched wouldn't help and I finally gave up work and went to bed and stayed there. I caqlled the hosp to enquire about why I had to wait. I was in such pain and no pills would help. I couldn't turn in bed, to stop bed soars, without it. Well I was told by the hosp there is a long waiting list for the MRI. After 4 mos. i8n bed, the GP finally accepted I wasn't faking it, got my MRI. It was after the op the Drs said I was in a bad way.

    I have just changed my GP surgery too. But am not sure now if I did the right thing. I've been in this one 2 1/2 yrs. and long enough for the cancer to advance to a bad stage. My problem is will I get as good treatment as those under 65. (Macmillan statement few weeks ago).

    I have other problems too. Essential Tremor/Mild Dystonia, thank god for this comp. Can't write my grandkids though. My new GP was too concerned/adament about my cholesteral to listen to my complaints in the cancer area and sent me to vascular. On a MRI the hosp. tell me your back is in a terrible state. Not that I have problems with it, just arthritis and I can handle that if careful. The first op wasn't done well.

    All these other things amount to 'not worth saving' as someone said. Too many other problems.

    I have gone off meat since my diagnoses, not that I ate much before. I enjoy fish though.

    I have one allotment now. Gave up 2. Grew all my own fruit and veg and would never buy anything I had a bad crop of. But all was organic. Now I'm not even sure the organic in the shops is organic.

    Beautiful day today and I was up the lot getting some leeks and spuds I have in the shed. Think I might have over done it a bit with the broken rib, but I will sleep good tonight.

    I'm off to be now. Hosp for blood test tomor. and chemo again Tues.

    Incidentally, what is Fibromyaligia.

    Godbless, Daffs

  • poppysocks1
    poppysocks1

    Posted

    daffs,click on the letter F ( and you will find out about Fibromyalgia...lots of folk with this condition.

    Had a letter this morning saying when I reach the top of the waiting list they will send me an appointment !!

    How long will that be I wonder.!!

    I phoned the appointments dept,and they said they will let me know six weeks in advance before my appointment is due..!!

    Gosh,I had the scan 29th of Nov last !!! Could not believe what I was hearing.!

    Have not even been diagnosed with anything yet,only had a CT scan done that showed a lung disease...which disease I wonder...It could be anything,yet they leave one worrying for all these weeks...Unbelievable imo.

    Unbelievable !

    Take care smile

  • Daffs
    Daffs

    Posted

    Hi popppysocks, How are you, think a bit worried. I think we all need the help of our GPs in situations like this. Get on to your d... GP and say I Want an Appnt. I find it doesn't help to ask... have to demand or something lie that. You want some answers. Hosp wont give them to you but GP can have the hosp. give them to you. Best wishes, Daffs
  • poppysocks1
    poppysocks1

    Posted

    Hi Daffs,I have got an appointment,it came today,BUT it was for next week,at a hospital 30 miles away !!

    I phoned them up,as no way was I going to travel that far,when there is a very large hospital just over the road from me, literally honestly !!

    In the end after much pleading from me, they changed the appointment from next week to the 28th of March for the hospital over the road from me.

    I have waited this long,so I will wait a further four weeks. Can't make that much difference,I wouldn't think.

    Hope things are ok with you,thanks for posting/and caring,take care,sending you (((hugs))

    I will keep you posted.

  • Daffs
    Daffs

    Posted

    Hi poppysocks, Glad you've got your appnt. at last. Why is it you didn't go to your GP to get it?

    In all honesty at the London hosp. I used to go to for ET there were people who came down by train from way up north and stayed over night in London for their 1hr appnt. just because they felt treatment was better. A friend of a friend with young children had to take them to school, get the train (think about 30 miles) for her radiotherapy appnt. 5 days pr wk, 5 wks., drag herself home and pick the kids up from school. Hubby offered no help as he had depression, more of a burden. She could have gone to a large cancer hosp. closer to her.

    I know this is not your sit. as this was their choice, but can be done.

    I have finished the chemo now (last wk) and had a CT scan yest. whole body which will show if any spread. Very happy they did do it properly and my Onc. appnt for results and what they intend doing next, is next wk.

    Wish you the best, Daffs (I get lousy 'Cancer Care Plan' from my GP too)

  • poppysocks1
    poppysocks1

    Posted

    Hi Daffs,after I see consultant at the chest clinic,I should know what the problem is,until then I an not going to stress myself,on what "might be".

    I'll come back on here when I know what sort of lung disease it is,and message you,till then take care,stay safe...smile

  • hayleyleela
    hayleyleela thomas65043

    Posted

    hi thomas ive just seen your post while looking on the internet about ct scans,my bfs had a cough for a while but keeps fit we run 3 times a week an he does boxing to we went to the doc around 6 months ago an she give him an asthma pump,but it didnt do anything so we went back about 2 weeks ago an his doc said to go for a chest xray,about 4 days later they rang to say he had an apt for a ct scan this tues,an then to c the dctor fri but hes amanged to arrange to c the doctor at 3 tues now as he cant get time off from work,im worried sick that he has somethin wrong but he hasnt smoked for 20 yrs and only did for 5 anyway,i was just wondering how you got on??hope alls well hayley
  • faith48824
    faith48824 thomas65043

    Posted

    Hello thomas65043 I am quite interested in hearing the outcome of your appt have you been coughing up blood at all? I recently went for a chest X ray and recieved a letter that they want to explore it further with a CT scan and refered me to a chest specialist and as much as I'm trying to be positive that it's nothing serious and the fact that I don't cough up blood means it's not cancer ( I do cough up a lot of stuff tho) I'm actually getting quite worried
    • keleee
      keleee faith48824

      Posted

      Faith, I hope it's not lung cancer. I just had a chest xray and they found a mass. It does seem to take forever for the results of all the tests they do. They told me pre-biopsy that it was most likely cancer and it was as it turns out. I was supposed to start Chemo and Radiation last week but I had to get the time off from work first so I will most likely start after New Years. I was staged a 2B with non small cell squamous cell lung cancer. I have a 6 cm. mass that is non operable due to location at top of right lung at opening. I am nervous about how sick the chemotherapy will make me as I live alone. I have one chemo drug for a 6 hour chemo on Monday and then a 2 hour one with a different drug Tuesday- Friday. I will get 20 minutes of radiation after the chemo's each day. Six weeks of this and hopefully the tumor will shrink down to nothing and my breathing will be better. I have to take Mondays and Tuesdays off from work as I will be in chemo all day Monday and too sick to work on Tuesday.

      I asked for cancer by being a smoker for 20 years. I have quit for many years but after 20 years you can definately get lung cancer from the damage done. One thing you are wrong about is you have to cough up blood. Some do not cough up anything. It depends on the stage they catch it at, what type it is, etc. I cough up blood now but not in the beginning, just a dry run of the mill cough and only once in a while. The biggest sign for me was being tired and short of breath which I blamed on my COPD. I frankly think anyone with COPD from smoking should get a chest x-ray yearly and know the warning signs. If they catch it early your chances are much better for a full recovery.

    • faith48824
      faith48824 keleee

      Posted

      Thanks Keleee I'm sorry to hear your going through this I will keep you in my prayers. Do you have anyone to help you through this? cancer is hard enough without having to go through it alone my family is all back in Canada but I'm lucky to have a great husband and amazing in laws. Keep me posted on how your doing and if you ever need to talk I'm here

      Faith x

    • keleee
      keleee faith48824

      Posted

      Thanks Faith,

      It means a lot that you will keep me in your prayers. I will keep you in my prayers also. Try and stay upbeat and in the day if you can because the tests take forever. At least they seem to. It sounds positive that they have not said anything about cancer. It may be nothing. I hope so. I don't have any family to help and my parents have passed. Having Fibro and chronic fatigue has put a damper on my social life and I live alone with my dog. My best friend recently died from a heart attack. My son calls me a lot but is not close by. You are blessed to have such a wonderful husband and inlaws. We definately should keep in touch for moral support.

      Kelly smile

    • faith48824
      faith48824 keleee

      Posted

      Hi Kelly just wanted to check in and see how your doing I hope you had a good Christmas. I saw the chest specialist on Fri and I have a dense mass on my lung but they still don't have any answers for me I'm waiting to hear this week about the chest x ray they did and then go from there I was wondering do you have finger clubbing with your cancer? I've been reading a lot about it but have never heard of anyone that has had it. Remember your not alone feel free to msg any time you need to talk

      Faith x

    • keleee
      keleee faith48824

      Posted

      Hi Faith,

      How are you doing? It has been a while and I got through the chemo and radiation well. I was found to be cancer free and they set up a catscan for August. I came down with what I thought was a sinus infection a couple weeks ago. I had a headache 24/7 and mucous and a cough. After being treated with Doxycycline it went away but was back within a few days. I went back to the doctor and he did a chest x-ray to rule out pnemonia and found my tumor was back and larger then before. I was really taken by suprise because they said I was cancer free but obviously I still had cancer cells left. I go in for a catscan Tuesday and meet with my Oncologist on Wednesday. I have been a bit sad but trying to stay busy. I really hope you are doing well. Please let me know if you can. Take care, Kelly

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