Mis diagnosis

Hi LouiseE24

My name is Alison and I am one of the Cancer Information Nurses with Macmillan Cancer support. Thank you for getting in touch with us and I hope you find the online community a helpful and supportive environment.

This is obviously a very stressful time for you LouiseE24, especially being told that you had lung cancer, however after the biopsy results it has come back as not being cancer.

It can be relatively common for lung cancer to be misdiagnosed, especially in its early stages.  This is primarily because the symptoms of lung cancer, such as coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain, overlap with those of many other conditions like asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and even acid reflux.  Many lung cancer symptoms are similar to those of less severe respiratory conditions. 

When it comes to diagnosing lung cancer, a biopsy is a crucial procedure.  There are three possible outcomes, positive for cancer, negative for cancer and Inconclusive. With your biopsy results, if no cancerous cells were found, but symptoms persist, additional tests might be necessary to rule out other conditions or to confirm the initial findings.

It would be advisable to speak to the consultant who gave you the results to discuss the next steps.

Best wishes

Alison, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. 

Ref/FP

Thanks for replying.I hadn't had any symptoms.Id gone to GP because my night sweats had returned.

I'm 68.

She sent me for x-ray and blood tests,which showed a shadow.

I had CT scan and Petct scan,.This is what apparently showed cancer.

I was told it looked as though it was contained and I was fit enough to have an operation to remove part of the lung.

I was asked if I would consent to a biopsy.I said I thought biopsies were used to confirm diseases but was told it would help the surgeon with the 'type'of cancer I had but I didn't have to have it,if I didn't want to.!

I agreed to it and when I went to see consultant about the next step,I was told that the biopsy didn't show cancer.

Next had a bronchoscopy and twelve weeks later,still waiting for  last result.....TB.Which seems an extra long time to wait.I was told about six weeks 

I was told it was a Granuloma.

I am very confused by it all and I have asked for an appointment with consultant.

I feel quite confused and a bit let down but I ll get over it .I don't feel it was a minor diagnosis,there were lots of tests ,not to get a correct diagnosis.

Anyway,got it off my chest a bit

Thanks

Anne