Scary Wait

Anns 7 hours ago

3 replies
36 subscribers
86 views

Always been fit and healthy - walked at least 4 miles every day. Started to feel a bit breathless a couple of months ago but only when walking and not always. Decided to get checked out and Doctors very upbeat - I have hardly ever had cause to visit! Bloods showed low folic acid and was put on statins. Had a chest X Ray in November and was told the results would be back in 2 weeks. Was contacted fairly quickly to say an abnormal mass had been found which may be a bad infection so put on antibiotics and emergency CT Scan arranged. I was still convinced it was a bad infection as the antibiotics appeared to clear my chest to some extent however I was now getting breathless round the house. Christmas brought chest pains and more worry as these always came out of GP hours - typical. CT Scan results came back just in time to wish me a happy New Year ! Fast tracked to hospital with suspected lung cancer. Now waiting for Bronchoscopy and Pet Scan early next week. Apparently quite a big shadow I the left lung and more worryingly a small shadow on the right which may be connected.

Millibob 6 hours ago

Hello Anns

A warm welcome to the Macmillan Online Community, however I am sorry to find you here. I am Brian one of the Community Champions on the Community.

The Community is divided up into cancer specific groups or chat rooms and in your case I would advise you to join the Lung Cancer group where you will meet people with the same or similar diagnosis as you have. Here's the link-

Lung cancer forum

Once you click on the link, when the page opens up, just click on"join" on the black banner at the bottom of the page. Once you have joined the group you can then either copy and paste or repost your original post in the "New Here - Say Hello" section".

I wish you well and if I can do anything else for you please do let me know.

Best wishes - Brian.

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Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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ChrisYorks 5 hours ago

Hey. Having been on a similar journey these past few weeks I am learning lots about cancer I didn't necessarily want to know, for example, 1) there seems to be a pretty systemic approach to diagnosis - bloods, x-ray, CT, PET and then the news.

It also seems that 2) so many people find out unexpectedly they are suffering as a result of an x-ray / test originally for other problems, in my case kidney stones. It's also the case that 3) very few people know what to expect from the first appointment with a Consultant (mine is Tuesday having had a whole bunch of tests the results of which I know little about.) It seems a little unfair/ unnecessary to keep us guessing like this.

Depending on my diagnosis (and I have convinced myself it will be bad news), my plan is to get referred private - which thankfully I can access via work in the hope the communication will be a little less dramatic.

Reading through all the posts on here the speed of getting through all the tests rarely seems to be the issue, the communication and sense of being "lost" in the process as a result seems more of a problem. The process being prioritised over the people.

Given the pressure on the NHS right now, particularly A&E I can't imagine it's very different in other areas, but I hope so x

Anns 3 hours ago in reply to ChrisYorks

Hi Chris

Thank you so much for your reply. Yes iknow what you mean about feeling lost. It's the waiting that stresses you!