GP Suspects Lung Cancer (Non Smoker)

[Matthew B]

Recently my dad had been feeling unwell. The main symptom was constipation. He got medication for a possible infection which seemed to help him improve within a week. At the same time he had ct scan and blood tests which showed he had enlarged lymph nods in three seperate organs including the lungs. The doctor has recommended that he has a pet scan which is still another 2 weeks away. He isn’t showing many symptoms but he is showing a few. He has a husky voice and a slight shortness of breath (no Coffing) . As well as occasionally getting night sweets. Luckily he still has an appetite and his constipation seems to have settle down. We are all on edge and just finding it hard to get on with our daily life. We just want answers asap and don’t want the potential disease to get dramatically worse while we are playing the waiting game. Please give me your thoughts if you can.

[Tom Galli]

Matthew,

Here are my thoughts on symptoms. The CT showing enlarged lymph nodes is concerning. Many things can cause enlarged lymph nodes including any kind of infection. But enlarged lymph nodes do not match up with shortness of breath. If there were tumors in the lung (easily shown by CT), that could be an explanation for shortness of breath. Many things can cause a change in speech. If vocal cords are swollen then that might explain breathing difficulty. Did the CT scan cover the neck? Ensure the PET scan covers the neck.

Night sweats can be symptomatic of respiration inefficiency caused by many things, including lung cancer. But again, I would assume the CT would show substantial tumors in the lung. Your father's symptoms may point to a respiratory infection. Did the blood test show elevated white blood cell counts?

Thus, the PET scan is a good choice. I wouldn't worry about the 2-week delay. I would worry about a 2-month delay. Ensure the PET scan covers the throat.

Stay the course.

Tom

[LilyMir]

I agree with Tom, it could be many things. Was the CT with contrast? They ought to have seen large tumors with a CT. I second neck area coverage, I insisted my CT cover the neck (was for brain) and this is how they caught my lung cancer (incidental). PET is gold standard for diagnosis. Extensive blood work is needed to check infections or co-infections even if it was cancer. If your dad deteriorates, seek immediate help and push for earlier scan. 2 weeks is not horrible, but not nice to wait for sure. Best wishes!

[Karen_L]

It sounds like they didn't see anything in the lungs themselves? I had lymph node involvement and was short of breath, and I had a 5 cm tumor (about the size of a lime.)

As Tom said, nodes at multiple sites indicate something is going on, but if they didn't see anything in the lungs, I would wonder why the doc said lung cancer specifically. The shortness of breath is one clear indicator, but only a small piece of the puzzle. Was there anything specific about the lungs?

Once he has the PET, you'll have more information, but remember-- that will be just one more piece in the diagnostic puzzle.

The amount of time it takes to arrive at a diagnosis can be maddening. You have to try to stay patient and not get too far ahead of yourselves-- banish any thought that begins with what if_____, for starters. 

Once it's determined that the lung(s) are the primary area of concern, it's suggested to work with an oncologist specializing in cancer of the lungs. It's a field that's experiencing such growth that a regular oncologist, let alone a GP, would have trouble keeping up. 

Meanwhile, hang in. And, stay off Google-- you will find too much hogwash to be helpful. 

Karen

[Matthew B]

Thank you everyone so far for your comments. I will try to find out more information. His gp got him to have another x ray and more blood tests in the mean time so we are just waiting for the results. I booked in another gp appointment for today regardless as I just find you have to stay in their minds as otherwise you’re just a number. Told my parents to tell the gp how he is feeling and any additional symptoms. Is their any questions they should ask the gp that might not get raised otherwise?

[Tom Galli]

Matthew,

Likely your dad's GP will order a Complete Blood Count (CBC) as an element of blood work. I'd ensure the results are explained to your parents. Here is information from the Cleveland Clinic, a noted medical center in the US on the CBC test.

Stay the course.

Tom

[Matthew B]

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[Matthew B]

So as far as I am aware the blood tests were fine. The X-ray didn’t show anything obvious. His blood pressure and breathing etc were all normal when they tested him at the medical centre. The Gp thinks it may be an issue in the gut or the bowels. He currently has an appetite and can go to the toilet ok on and off. He is getting night sweets too. He is getting a Pet scan tomorrow but my mum doesn’t think there will be any good news. Fingers crossed.

[Matthew B]

Doing more research on it and by the sounds of it. I think the outcome will most likely be Stage 4 Colon or Bowel cancer. This is going to be tough

[Karen_L]

Hang in there, @Matthew B. One step at a time you and your family will get through this. We're all thinking of you.

Karen

[Matthew B]

8 hours ago, Karen_L said:

Hang in there, @Matthew B. One step at a time you and your family will get through this. We're all thinking of you.

Karen

Thanks Karen appreciate it. I saw my parents after my dad had his pet scan and at least he still has his appetite. He ate a foot long sub.

[Matthew B]

Dad got the results from his pet scan today. He has a lymph node in the neck too but no cancer was detected in the overall scan. His health in general still seems pretty good with the usual blood sugar cholesterol etc tests coming back perfect. He seems to have plenty of energy still and appetite. I don’t think his voice or breathing is too bad either.

He is getting more tests done next week with the specialist. For now I look at the cup half full as I was expecting the worst today.

[Karen_L]

The waiting is so hard. Hang in there.

 

K

[Matthew B]

On 7/3/2023 at 4:46 AM, Karen_L said:

It sounds like they didn't see anything in the lungs themselves? I had lymph node involvement and was short of breath, and I had a 5 cm tumor (about the size of a lime.)

As Tom said, nodes at multiple sites indicate something is going on, but if they didn't see anything in the lungs, I would wonder why the doc said lung cancer specifically. The shortness of breath is one clear indicator, but only a small piece of the puzzle. Was there anything specific about the lungs?

Once he has the PET, you'll have more information, but remember-- that will be just one more piece in the diagnostic puzzle.

The amount of time it takes to arrive at a diagnosis can be maddening. You have to try to stay patient and not get too far ahead of yourselves-- banish any thought that begins with what if_____, for starters. 

Once it's determined that the lung(s) are the primary area of concern, it's suggested to work with an oncologist specializing in cancer of the lungs. It's a field that's experiencing such growth that a regular oncologist, let alone a GP, would have trouble keeping up. 

Meanwhile, hang in. And, stay off Google-- you will find too much hogwash to be helpful. 

Karen

You have been pretty spot on with this one so far Karen. After having the pet scan he had a biopsy from a lump in the neck. My parents next step is to see a specialist which has been booked in for a few weeks time.
At this stage they haven’t been given any more information.
On a positive he still feels pretty good still has energy and still has his appetite. It’s just such a long wait between each process.

[tgif i guess]

my voice was impacted by my cancer - hoarse and raspy - it got to the point where it was difficult to finish a sentence (out of breath)

that is what finally prompted the testing that led to my diagnosis

and it was an ent that ordered my first pet scan

this is how he explained it to me

the nerve that controls the left vocal cord travels from the brain down past an area near your heart and lungs - the right vocal cord takes a different path

the lymph nodes in that area were swollen and had lung cancer - i had chest discomfort too - the lymph nodes had pinched (and thus paralyzed) my left vocal cord, causing the loss of breath (it no longer moved so air rushed out when trying to talk)

i had chemo and my last 2 pet scans were negative - my voice improved but it still not exactly normal yet (but the breathlessness is gone)

 

[Matthew B]

On 7/24/2023 at 3:03 AM, tgif i guess said:

my voice was impacted by my cancer - hoarse and raspy - it got to the point where it was difficult to finish a sentence (out of breath)

that is what finally prompted the testing that led to my diagnosis

and it was an ent that ordered my first pet scan

this is how he explained it to me

the nerve that controls the left vocal cord travels from the brain down past an area near your heart and lungs - the right vocal cord takes a different path

the lymph nodes in that area were swollen and had lung cancer - i had chest discomfort too - the lymph nodes had pinched (and thus paralyzed) my left vocal cord, causing the loss of breath (it no longer moved so air rushed out when trying to talk)

i had chemo and my last 2 pet scans were negative - my voice improved but it still not exactly normal yet (but the breathlessness is gone)

 

So chemo has been pretty successful for you so far. Always good to hear the happy stories.

[Matthew B]

After having a biopsy unfortunately dad does have cancer but they can’t find where it has started from (primary source)

He has been to a specialist and now he is most likely going to be doing a clinical trial treatment.
He is in good spirits and if he was never diagnosed you wouldn’t know he has it. 

If anyone has any recommendations on treatment or questions to ask the specialist please let me know.