Lung cancer fear , what else could this be ?

[Bramblesandbees]

First a couple of things about me
I'm 32, non smoker , asthmatic and have a history of chest issues including pneumonia and multiple chest infections every winter

However during august whilst on holiday after a day of diving , I could bubbling in my chest and my chest felt full of mucus
At first I was worried it was a result of our dive, also before diving we had been snorkeling and my mask had become lose causing me to inhale alot of water so I thought that could be the cause
However the next day I had a fever and felt flu like so I presumed it was a virus

Our youngest DC came down with similar symptoms
By the flight home both him and I had terrible productive coughs and congestion

I contacted the GP on return however as we have moved area it was a GP who didn't know my history with chest issues and despite me explaining usually I can't shift chest infections without help he said it was viral
He also wouldn't prescribe a repeat prescription of my fostair inhaler as he said the brown and blue should be fine
I was switched to the pink one the year before due to ongoing issues with my chest

Anyway fast forward a week he prescribed antibiotics , amoxicillin, my old GP never prescribed me amoxicillin as in the past I've not responded to them

However they did clear it up for the most part

I resumed normal activities which for me includes alot of swimming and within a week I developed a sinus infection and horrific mucus in my chest again
This time I seen a nurse at the GP who prescribed amoxicillin again however after two days I contacted GP again
Without seeing me she stated it was a sinus infection and congestion in chest was post nasal drip however she did prescribe more amoxicillin and steroids

For the most part this cleared it but I was still left with slight sinus congestion and occasional productive cough

By this point it was October and just as I thought I had cleared it my eldest DC came down with a terrible flu like illness which caused a productive cough
My husband then developed it and I caught it again

Since October all of us bar our middle DC have horrible productive coughs and constant congestion
The GP has said it's just a lingering virus

However for myself and my youngest son we have never fully cleared this since August

I did submit a sputum sample at one point which they lost

The fact most of my family have this illness to degree has made me query something like TB
However I'm the one who has had it the worst and longest and the only one who has tried antibiotics and steroids to shift it which makes me worry for me it's lung cancer
I can not see what else would cause me to cough up thick yellow phlegm almost daily

I realise lung cancer would be rare in my age group therefore I've convinced myself it's metastatic cancer spread from another area maybe breast , I do weekly breast checks but I'm breastfeeding my youngest two and they are large and full of milk so I presume I could of missed something which has now spread everywhere
This seems more likely than primary lung cancer of course it could just be primary lung cancer but given how long I've left it and the symptoms I presume it'd be late stage

Does anyone have any other ideas what it could be ?

In all honesty I almost don't even want it investigated now as I would rather not know I'm dying

Sorry for rambling but I'm terrified

All the mucus could easily be the tiny airways being inflamed due to your poorly controlled asthma.

One thing that really hit home for me was when my asthma nurse told me that by the time you have a mild symptom, there is already a lot of inflammation going on in your lungs.

Like you I found Fostair a miracle.

I suffer with severe bronchiectasis. I found out when I started coughing up blood and I was convinced I had cancer. I know it's really easy for me to say but I'd try not to worry. Have a look on YouTube for lung exercises that help bring up mucus for bronchiectasis. They might give you techniques you haven't tried yet.

Yes they said her bronchiestis was caused by repeated chest infections, her daily physio has kept her free of chest infections for ages, plus she takes 3000iu of vitamin D a day as her levels were really low at her most sick, that has really helped too.

I have no medical training but I'm a lifelong asthmatic. It sounds like it may be that your asthma is continuing to be exacerbated following all your colds/viruses/chest infections. I would go back to your GP and ask for:

• A chest x-ray - I've had one booked (quickly) by a GP before. Seems sensible to rule out anything else.
• Possibly a longer course of steroids. Did you just have a 5 day course? Often that's not long enough for me, especially if it's been bad for some time. They usually prescribe a tailing off dosage once you're on longer too.
• Ask to be put back on fostair. I don't understand why the GP would take you off a medication that works for you. Were you using it on a MART regime? You can increase dosage during a flare-up (sorry if you already know all this). Also ask about other possible medication. I find Montelukast helps a lot.

Also, I recommend calling the Asthma UK helpline and speaking to one of their asthma nurses. I've found them to be very knowledgeable and helpful and armed me to speak to my GP. I think they have merged with another lung charity, but hopefully still offer their helpline.

Hope you get some help and answers soon. Easier said than done, but try not to worry (I find worry and stress can make my asthma worse).
Take care.

https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/helpline

@Tilllly thank you for your comment, I did actually step away from Google switch off my phone and enjoy the rest of yesterday with my family

I'm sorry to hear about your ongoing struggles with cancer , it's a horrible illness several, people close to us have been affected in recent times which is why I think it's at the forefront of my mind
A couple with extremely rare cancers

I am going to use my private health care when I get home to hopefully get this sorted

@OrangeDino thank you for your comment

In all honesty our new GP is very small and they haven't been great
Previously we had a excellent asthma nurse and the GPs in my previous surgery where all very on the ball when it came to helping me with my chest

Yes it was only a 5 day course and it was a very small dose , previously I've had longer courses and tapered off

Yes I was using it on MART Regime
The only thing that's gave me hope this isn't something serious is that previously I was having frequent chest infections and the GP booked me in with our asthma nurse who like you are suggesting felt it was asthma related and that I was stuck in vicious cycle , this when she switched to me to fostair and for a while I seen her regularly and the improvement tbh was quite life changing I managed to go months with no chest infections, my fitness improved for the first I was able to run without constantly needing my inhaler
Unfortunately I had such a improvement I became quite lax about things
I had been using fostair for quite a while when we switched GP and only asked for a repeat prescription to which He said he wouldn't expect someone with just asthma to need this and he'd like me to see how I'd manage with brown inhaler again which obviously the answer is not well

It honestly feels as if they haven't bothered to actually look at medical records at all

The 'just asthma ' has in the past caused several hospital admissions

I'll definitely try the helpline, I really hope this is just my asthma gone wild which if I think about it this has been the case before and symptoms have been similar

I'm sorry you think you have cancer, it must be very wearing, but you just described pretty much the 100 day cough that's rattled round our family.

I'm finally getting over it, nearly 4 months on.

Your GP sounds like he doesn't know what he's talking about to me! Brown inhalers are fine for mild asthma but when I started using a combined steroid/reliever it was life changing. Like you I could start running without always constantly needing to use my ventolin. Of course they are for people with 'just' asthma (which isn't mild if you've had hospital admissions). Definitely go back and insist on it!!
It's the most likely explanation that it's your asthma (although agree with @Ariela about there being some nasty long lasting coughs around too) but some more investigation may put your mind at rest.