AIBU to ask for reassurance that this might not be cancer? (are there any medics on this forum?)

[Elle7rose]

I'm currently living with my parents. My Mum has had a persistent cough, raised lymph nodes, fatigue and breathlessness for several months (possibly over a year) and I've asked her to visit the GP for most of that time.

Over the past couple of months in particular, her breathing seems to be getting much noisier (there's even a noise like 'crackles' when she leans back whilst sitting) and I'm so incredibly scared that it might be lung cancer or even secondary lung cancer.

She has finally agreed to visit the GP next week and even though she has not been diagnosed with anything yet I am really struggling with anxiety about this!

Basically there is obviously nothing practical I can do about this and I guess I really need to get a grip with the anxiety but are there any non-cancerous conditions that cause these symptoms?

I'd sooner think COPD or heart failure, but she needs to see her GP to know for sure.

Hugs OP I was very anxious that my Dad had lung cancer and when he finally went for an x-Ray it turned out to be pneumonia, possibly developed from an untreated chesty viral thing that seemed to have gone on for a whole. But he also had a heart issue, so get her to press for heart tests. Go with her if she will let you.

Yes it might not be cancer. And quite likely not. But the main thing is she is seeing her GP now, and sounds like you deserve some credit and appreciation for getting her there so well done you. I suppose this has been your battle, and now it (hopefully) will happen, your focus has shifted into what might actually be the outcome. Honestly there is nothing to be gained from worrying and speculating about what might be, so just take comfort in the fact that you have been a big factor in getting her seen and getting whatever treatment she needs

Sounds just like my mum's COPD. Try not to panic, see what the tests bring.

Thank you everyone! It has been tricky to get her to see the GP!

I don't think it's heart related as she had an echocardiogram last year and her heart seemed to be working fine. My Dad has had heart failure and this seems different. My Mum is a 62 and a non-smoker but I still hope it might be COPD or some sort of persistent infection. It's the fact that it's been getting much worse over the course of the last month, which is really worrying me.

Thanks Princessonabudget, that's really helpful. I'm definitely jumping to the worst case scenario here! I need to remember that worrying is a behaviour, which I can choose not to engage in!

Thanks Peggy- that must have been very worrying! Had the pneumonia been going on for a while?

My grandma had a cough , loads of antibiotics etc . Finally after a locum doctor decided she probably needed a chest X-ray . She unfortunately had lung cancer that had spread .
Fingers crossed for you x

I have heart failure but as a part of that I also have pulmonary hypertension, and that is possible without heart failure iyswim but does involve the build up of fluid on the lungs which could explain why symptoms may have increased.

Having said that, there are a lot of conditions which can result in chest/breathing problems, so her best bet is to see the GP and take it from there.

COPD isn't a great diagnosis either, tbf.
My step-mum got investigated for everything after she became very short of breath... turned out to have a partly collapsed lung, which was easily fixed by going out & exercising hard.

bodies are weird, can do all sorts of annoying but fixable things.

Thanks ragged, no that's true, it's just that it would be much preferable to lung cancer (I think only 1/3 live a year after lung cancer diagnosis). That's great that your step-mum's partially collapsed lung could repair itself- do you know what caused it?

Nocauserebel, i'm really sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I don't think she has high blood pressure and her heart seemed to be working ok when she had an echo last year but I don't really know if it could be that.

Wonkydonky, that's awful- I'm really sorry. I so hope it's not that but that's what I'm so scared of! She's not even old yet and is busy working and getting on with things so I hope she's ok.

I really hope it's fixable and not something nasty.

collapsed lung: no idea Y, but the funny thing is that step-mum was making the lung worse by thinking she had to take things easy. I was worried about heart failure when she was talking about her breathlessness (another not great diagnosis). But she didn't have water retention so didn't seem to fit.

Let us know what happens to your mom? 1 day at a time.

There are many, many different lung conditions apart from cancer. Interstitial lung disease comes to mind as she’s a non smoker but again, many different forms of that. It could be a persistent low level infection, asthma, an allergen anything. No use second guessing but she’s not in highest risk groups for lung cancer by the sound of it - 90% are caused by smoking.
The only way to find out is to see GP.

Thank you Ragged, I will let you know. That's so good that your step-mum was able to improve things with exercise.

Thanks CherryPavlova- my Mum is definitely not in one of the highest risk groups for lung cancer but my main fear is that it could be secondary lung cancer from something like undiagnosed breast cancer- she has had a couple of two-week referrals for breast pain and a breast abscess in the last few years and I'm concerned that it could have been missed.

I am just really hoping it's not what I fear!