...to be worried? Lung shadow and referral to oncology

[hoolydooly]

Hi folks,

Trying not to panic.

My dad is 74 and had a CT scan of the abdomen.
A lung shadow was picked up incidentally.
He has been referred to oncology.

He is a non-smoker and has no lung symptoms.

How worried should I be?
Anyone had a lung shadow that was nothing?

Is the referral to oncology a bad sign or just standard practice?

Thank you.

My mum had this. It turned out to be a scar on her lung from when she'd had pneumonia many years ago.

Thanks Liverbird.
Was she also referred to oncology?
That's the bit that's freaking me out.

And sorry for the poll, everyone.
Not sure why that's there!

Try not to worry. It may be something but is probably nothing. Better he is getting referred than not. Google is not your friend. Try and just put it from your mind for now

My brother had this and was referred. Turned out to be nothing. In fact the shadow disappeared and doctors never worked out what it was.

EauDeResistance
Was he referred to oncology, do you know?

I would assume they err on the side of caution. I imagine they screen for lots of things that turn out to be nothing

My dad had a lung shadow from tuberculosis that he had had as a child. He was 76 - wasn't referred to oncology but I'm sure different regions have different processes.

Sorry that its a worrying time for you x

Yes he was referred to oncology and he was a heavy smoker so we feared the worse. It turned out not to be.

He has since passed away but that was years later and from nothing lung or cancer related.

Best wishes to you and fingers crossed.

FIL had this and was referred to oncology which understandably worried him but the GP explained that they are the ones best placed (and best qualified) to properly check it out and then if it is cancer you're already under the correct service with no further waiting for an appointment.

Yes I've seen loads as a nurse that have turned to be heart related problems or infection. You just won't know until he has investigations, it could be anything so don't torture yourself.
I had investigations for fungating breast cancer last year. They were 2nd degree electric blanket burns which I didn't notice as they were underneath. I never felt them because I have no feeling there after surgery for something else. GP was convinced it was cancer.
Don't speculate or you will drive yourself mad.

Hoik Sun 19-Jan-20 14:36:07
FIL had this and was referred to oncology which understandably worried him but the GP explained that they are the ones best placed (and best qualified) to properly check it out and then if it is cancer you're already under the correct service with no further waiting for an appointment.

Was your FIL okay? What did it turn out to be?

posterEauDeResistance

Thanks for taking the time to reply. That really does help.
I'm sorry you lost your brother.

My 10yo dd and my FIL were both referred to oncology due to things seen on scans or x-rays. Not because they thought it was likely to be cancer but because they have to rule it out as a priority and that is where to do it. My dear friend has been referred to oncology just this week but they have said they suspect it is unlikely to be cancer but can't guarantee it. It's the normal process here.

My mother had a shadow on her lungs a few years before she died and was asked if she'd had TB as a child (she didn't) They did a scope but she was fine. The shadow always showed up on X-rays after that but she didn't have a diagnosis for it. Some years later she did end up with a terminal lung disease unrelated to that shadow. MIL had a shadow and sadly it was cancer. So unfortunately there's no way of knowing with your dad. Stay away from google! It won't give you answers. Try to just wait until he has further tests and make sure someone goes along with him to appointments, as it's sometimes difficult to take in the information being told.

Lung cancer can have no symptoms and many people get it who have never smoked.

My DH is 49 and was diagnosed with lung cancer and he had no symptoms at all. It was picked up during another investigation. However to reassure he was told that it wasn't unusual for something to be found in the lung and the team he was under had referred a large number of patients that day to the lung team and usually it's nothing. He was fortunate in some respects as it was caught when they could still treat it. So in short it is worrying that he has been referred, however there isn't any point seeking reassurance on here as many will have positive tales and others not so positive. Hopefully he is seen quick and you will all have an answer

I've been referred twice last year under the 2 week cancer pathway - once for a lump in my neck and once for a blood problem. Both were not cancer but I think drs here have got a bit trigger happy with referring under the 2 week wait. I know it's hard but try not to worry until you've actually got a diagnosis. In many instances it turns out to be something else.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras there isn't such a thing as a trigger happy GP. There is clear guidance on when to refer to fast track oncology. My DH had a lump on his neck and was referred and jt was cancer. His lung cancer is a completely different cancer but was found during the investigations. Your GP is simply following fast track protocols which is great as you can get some GPS who dismiss symptoms

If there is a 3% chance that something might be cancer that’s considered enough to use a 2 week wait pathway. That means ideally 97% of those referred under 2 week wait will be fine. Helps to put it in perspective a bit. Hope all well - the uncertainty is horrid

there isn't such a thing as a trigger happy GP.

I think there was in my case, particularly for the blood one. The specialist didn't even do any investigations, simply looked at the blood results that I went with and my medications, determined that it was a side effect of one medication, said the GP had over reacted and discharged me. 2 weeks of terror for me for no reason.

In the kindest possible way OP you seem to be trying to work out your dad's diagnosis from other people's, which really won't be helpful as every person posting here could have had something entirely different. It is worrying, but it would be best to wait for his actual appointment because otherwise you may well be winding yourself up unnecessarily.

Thanks Lockhart but I'm already round up!
Hoping to seek reassurance that a kung shadow and oncology appointment are not always what I am fearing.

Sorry for typos. On phone outside and fingers freezing!

I totally understand your worry, OP

I was referred in the same way as your dad - apparently, it's standard to send lung shadows to oncology because if it is cancer, they can crack on without delaying with another referral. The GP said to me that they operate on a "worst case scenario", not a "most likely" one (though I appreciate he may also have been trying to reassure me). Mine turned out to be scarring from an old infection - but if it does turn out to be cancer with your dad, it's much, much better that they know about and can start dealing with it right away.

Has he had results from the CT?
I hope results are not what you fear.

All he was told is there was a shadow.
No other info.
But no symptoms and mot a smoker.