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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

81 replies

hoolydooly · 19/01/2020 14:17

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.

OP posts:

champagneandfromage50 · 19/01/2020 16:52

You need to stop focussing on the smoking. Many people get cancer who have never smoked. Cancer doesn't discriminate and as I said earlier many have no symptoms ...... wait for the appointment and be prepared for no answer for a while. It can take time for the results and it's extremely stressful- hope all goes well for him though

Original poster

hoolydooly · 19/01/2020 17:15

Thanks.
I'm mentioning the mon smoking because 85 to 90 per cent of lung cancers are in smokers.
Yes it happens to non smokers too but it's certainly not irrelevant that he's a non smoker

OP posts:

makingmammaries · 19/01/2020 18:00

I had a ‘shadow’ and was sent for a CT scan where nothing was found. They reckoned it was in fact one of my ribs or something.

Original poster

hoolydooly · 19/01/2020 18:03

Thanks, makingmammaries.

Were you also referred to oncology? That worries me the most! Why not just a chest doctor???

OP posts:

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 19/01/2020 18:44

Hi OP, my grandma who's in her 80's has never smoked. She has lung cancer and has had it for a long time. I'm guessing it's slow growing.

She's otherwise quite well although she does have dementia.

As harsh and morbid as this sounds, it's unlikely to be something that kills her.
I often get the impression that a lot of elderly people have cancer but it's relatively slow growing and doesn't tend to mean death as it would to a younger person.

But perhaps someone could correct me if im wrong there? It's just the impression I've been getting.

Original poster

hoolydooly · 19/01/2020 20:10

Thanks for your replies, everyone.

Sorry for anyone who's been through this and not had good news.

Is there anyone else out there with experience of this?

OP posts:

Christmastreejoy · 19/01/2020 20:13

Completely different area but I was referred to oncology because of gynae symptoms. It is the most sensible place for referral if something ‘could’ be cancer. The vast majority of people referred to oncology won’t have cancer at all. The fact he is a non smoker will definitely up his odds of being ok. Good luck x

helberg · 19/01/2020 20:23

What were the results of the CT scan of the abdomen? Could the referral be something to do with that rather than the lung shadow?

My Dad was referred to oncology because the GP thought a lump on his head was skin cancer. It turned out to be a wart!
We had 3 or 4 weeks of worry and anxiety for a wart.

Original poster

hoolydooly · 19/01/2020 20:27

I sincerely hope it's something as silly as a wart or similar! I have read lung shadows can sometimes be something as crazy as droopy nipples so you never know!

Abdoment CT all clear, so it's definitely the lung they're looking at.

OP posts:

AnnaMagnani · 19/01/2020 20:29

Has he actually got an appointment with oncology or has he had a 2WW referral?

On the 2WW you get a lot of scans before you even see a doctor and then they are all reviewed at a specialist meeting called an MDT - I used to go to the lung one.

Oncologists only see people once they have been through the MDT and have a diagnosis otherwise it is a waste of their time - everyone else is seen by respiratory or very occasionally a different speciality if we found an odd diagnosis.

A lot of scans were seen in the MDT that weren't lung cancer which I hope puts your mind at rest a bit.

Original poster

hoolydooly · 19/01/2020 20:38

He has been asked to go to oncology to discuss the CT scan he had.

@AnnaMagnani: What does that mean? That they know it's cancer?

I was hoping it was still not confirmed as he was asked if he had recently had an infection, whcih implies to me that it does not look definitive one way or another...

OP posts:

AnnaMagnani · 19/01/2020 22:01

Does it say which speciality of doctor he is seeing? Has he had a biopsy?

In this situation I would hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Given he has had a scan, it does sound like results have been discussed at MDT and they want to talk about what happens next with him.

However without a biopsy he has some more tests to happen yet. Will keep my fingers crossed for you both.

Tunnocks34 · 19/01/2020 22:02

My grandma had this. It was lung cancer but caught so early. They removed the lobe but she had no chemo or radiotherapy. 5 years on and she’s in perfect health.

Tunnocks34 · 19/01/2020 22:05

dontbite I think you’re somewhat correct.my grandmas best friend has oesophagus cancer, they’ve told him it’s slow growing - he’s 82 and they said it’s likely treatment will kill him before the cancer does so he’s opted to leave it in.

Original poster

hoolydooly · 19/01/2020 22:11

@AnnaMagnani
No biopsy. CT was for the abdomen (clear) and the shadow was viewed incidentally, so has been referred. I doubt it has been discussed at MDT as it was only passed on from the original consultant a few days ago.

A lot of other posters say they were sent o oncology despite it not being cancer, so I am hoping it's not a bad sign.

OP posts:

polkadotdasies88 · 19/01/2020 22:57

Hi OP.

A few years ago my darling Dad had a constant cough that wasn't budging. He went to the GP who sent him for chest X-rays. The GP rang him up a few days later and asked him to come in. We knew that wasn't good news.. They'd found a shadow on his lung and immediately referred him to Oncology. He had a CT & PET scan which showed several nodules. The consultant told him to prepare for a Cancer diagnosis. They did more tests and then called him in, we were all prepared but it turned out to be nodules from his Arthritis. We were all incredibly relieved and the constant said they will always start from a worse case scenario. I remember those tortuous weeks when we were waiting to get results, I would be awake until the early hours googling lung cancer none stop. I really can fully understand how you are feeling My 70 year old neighbour was diagnosed with lung cancer a few years ago, they operated and removed half his lung and apart from getting breathless easily he's absolutely fine. Both of my parents have had cancer (My dad had prostate cancer) So I know how horrible the waiting is and how understandable it is to want to hear and read other stories. Everything crossed for a positive outcome for your Dad

LtJudyHopps · 19/01/2020 23:05

Hi OP. I suggest you step away from your phone and google/mumsnet. You won’t find the answers you’re looking for here, it will only make your worry/anxiety worse. No one but the doctors can give you answers. Trust me I get it which is why I’m commenting! I find my phone makes my anxiety worse so I’m trying to step away from it more, but it’s a hard habit to break.

CaviarAndCigarettes · 19/01/2020 23:40

When I found a Breast lump I was immediately referred to oncology. I asked my gp does this Mean I have cancer.
He said no. This means you get seen this week.

Thankfully it was benign

Afrigginggoat · 19/01/2020 23:59

There's a lot of misinformation on this thread. Oncologists treat cancer, chest physicians,breast surgeons, ent surgeons etc investigate patients and diagnose cancer. If the ops father is actually referred direct to oncology then It doesn't mean he has cancer but it likely does mean that his scan and other results are concerning.
OP prepare for the worst, hope for the best in this scenario. I would make sure you go to the appointment and take a notebook.

Original poster

hoolydooly · 20/01/2020 07:30

I have been told elsewhere that the oncology referral is standard for lung shadows and there is no need for him to see a chest doctor as he has no chest symptoms
So I am trying not to worry about it being oncology as that certainly makes sense

OP posts:

champagneandfromage50 · 20/01/2020 09:11

That's interesting as my DH didn't see an oncologist until he had a confirmed diagnosis. He was under head and neck and thoracic first.

Original poster

hoolydooly · 20/01/2020 09:20

Maybe it depends on where you are in the UK.

I've been told there is no point in him seeing a thoracic consultant as he has no symptoms.

All lung shadows are apparently looked at in oncology as a matter of course, so I am trying not to panic about that.

OP posts:

EKGEMS · 20/01/2020 15:03

I've had nonsmoking patients with lung cancer,unfortunately. He will definitely have a biopsy via bronchoscopy or needle aspiration-either a camera down the throat to get a biopsy under light sedation or a needle through the skin for biopsy with local anesthetic (or at least that's how it's done in the US here). Best of luck

Original poster

hoolydooly · 20/01/2020 15:37

@EKGEMS That's odd as guidelines here, for example (www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/lung-nodules-online.pdf) say absolutely no biopsy unless it is large and/or suspicious looking. Lung nodules/shadows are apparently pretty common and usually benign.
It was just the oncology referral that initially threw me.

OP posts:

zara020 · 20/01/2020 15:43

Hi Op , im a Lung cancer coordinator. Has he not had a biopsy of the area or a pet scan?

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