Consultant after CT scan - to be worried?

[Alittlebitfat25]

My mum who is 66 had a lung CT after coughing up blood a few times. She was referred by the doctors after a lung xray came back clear but she continued to cough up red blood.
She had the scan exactly a week ago and despite them saying a 2-3 week wait for results which would be sent back to the GP, she has had a phone call today booking her an urgent appointment with a consultant at the hospital?
Does this most likely mean they have found something indicating cancer? I want to be emotionally prepared so I can be the best support to her.

I honestly dont know but yes I suspect they will have found something. Cancer is one possibility, there are others.

Sorry, to add - it's good you are there for support. But try not to get too ahead of yourself worry wise. Can you go to the consultants appointment with her to take notes and ask questions?

@Porcupineintherough

I honestly dont know but yes I suspect they will have found something. Cancer is one possibility, there are others.

Yes - or they haven't and they don't know why so need to talk about further tests.

It's such a terrifying time OP, I know this is a useless thing to say but do try not to think about it if you possibly can.

Thank you for your honesty and support.
I am going with her as there's no way she could do it alone, she suffers with agrophobia so leaving the house itself is a big push!

I’m a HCP in all honesty yes they’ve probably found something, if not then it would sit in the routine pile to get reported during their normal time frame then sent back to your GP. They don’t typically book appointments with consultants a week after a test to tell you your results are normal.

Came here to echo what a PP said. It does suggest they’ve found something. That something isn’t necessarily cancer. I’m sorry, be brave, and remember how brilliant medicine is these days.

I don't think any of us can predict that, I'm really sorry. I'm wondering if a clear X ray might be a good sign even if it does turn out to be cancer- my relative's lung cancer showed first as an obvious shadow on the xray, then they did the CT to confirm that it was cancer and show the stage. So if I was you I might be hoping it isn't cancer but something else that needs urgent treatment, or it is cancer but it is at an early stage. I'm really sorry, the waiting for results is utterly shit. I hope someone can come through with better advice, and some of the cancer helplines are really good to talk through fears, even if they can't give us answers.

@juniorcakeoff

I don't think any of us can predict that, I'm really sorry. I'm wondering if a clear X ray might be a good sign even if it does turn out to be cancer- my relative's lung cancer showed first as an obvious shadow on the xray, then they did the CT to confirm that it was cancer and show the stage. So if I was you I might be hoping it isn't cancer but something else that needs urgent treatment, or it is cancer but it is at an early stage. I'm really sorry, the waiting for results is utterly shit. I hope someone can come through with better advice, and some of the cancer helplines are really good to talk through fears, even if they can't give us answers.

This is exactly what im clinging onto, the fact that the X-ray was clear means that hopefully even if it is cancer it is small.

@juniorcakeoff

I don't think any of us can predict that, I'm really sorry. I'm wondering if a clear X ray might be a good sign even if it does turn out to be cancer- my relative's lung cancer showed first as an obvious shadow on the xray, then they did the CT to confirm that it was cancer and show the stage. So if I was you I might be hoping it isn't cancer but something else that needs urgent treatment, or it is cancer but it is at an early stage. I'm really sorry, the waiting for results is utterly shit. I hope someone can come through with better advice, and some of the cancer helplines are really good to talk through fears, even if they can't give us answers.

I think this is a good post. It could be worth considering that coughing up blood would suggest cancer that would likely appear in an X-ray. And if it didn’t, there could be another cause that needs treatment, but isn’t cancer.

But, I suspect none of us are respiratory doctors and even if we are, we’ve not seen your mum’s imaging, so just hold tight and stay busy are the best ideas.

All the very, very best to you and your mum.

I went through something similar with my dad. He was having lung problems, had a CT scan on a Thursday. They called him Friday morning to ask him to see the consultant the following Tuesday. Needless to say we all spent the whole weekend assuming the worst. I went with him to the appointment. There was another person in with the consultant who introduced herself as the patient pathway co-ordinator (or something v similar, definitely included the word pathway). That confirmed it for me, my heart sank.

We were wrong, the scan was clear. The pathway woman said she was just there to make sure patients got good news as soon as possible and to agree the next steps. I left the room while they did some blood tests and wept with relief.

Don't give up hope OP

It could be cancer but there are other things which can show up on a chest CT that would warrant an urgent review, for example a pulmonary embolism (blood clot) which is very treatable but potentially life threatening if not treated promptly.

@Corrag

I went through something similar with my dad. He was having lung problems, had a CT scan on a Thursday. They called him Friday morning to ask him to see the consultant the following Tuesday. Needless to say we all spent the whole weekend assuming the worst. I went with him to the appointment. There was another person in with the consultant who introduced herself as the patient pathway co-ordinator (or something v similar, definitely included the word pathway). That confirmed it for me, my heart sank.

We were wrong, the scan was clear. The pathway woman said she was just there to make sure patients got good news as soon as possible and to agree the next steps. I left the room while they did some blood tests and wept with relief.

Don't give up hope OP

This is so wonderful, @Corrag.