To have a private scan..

[BeDearFox]

I’ve not been well for the best part of a year.

main symptoms are complete loss of appetite, weight loss, chest pain, very itchy skin, chills and night sweats.

I’ve had abdo and pelvis CT scans and a chest xray. Saw a haemotologist in hospital this week who said she is certain it’s not lymphoma and won’t refer me for any further tests.

should I book a chest CT private? As I’ve heard it show on CT scans in the chest but not X-rays. Or do I just trust what I’ve been told ?

Trust your instincts. Can you request a second opinion or see a very good private GP first before booking a scan?

Yes! You know your body.

(although I am not medical and I have no idea on any of the results you’ve posted!)

As someone with cancer, this doesn’t jump at me screaming cancer. It sounds like it’s GI/autoimmune, possibly compounded by anxiety.

No, I wouldn’t go booking a chest CT scan. Because when will it stop? My cancer is head and neck. You’ll end up worrying about that next. Fwiw, my tumour was clearly visible on ultrasound, I’m sure it would have shown up on Xray, but not as clearly as CT/MRI.

What gastroenterological investigations have you had? Have they tested you for coeliac’s? Have they done all the autoimmune tests? Any chance it could be Lyme Disease? All these jump out as being a lot more likely than cancer, especially as your bloods look great, but don’t cover any of these possibilities.

If you want to go privately see a consultant and follow their advice, don't just book random tests that you can't interpret

Those bloods look like you have recovered from an infection recently

@LIZS what makes you say that?

I don’t know. Do I trust the experienced NHS haemotologist who said no scans needed.. or do I book one just to make sure?

The negative changes in wbc, neutrophils etc. Those are infection markers. Presumably this test was a comparison to previous? Perhaps you need an appointment to explain them if haematologist did not.

Who is going to interpret it for you?

Do you have health anxiety? Because you sound like I do when I'm at my worst with my health anxiety. I think you should trust the consultant when they say you don't have lymphoma (why have you picked that out, btw?). There are many other potential causes for your symptoms, many not serious, and they could even be caused by anxiety itself. By all means, you could ask your NHS doctors what the plan is next, as you don't feel well. But I wouldn't do the private scan, personally.

@LIZS ahh yes my last bloods were in August and I had ovarian cysts at the time which they blamed for the raised WBC etc

Are you having proper night sweats? I would look into it further. For what reason are you looking at the chest in particular? Hope you get answers

@MyProudHare I’m very anxious about it, yeah. I’m not sure just the symptoms the severe itchy skin etc and tiredness to me just scream lymphoma. But the haemotologist said she sees lymphoma every day and she was sure I didn’t have it. Just because my chest is the only area that hasn’t had a CT scan and it’s a common area for lymphoma x

@mindutopia endoscopy, colonoscopy.. seen a gastroenterologist x

Are you a clinician , or relying on dr Google? Every CT has a radiation risk so not undertaken lightly.

@LIZS doctor Google/ TikTok. That’s what the haemotologist said x

I mean this kindly, because I suffer from health anxiety too.

You have had multiple tests, and seen consultants.

You appear to have 'decided' you have lymphoma based on Doctor Google, which is your own fear speaking. This isn't based in any kind of objective reality.

Would a haemotologist know? Or should she have done more scans?

Have you been tested for H pylori? It sounds more autoimmune than cancer. Have you looked at Lyme or MALS or vasculitis?

A haematologist knows what markers they are looking for and corroborative evidence. Did you self refer to them or via another specialist? Who ordered the scans?

My GP referred me to them due to my platelets being raised for nearly a year (and obv my lymphoma worries) but she wasn’t concerned

Early / peri menopause can cause night sweats….