Worried about DH's 12 week cough

[Turtlerunner]

Feel daft posting about this but DH mid 50s is never ill but hes an ex smoker & still vapes. Had a bad chesty cough now for 12 weeks which has meant minimal sleep for both of us. Also has shoulder pain..Seen doc & had xray which showed shadowing in one lung. Doc seemed uninterested, had antibiotics which made no difference. DH has significant family history of cancer inc MIL Braca gene breast, cousin breast, cousin lung (died in his 40s), brother prostate, paternal uncle lung. After returning to doc he has been referred for appointment with respiratory consultant but today out of the blue received fasttrack appointment for cancer pathway. No indicator at any doc appointments of any concerns. Obvs now worried & wondering how likely this is going to be something sinister. Poor DH is spending most nights coughing up nothing, wheezing where he cant catch his breath. Could it still be 'just a cough'?²

That must be worrying. How did it start 12 weeks ago - did he have symptoms of a cold/flu?

i wouldnt panic too much at this moment, i believe any cough lasting longer than 12 weeks goes through the pathway which has to be completed within 2 weeks. I turned out to be completely clear and just one of these lingering things I couldnt get rid of. It is positive he is now on the pathway even though I know it sounds scary (and feels it). My experience was that Drs took some bloods then had camera up nose and down throat so look for anything significant and an x-ray. Fingers crossed for you OP

No, just started with the cough. He rarely ever has a cold, weirdly.

I'm not trying to frighten you OP, but get him to feel in his neck, armpit and groin for lumps. My long standing cough turned out to be Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma, with tumours in my lungs. It's not a symptom that is very well known, but it can present with a cough. I'd had the cough months before I found the lumps in my neck.

Very unlikely, and I hope all will be well. But I just wanted to flag this to you as a faint possibility. Other common symptoms are fatigue, night sweats, pain when drinking alcohol.