Are doctors supposed to tell you if they suspect you have cancer?

[Slidesandsandpits]

My Mum has had some test results back that could indicate cancer- raised blood calcium on two occasions that isn’t caused by her parathyroid gland. She’s also lost about a stone and half quite quickly and had a DVT, but about 5 weeks ago she became very unwell with a bad chest infection and ate basically nothing for about a fortnight, then hurt her knee and wore a leg brace continually/barely moved her leg for about 4 days. This was before the DVT, so I imagine there is a chance that could have caused it.

She’s been googling (as we all have, to be honest) and she’s become fairly convinced that she’s got cancer and that is the cause of the DVT, the weight loss and the high calcium. I’m aware it could be, but apparently none of the doctors she’s seen have mentioned cancer to her. Are they not supposed to tell you if they think that’s what it might be? I have been referred under the 2WW before and the GP honestly told me that it could be cancer, but that wasn’t what she thought it was.

She has had a CT scan, so we are waiting for the results of that now. I am very scared, so any advice would be much appreciated.

Severe hypercalcaemia can be extremely serious - more emergently serious than cancer. Medics would want to get that under control regardless of any decisions made on treating the spot on the lung.

Grow up - GPs are not "shit bags", they are responsible, professional people - albeit not miracle workers!

Thankyou for that information it's definitely what was concentrated on first x

Why panic? So far your mum hasn't presented serious cancer symptoms. You can waste your life wondering what if. Let the doctors do their job ask if it might be cancer at the next appointment. They don't seem to think so, so far.

Well literally everything I read online (from reputable sources) suggested the vast majority of cases of high calcium in blood are caused by either parathyroid issues or cancer, so it’s not panicking unnecessarily to worry that if it’s not parathyroid issues, which we knew it wasn’t, then it’s statistically likely to be cancer.

Unfortunately, Mum received a call from the hospital today. She has a large tumour in one of her kidneys which is almost certainly cancerous. I left work and spent the day with her, so she wasn’t on her own. She has an appointment with a consultant tomorrow and a biopsy next week so at least things are moving quickly in that sense.

So sorry about your mum, @Tcateh x

I have been told twice that cancer was suspected. Both times it wasn’t, but I was grateful to be fast tracked- just in case.

So sorry- I’ve just seen your update. Sending love to your mum ,and you, and hoping for healing. xx

Ah I’m sorry to hear your update. Love, hugs, hope and prayers to all of you 💐💐

How insensitive! Would you not panic if it was your loved one? I stayed away from google until we had the appointment, but I had an idea of what we would be facing and was panicked! Unfortunately many cancers don’t present with “serious cancer symptoms”.

OP - wishing all the best to you and your mum , I’m sorry to hear your update. I know it’s hard, but try to stay positive and have hope. There’s so many things that can be done xx

I wasn't outright told my son might have cancer (he did) until I actually asked the doctor. It didn't occur to me at all until he said that it could be something simple or 'something sinister', I blurted out ''Do you mean cancer?'' and he confirmed that he did but that it probably wouldn't be the case.

It wasn't confirmed until a week later when all of the tests were back. I was later told that a few days before, some tests were pointing to cancer but they decided not to tell us until every single test was back. I wish they had told us as soon as the tests started coming back but the next person would probably feel differently.

I feel like if I had never mentioned cancer, I wouldn't have heard the word until we were actually told he had cancer a week later.

Hi thankyou. ,❤️
I'm really sorry to read your update.
Xxx

@itsmeecathy

Thankyou for sharing and I'm sorry about your mum.
As I posted above it happened to mine too in that way.
I definitely don't want to derail the thread because op doesn't know prognosis yet.
Just wanted to say something in response to you.
Hugs xxx

I'm very sorry to hear that. Hopefully you will soon have a clearer picture and a plan. It can be easier to cope with once you know what you are dealing with and there is a plan.

The Macmillan support line is open every day from 8am until 8pm if you or your mum would find it helpful to talk to someone.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/macmillan-support-line

@Tcatehthank you for your thoughts. It’s very very recent, and I should stay off these threads at the moment. That was insensitive of me, to put my experience on someone else’s thread. OP- I am so sorry and really hope I haven’t added to your worry or caused any further upset! I’ve tried to edit but it’s timed out, I’ll ask for it to be deleted.

@itsmeecathy Please don’t worry! I asked for people’s experiences and you gave yours. I’m so sorry about your mum. It’s a horrible thing x

@Kirbert2 I can’t imagine what it’s like to hear that your child has cancer, I’m so sorry. Thank you for your answer x

Thank you to everyone for your kind messages. I am feeling very sad and angry at the moment, which I imagine is normal. Work have very kindly given me the day off as I have a midwife appointment in the middle of the day anyway, so I have had a nice morning at home with my little girl.

Well they would hopefully be honest that there are strong reasons for it to look likely. Bit only after adequate investigation.

It depends on the doctor. Like a GP should never say 'I suspect you have cancer' because they have no diagnostic equipment or expertise.

If it was an oncologist or breast specialist or lower GI specialist or whatever and they'd done imaging and possibly a biopsy, then at that stage they will have more of a strong idea of whether it is that or not.

I think generally it's ok to share the experiences because it can turn out ok and unfortunately the reality is also what some people have experienced.

It's 3 yrs for me.
It's all a new world when you're suddenly faced with these questions, like op started this thread about.
I think there's alot of respect on this thread.

It's ok, and I'm ever so sorry to anyone who is having to ask questions or had lost someone.

Hugs to all. Xx

...literally everything I read online (from reputable sources) suggested the vast majority of cases of high calcium in blood are caused by either parathyroid issues or cancer,

Hmmm... when I googled I didn't get that result at all.

Op has said they've found something on her mum's the lung.

The blue highlighted text in the image you’ve posted quite clearly says that it’s most commonly caused by hyperparathyroidism or cancer…

Mum has a very large tumour in her kidney and potentially something small on one of her lungs and liver.

?? Can you even read??

Op just checking in. Yes that's what I got on googling with my mum.
Hug to you. X

You are right that I posted too quick. lol.
I was also thinking that need to add into the denominator all the idiopathic (ie, no cause identified) reasons for high calcium in blood. When you include all the unexplained cases (like OP is worrying about) then actually, the unexplained may be a very big group. The screenshot I posted earlier is only listing reasons when a reason can be found.

assets.cureus.com/uploads/review_article/pdf/349205/20250506-257394-8ki60b.pdf

The ops mother is poorly. Have you read her updates fgs

@Tcateh presumably not, no!

Thank you so much for checking in. My sister and I took mum out for lunch today, as Tuesday (the day of the biopsy) happens to be her 60th birthday. We’re waiting for the results of the CT scan of her head and neck she had on Wednesday. If it has spread there she will have to automatically give up her driving licence, which is understandable but will be an enormous thing for her emotionally I think. Obviously we are hoping it’s good news- at the moment she feels like every time she has any communication with the hospital it’s just more bad news x

It’s not your posting too quick that was the problem. You posted 2 days after op updated with her mums diagnosis 🙄 At least read all op’s posts before posting - it really does help.