Dad has a 'shadow' in chest x-ray

[ReshapeWhileDamp]

What could this be?

Well, I know what it could be - lung cancer. He's been a heavy smoker all his life. But what I mean is, what else could it be? Could it be anything less bad? He has a follow-up x-ray in a week or so. He had this one following chest pain - they diagnosed a chest infection but did the x-ray to rule out anything else. They said he might have had a touch of pleurisy - so I suppose the shadow could indicate that. ? He also had TB as a child, which left a scar, I think.

(His pain cleared up after being on anti-bs, so presumably the initial diagnosis was correct.)

He's in his late 60's and I know that heavy smokers should expect these sorts of health scares, but I'm really scared for him (and for me and DSs - don't want them to lose their lovely Grandpa. )

Pneumonia?

I'm sorry, it must be very scary

My Dad has the same smoking history and his shadows were in both lungs and was pneumonia. Due to impaired immunity from the RA drugs (expected side effective, very effectively labelled and explained in PIL, crap GP though didn't know how to read blood screens!!!!)

2 weeks in HDU and tonnes of antibiotics and he was home. I feel for you reshape, I remember the stress and overwhelming worry. Good luck to your Dad.

my dad had a shadow in his lung following months of chest infections which anti-biotics couldn't touch. he also had a bad cough, a loss of voice (on occasions) and a funny whistling noise when he breathed (worse when he slept).

he was told that the shadow could be old scar tissue from when he had pneumonia as a child, but he was referred urgenty for a pet and mri scan (at different hospitals up and down the country)

He was 64. It was lung cancer :(

he had his lung removed, was out of hospital within a week. walked to keep fit and get his other lung working enough to substitute fo the missing one, and had follow up chemo to get any cells that had spread (3 months worth, low level - made him tired but not incapacitated)

4 years on, he is still clear of cancer - he does have recurrent problems as a result of the operation, including a weak arm where the muscles were cut through, a lingering wheeze (currently being investigated, though no medics are concerned it is cancer) and is medicated for life due to severe reflux (things sifted round inside when lung removed meaning he suffere quite severely months after the operation.

I still worry for him, particularly as he is wheezing. I still remember the fear and trepidation - BUT he IS fine, and I truly appreciate all that I have in my life, as this really brought home to me, how quickly it could all be taken away.

Despite being a very robust person, these memories, and sharing them with you, have brought me close to tears, at the thought of going through all of that fear, uncertainty, and desperation again. I really feel for you.

I will answer any questions I can. Please feel free to ask.

I really hope for you and your dad's sake that is is not lung cancer, but if it is, know that the outcome can sill be good, despite the statstics (i strongly suggest not googling)

Crispface. Sorry to drag up pain for you.

I won't google! Too worried to. But if we get a bad diagnosis, I might do some judicious research. Glad that your dad is still going strong.

It can be other things including infection, scar tissue, even some sort of fungus (yuk)

DH seems to get a 'shadow' or 'something a bit odd' every other time he has a chest X-ray. He does have chronic lung disease, but so far it has always gone away the next X-ray or CT scan

So sorry crispface

oh please don't be sorry for me! you are the one facing the unknown. The wondering and fear were certainly MUCH harder than the diagnosis was. My dad is fine, absolutely totally fine, and with only mild side-effects of a life-changing operation.

Does your dad have other things wrong with him or just the shadow on his lung? Dad was quite unwell before his diagnosis, though they did catch it early. I think it sounds good that the anti-biotics cleared up your dad's chest infection and chest pain.

I of course, did judicious research and the statistics, the way cancer can spread, and all of the things i "learnt" there are the things that keep me awake at night. I really wish I had just buried my head and taken his recovery one step at a time, instead of looking for things that werent there, or worrying how long he had left (despite being given the all clear) - but if you are like me, no amount of warning will stop you, some of us NEED to know the grim truth even if it causes us more harm than good

what are the next steps for your dad? please keep us informed as I will think of you.

Thanks for all the support and optimism on this thread. I think his follow-up x-ray is on the 17th, so I just have to keep on top of it until then (or rather, until the results get back to us).

Crispface - dad has been remarkably healthy really, despite his heavy smoking history (and he does still smoke but nothing like he used to) and the fact that his father had a history of heart disease, cardiac arrest and strokes. He recently tore his rotator cuff (shoulder injury) and had it fixed, and has been under the weather from that, but obviously it's a mechanical injury. I'm taking comfort from the fact that his chest pain went after being on the antibiotics.

Agree re. unnecessary Googling. YOu can never unlearn whatever you've read. I found out the hard way after having a couple of mcs and convincing myself that I had a condition that meant it was always going to happen. (I have two DSs now, but had to do a course of CBT just to keep sane during DS1's 1st trimester! ) But yes, one of my coping strategies is researching. I'm very slow to accept that this doesn't always help.

My DS had pneumonia when he was 13. He just had a high temperature and a stomach ache, but due to febrile convulsion ended up in hospital and had an xray which showed up a shadow on his lung, so was given ab's for the pneumonia.