Tiny spot of blood in green phlegm - when is it lung cancer?

[Lemons1571]

Does anyone else get this? I occasionally notice this, quite often in autumn when the weather starts to get cold. Also randomly occasionally get a spot of blood when I blow my nose.

Does anyone know when I should worry or get it checked out? I used to go to the gp and get a chest X-ray but haven't done that since pre pandemic. My sinuses aren’t the best (I have a nasal spray) but I worry as I’m an ex smoker (in my 20’s so a long time ago now, am late 40’s).

Is it just irritated throat / nasal passages? I don’t have a cough and am not breathless (I train in the gym a lot so would notice this)

I get this all the time. Just irritation in my case. I think most effects of smoking in your 20s will be gone by now.

@Mangledrake thank you. I haven’t had it again today so maybe that bodes well. I do tend to catastrophise, but seeing the blood streak is scary. And google doesn’t provide context so i immediately go to worst case scenario.

Here is a happy thought for you - I've seen similar in doctors' surgeries and other sources:

"After 20 years, the risk of death from smoking-related causes, including both lung disease and cancer, drops to the level of a person who has never smoked in their life"

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317956

The fact that it's your nose too suggests a bit of nasal irritation - dry air, nosebleeds, covid tests etc - and nasal drip rather than lungs. Maybe ask a chemist?

I’d be inclined to go on the fact you said you experience this in autumn. Presumably you’ve gone from at least last autumn to this autumn and are still in generally good health without any worsening of your symptoms? If you had some sinister underlying cause for your symptoms it would more likely be persistent and ongoing rather than seasonal. I’d suggest a non urgent call to your GP practice nurse for reassurance.

I've always thought that blood in coughed up phlegm indicates a serious chest infection. I'm sure people will disagree. You should call for advice.

I get this every time I get a cough and cold.