Dad has a “spot” on his lung

[Pizzarose]

Hi all
I appreciate no one can really help but I’m so worried for my dad and just wondered if anyone may have had a similar experience.
He is in his 60s, he has smoked for many years. He had a chest x ray about a year ago that was clear (this was done for something completely unrelated) but in the last few months we have all commented on how he has lost weight.
He went to his GP and has had bloods done which were fine and also a CT scan. He is being very particular about what information he shares so I don’t have a complete background I can share but I appreciate this is personal and up to him.

The scan has shown “something on his lung” (his words) but he says his GP isn’t that worried and is happy to wait to see him til he gets back from holiday in 2 weeks. However the GP did initially ask to see him much sooner to “check his breathing” and asked if he had a cough, which he doesn’t.
I, of course, am now imagining an awful diagnosis and am so worried. I know I’m getting ahead of myself but has anyone else had something show on a lung scan that GP isn’t worried about??
How do they know it isn’t sinister??
thanks for any advice

I don't have a reassuring story for you - I wish I did - but didn't want to leave this unanswered. It's a scary situation but like anything, it's possible there's a not-scary explanation. Is your dad on holiday now? Must be very difficult for you to wait around for more information.

It really could be nothing. A friend had this a while ago and it was a scary time but they just said to 'watch and see' anyway she went back for a another scan, I think it was a month later, and it had gone. They did say what it was but I can't remember, I think she had had an infection previously and it was from that.

Has he been put forward for other tests.. PET scan? In our experience you go down the cancer pathway until they rule it out. It's the most awful & worrying experience.. I hope you get good news but if you don't, it's amazing what you learn to deal with & e we hat horrors become 'normal' x

'What' you meant to deal with!

Thank you for your replies
@PacificState yes he’s on holiday now, he’s being seen the Monday after he gets back he says. He’s keeping everything very quiet. I suppose to try and not worry us (not working!)
@backtoworknextweek I really hope so ☹️
@hursty900 I’m not sure. I think he has an appointment with the consultant on the Saturday he gets back but he hasn’t said which type of consultant or what for!
I know this is a silly post because I haven’t really got any information but I’m just so worried. I’m not sure what I’d do without my dad

Sorry not Saturday.. Monday!

@Pizzarose I know exactly how you're feeling. It's the worse. All I I can say is try to stay in the moment now and not create stress by imagining the worse. That's what everyone said to me too..it's near on impossible tho!!! It wasn't good news for us I'm afraid, but as I say once we knew it was strangely better and you just do learn to cope. There's lots they can do now.. and if he had an X-ray last year & that was clear then that means whatever it is hasn't been lurking there for long. Keep busy. Are your mum/siblings around to support?

It's not a silly post at all OP and of course you're worried, I think anyone would in your situation.

My dad, also a lifelong smoker had a spot on his lung too. The doctors took it very seriously and he had a whole lot of tests and in the end it just turned out to be scar tissue. He'd been losing weight through worrying and put it all back on when the results were all clear.

@hursty900 it really is, isn’t it. It’s consuming my thoughts! Just want his holiday over so we know what’s happening which sounds so selfish.
Im sorry to hear your news was not good news.
I can understand the waiting is actually worse than knowing.. I suppose at least then you have a plan in place.
My mum & dad are separated but mum would always be of support. My brother is burying his head in the sand like dad at the moment!
I really do appreciate you replying x

@BunnyBettChetwynnd Thank you x
Nice to hear a positive story and so pleased for your dad that it was a good outcome. my fingers are crossed that we have similar

My mum got diagnosed with lung cancer end of 2022 - she had developed a tickly cough and went to the gp. Gave up smoking 12 years ago.
Here we are 6 months later, she has finished her treatment which they said is still working nicely and theu have told her she could go on for another 10 years - aged 80 she was over the moon to hear that.
It might not be cancer but if it is, it doesn't automatically mean death so try not to panic xx

My mum was given similar news not long after Christmas. She had a chest x ray following a chest infection and was told that it showed a shadow on the lung. As a lifelong smoker until about ten years ago, she was convinced of the worst, especially as the gp referred her for a CT scan under the two week wait. However, the scan showed the shadow to be ‘post infection changes’, just scar tissue caused by the infection.
If the gp isn’t too worried then there mustn’t be anything terribly concerning. Try your hardest not to worry and rest assured that these spots/ shadows can be indicative of many things other than the scary, obvious one.

@Justrolledmyeyesoutloud so so lovely to hear x thank you for sharing your story, it really helps talk me down a little! X

@ScarlettDarling I wasn’t expecting this many lovely replies. Thank you so much. I know I won’t know til we have results etc but it’s still really comforting to hear these stories x

@Pizzarose thinking of you & hope you get good news about your dad x

My mum had a spot on the lung, never smoked , they certainly didn’t rush her in for treatment but she did eventually have radiotherapy and was a bit breathless from for a while but is now all clear snd back to her old self.Its such a worry I know!