Advice - I'm not sure about my doctor's diagnostic

andyencore · New User Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 2

Hi Everyone,

First, thank you for your time...I appreciate the help. I understand that there are a lot of posts on the forum relating to symptoms of Lung Cancer; however, mine relates to the diagnosis I am receiving from my doctor. I have described my story below and I look forward to hearing your feedback about how I should proceed.

-Background-

The amount I smoked over the years has varied, depending on my age. Between the ages of 18 to 22 I had a few packs total, socially, while out with friends. Between the ages of 22 to 25 I smoked more frequently, between five to ten per day (on average). I recently quit and am still in my mid 20s.

-Symptoms-

Week 1: I developed a dry cough.

Week 2: Eventually that cough turned in a wheeze with a wet cough. Its only a slight wheeze that I can feel if I take a deep breath (and even then I can't always feel it). Accompanying the wheeze and cough is green/yellow mucus.

Week 3: The wheeze/mucus has not changed, but I've started to feel achey (e.g. in my shoulders and ribs). The aches have been a recent development and could be attributed to something else.

Note: On two occasions I saw specks of dried blood in my mucus. These were the only two occasions and it was an extremely small amount (2 spots). I think this could be because I was coughing a lot?

-Doctor Visits-

When my cough turned into a wheeze, I went to the doctor. I live in the UK and don't have private health insurance so I need to go through the NHS (National Health Service). I told her my background, including my symptoms, and she was of the opinion that it sounded environmental. She also very confidently told me that it was not lung cancer because 'it doesn't sound like it' (taking into account my age and smoking history). I was told, however, that if it did not go away in a week I should go back and get antibiotics. I am wondering if, based on my story above, I should be pushing for a Chest x-ray or even pay for one privately myself (i think this would cost a few hundred pounds).

Thanks for the help!

Andy

Joey Gal · Regular Joined: 30 May 2009 Posts: 35

[quote="andyencore"]Hi Everyone,

First, thank you for your time...I appreciate the help. I understand that there are a lot of posts on the forum relating to symptoms of Lung Cancer; however, mine relates to the diagnosis I am receiving from my doctor. I have described my story below and I look forward to hearing your feedback about how I should proceed.

-Background-

The amount I smoked over the years has varied, depending on my age. Between the ages of 18 to 22 I had a few packs total, socially, while out with friends. Between the ages of 22 to 25 I smoked more frequently, between five to ten per day (on average). I recently quit and am still in my mid 20s.

-Symptoms-

Week 1: I developed a dry cough.

Week 2: Eventually that cough turned in a wheeze with a wet cough. Its only a slight wheeze that I can feel if I take a deep breath (and even then I can't always feel it). Accompanying the wheeze and cough is green/yellow mucus.

Week 3: The wheeze/mucus has not changed, but I've started to feel achey (e.g. in my shoulders and ribs). The aches have been a recent development and could be attributed to something else.

Note: On two occasions I saw specks of dried blood in my mucus. These were the only two occasions and it was an extremely small amount (2 spots). I think this could be because I was coughing a lot?

-Doctor Visits-

When my cough turned into a wheeze, I went to the doctor. I live in the UK and don't have private health insurance so I need to go through the NHS (National Health Service). I told her my background, including my symptoms, and she was of the opinion that it sounded environmental. She also very confidently told me that it was not lung cancer because 'it doesn't sound like it' (taking into account my age and smoking history). I was told, however, that if it did not go away in a week I should go back and get antibiotics. I've just gone back and started my course of antibiotics tonight. My doctor is still confident that its not lung cancer and is not recommending that I need a chest x-ray (you need a recommendation to get one on the NHS). I am wondering if, based on my story above, I should be pushing for a Chest x-ray or even pay for one privately myself (i think this would cost a few hundred pounds).

Thanks for the help!

Andy[/quote]

Andy,
Please as a mother of a son around your age never never light up again. If you were my son I would push for a chest x-ray just we could have peace of mind. It may just what your Dr. is saying nothing to worry about. But if it cancer then it can be caught in the early stages. Best of luck and keep us posted on what you decide to do.
Your in my thoughts and prayers...*

Joey
_________________
Joey Gal

dano · Last edited by dano on Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:33 am; edited 1 time in total

Hello Andy; Sorry to hear about you being in a low care no care system. I really hope you are not sick with this kind of treatment available. It would be good to get those antibiotics soon, they may help. Never got your age, but at this point it may not matter. Part of me questions why you would want to smoke , just thinking about cancer, and another part of me wants you to try 20 packs a day and see if that helps?

lol, but look at me, I never smoked at all and I've got Stage 4 lung cancer at 54 and my dad only has COPD at 88 with over 35 years of smoking in his now past.
It is good that you are starting to question something. Maybe it is a good time to travel visit the U.S. before we get socialized medicine so you can find a doctor who will give a damn and get life saving treatment. I feel for you and your situation, by the way.... is your life insurance paid up?
Dan
_________________
55 year old male, Diagnosed Nov. 9,2007 with NSCLC IV with Mets to the lymphs and brain
Had full brain radiation treatment in Jan 08 treatments now every 4 weeks with Alimta, taking Lovenox for blood clots, Now working full time
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9993

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2400

Hi Andy,

Sounds like you're getting the typical run around in the NHS. Rolling Eyes

At least they could have given you antibiotics the first visit. My husband was given antibiotics immediately and when they didn't do anything, they went for the chest x-ray a week later.

I've had bronchial infections that brought up minute amounts of blood in the sputum, so this isn't unusual. The key is to follow-up after this run of antibiotics are over to make sure any issues are truly cleared up.

You're a young man, so this shouldn't be lung cancer related. It would be pretty rare, but I've seen other kids in their 20's get this diagnosis. Don't put the cart in front of the horse though. What were the environmental issues that the doctor thought might be contributing to your cough? Do you work in an industry that has issues?

Push very hard and be a strong advocate for your own health care. I'm hoping that if you ARE a squeaky wheel, they will do SOMETHING about following up with an x-ray if your symptoms persist. That would seem to be a no brainer as the next step and I'm sorry you have to fight so hard to get normal care. I just got a chest x-ray and I don't have any mucus coming up, but have been winded lately. It was my third chest x-ray in the last 4 years. Thank God I don't have to pull teeth to have some element of screening --- as least not yet.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing. I hope the antibiotics do the trick.

Keep us posted.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

andyencore · New User Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 2

Thanks for the information everyone. I was supposed to visit my GP yesterday to get my antibiotics, but the doctor cancelled my appointment and moved it to the weekend. I will keep you posted on what happens after that! Also, I’ve included a general update below.

-Symptoms-

I still have a wheeze and cough that brings up mucus. The wheeze has not changed (its sporadic and I can feel it in the same region) and my aches have gone away. Sometimes I think I see a very small ammount of dried blood in my mucus. Its very small, barley visiable and I have only noticed it a few times.

-Answers to questions-

(1) I’m 26 years old and don’t smoke anymore.
(2) The doctor said the environmental conditions could be smog or allergies.
(3)I work in an office and I don’t think I’m exposed to any hash environment aside from my subway commute and the pollution associated of living in a city.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2400

Hi again Andy,

Thanks for the update. Sounds like the antibiotics are kicking in and helping a bit. What color is the mucus? Greenish or yellowish? That's a sign of an infection. Hopefully you'll continue to improve a little every day with the antibiotics.

I see what the doc means about environmental causes. My breathing problems are getting better since some of the pollen flying through the air in my area is calming down. I really suspect that I've developed some sort of allergic reaction, which is not uncommon to happen even later in life. The doc heard crackling in my lungs. I wheeze a lot, but I'm much older and am currently working on quitting smoking. Congrats to you for doing it! Very Happy

That's a huge step in a positive direction for your overall health.

Keep us posted. We're here.

Hugs,
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

dano

Hi Andy; We are hoping here that you are having some sort of allergy reaction to something in your environment. I remember back in my mid twenties of my first allergy reaction to fir tree pollen, and I've had hay fever ever sense. My wife on the other hand has always had allergies and asthma. Her wheezing at night used to keep me up wondering if she would make it through the night. she still has some problems, but new meds have helped. It is almost funny that I have had problems with a cough on and off for years, some of it seemed allergy related, others it appeared to be work related by getting fiberglass dust deep into my sinus cavities that were blocked by a damaged septum when my nose was broke as a kid. Before I was diagnosed with cancer I had a bad cough that would not go away, later I found out that blood clots in my lungs caused by my cancer were causing the cough. That was treated with blood thinners and I have been cough free ever sense, so it seems like I had to get cancer to stop my cough, weird.
I'm very glad to see you are young yet and have lots of life ahead of you and I'm sure you will be cancer free for likely all of it. But I hope you find out how to deal with your lung condition, that can be hard to figure out.
God Bless
Dan
_________________
55 year old male, Diagnosed Nov. 9,2007 with NSCLC IV with Mets to the lymphs and brain
Had full brain radiation treatment in Jan 08 treatments now every 4 weeks with Alimta, taking Lovenox for blood clots, Now working full time
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9993

EFP

dano wrote:

"Maybe it is a good time to travel visit the U.S. before we get socialized medicine so you can find a doctor who will give a damn and get life saving treatment."

Dan, I'm afraid you've really got it backwards. Unless you're offering to pay for Andy's medical care in the US, who do you think will treat him since he has no US insurance (and presumably won't be bringing a few million bucks with him)??? And why would US doctors STOP caring when every American has access to medical care? Your statement above is really stunning.

Ellen
_________________
65-yr-old woman, dx 12/07 at age 63 with Stage 4 NSCLC (adenocarcinoma), with mets to lymph nodes and bones (pelvis, L3). Only symptoms are blood clots, for which am taking Lovenox, and some pain from the bone mets, for which I had radiation to the pelvis and spine and am taking Zometa. Have opted to do no chemo or chest radiation.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2400

While I think Dano was being tongue-in-cheek with portions of his comment, I also agree with his assessment of this whole debate. One only has to look at the various postings to see the stark difference in care between our system and socialized medicine systems.

That being said, there is a new thread in the finance section for this particular discussion and we should probably address this issue there.

http://cancerforums.net/about12645-0-asc-0.html

Thanks!
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

EFP

Hi PBJ.

My questions to Dan remain. Feel free to answer them, since you agree with him. I'm dying of curiosity.

Ellen
_________________
65-yr-old woman, dx 12/07 at age 63 with Stage 4 NSCLC (adenocarcinoma), with mets to lymph nodes and bones (pelvis, L3). Only symptoms are blood clots, for which am taking Lovenox, and some pain from the bone mets, for which I had radiation to the pelvis and spine and am taking Zometa. Have opted to do no chemo or chest radiation.

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