Coughing up blood and chunks of flesh

CougarLady (Inactive)
  • By CougarLady (Inactive) · May 25, 2009 at 10:05 pm · 22 replies
  • In Non-small cell lung cancer - General
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My boyfriend of 5+ years has been coughing up blood with chunks of flesh in it. This has been going on for 3 weeks and the doctor says he cant do a scope until his severe sinus infection clears up. The chest x ray shows "masses" in his lungs. OMG I'm so scared ! He has no symptons of any kind but an occasional pain in his left shoulder area. Any information would be appreciated.

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22 replies   

sheilake

Have they given your boyfriend a CT scan? If you have any more information than you shared (other test results, etc.), it would be helpful. Without tests, though, it could be anything from pneumonia to lung cancer. Sounds like he needs to go to an emergency room right away to get checked out. That does sound serious!

Sheila

kq182

Yes I agree with Sheila, I would take him to the ER, and have them do a CAT scan, waiting does not sound good to me, go ASAP. To be on the safe side a CT scan will show more than an x-ray, I am praying that he gets well and treated, please update when you know more, Karen

linbur

I also agree about the ct scan. The only way they can know for sure is to do one.

saltypenguin

...."He has no symptons of any kind but an occasional pain in his left shoulder area"

What? "No symptons" The blood and chunks are a major one.

Get a CT right away.

patriciad

I agree-head to the ER. And if he coughs up a "chunk" save it. Could be part of a tumor and helpful ina diagnosis.
Pat

kath50

I agree with the others..... try to get a CT scan asap.
My only symptom was a pain in my right shoulder & an x-ray showed the tumor (followed by a scan). The sooner, the better !

robinwd

All above advice is good, and I concur. But it could be the sinus infection.....drainage can go into the bronchial tubes and cause the "chunks" and coughing irritation can cause blood, so try to think positively while getting needed evaluation.

CougarLady (Inactive)
  • By CougarLady (Inactive)
  • Reply 399473
  • May 26, 2009 at 12:46 pm
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The doctor did a CT scan when the x-ray was done and his only comment was that there were masses found and he needed a scope. He has been back to the dr 4x and the dr still hasnt scheduled the scope. I am beside myself - not knowing what to think. He doesnt feel bad, isn't loosing weight, still working 12 hour days. But the coughing up is getting worse and more frequent.

kq182

Hi, From what you have told us, I would be looking for another doctor. Exactly what type of doctor is he seeing? Is he a regular GP or a specialist?
You can still make a trip to the ER, and take a sample of what he is coughing up with you.
Good luck getting him to the right doctor. Karen

CougarLady (Inactive)
  • By CougarLady (Inactive)
  • Reply 399585 · In reply to 399489 by kq182
  • May 26, 2009 at 2:22 pm
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kq182
he is seeing a pulmonary doctor, this is the one that did the CT scan and says just have to wait and see what a scope shows. i just feel that we are not getting any answers and am having difficulty waiting - especially since the coughing up is getting worse and more frequent. is it normal for a dr. to wait like this ?

Munker

Coughing up blood/chunks I would run to the ER and get a different Doc. ASAP. Don't care if the doc wants to wait, I wouldn't. If I had listened to one of my first doctors I would still be "watching" the cancer in my lung.

peyz33

GO TO THE NEAREST ER ROOM AND SCREAM LOUD!!!!!
OMG!
Karen

kq182

Hi again, please like most posters here have said take him to the ER ASAP. You have asked our opinion and that is what most of us think, to be on the safe side, please take him and let us know the results, I pray that it is not cancer but coughing up blood is not NORMAL go to the ER PLEASE!!
Karen

lbp08

Go to the ER as fast as you can run, take a "chunk" with you for the doctors to see and test, do not wait on the doctor you have been seeing. My mom's doctor did the "wait and see" crap for two years and she had way more symptoms....now she is stage 4 lung cancer, I will always feel it could have been caught at an earlier stage when she would have had more energy to fight it. Don't let a doctor put you off...
That is just my humble opinion.

CougarLady (Inactive)
  • By CougarLady (Inactive)
  • Reply 401255
  • May 27, 2009 at 6:16 pm
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Why are men so stubborn ? My BF wouldn't go to ED, however the dr. finally scheduled a scope for Friday. I'm scared, as I am sure all of you are. I have lost my Mom to cancer and recently my Dad to liver disease (go figure - he was never a drinker). Just the thought of loosing my BF at 46 scares me teribbly. I know none of you know us, however I truly believe in the power of prayer and am asking for prayers on his behalf. Any help we can get is greatly appreciated. God Bless You All.

D5493

time for Pet scan And getting to a dr real fast before it is to late .I was coughing up blood when I went they told me it was a tumor In my right lung and it was The Big C word
GOOD LUCK AND BLESS THIS MAN OF YOURS

CougarLady (Inactive)
  • By CougarLady (Inactive)
  • Reply 404219
  • May 29, 2009 at 8:44 pm
  • Report post

The scope was done today and the doctor says that the left lung is "junk" and want's to take it out. The dr says that he couldnt get the scope in the left lung, it was blocked and he wants to take it out immediately. They took a lot of tissue samples. Don't they generally biopsy them before they make major decisions ? I'm concerned and confused - the dr waited 3 weeks to do the scope and then we had to demand it and now he wants to race forward before any biopsys results are known.

TomNY

Playing devils' (doctor's) advocate here, I am guessing that his doctor deemed the wait justified based upon his infection and potential problems doing the scope on a compromised patient. I am further guessing that whatever is blocking his lung may have rendered the lung unusable to the point where surgery may be the best course, cancer or not.

In any case, you will need to speak with a surgeon and then get a second opinion. By then the pathology reports will be in and they will have slides for the surgeon and second opinion doc to examine.

You should not do surgery without those things in place and all of your questions answered, but nor should you wait. Taking an extra week to get this part right will probably do no harm, but waiting months and doing nothing is a problem.

You and your friend are in my prayers.

Tom

kq182

Hi, Please get a diagnosis first!! If it is lung cancer he needs to see an oncologist BEFORE surgery, he needs more tests to see if God forbid it is cancer, that it has not spead to other organs such as the brain or any other major organs.
If it is Cancer, they will know if they got a good biopsy, an oncologist needs to Stage him, and determine whether surgery is an option, if it will help save his life, if it has traveled away from the lung doctors usually do not do surgery, but radiation and chemo would be the treatment recommended.

So what I am suggesting is that he gets a referral to an oncologist ASAP, and have the surgeon send all copies of his notes to them. I would call myself and tell them that you need an appt ASAP because of the coughing of blood and because the surgeon or pulmonary doctor wants to operate. You need to try and relax and get his proper diagnosis and think things out, just not rush into taking out a lung!!

Good luck, please update when you can, so sorry you are going through this, but your boyfriend needs you to be strong and help him make the best decision, and another opinion is definately needed.

You two are in my prayers, Karen

CougarLady (Inactive)
  • By CougarLady (Inactive)
  • Reply 404290
  • May 29, 2009 at 9:59 pm
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I agree that they shouldnt take the lung without proper diagnosis. I am having such a hard time with this and i know that i am not thinking straight. It just seems so unreal that this is happening. My BF doesnt look or act ill, he is still working 15 hours a day, eating well, not loosing any weight and not showing any signs of illness except the coughing up blood. I have cared for my Mom who died of Pancretic Cancer, my ex father in law who died of lung cancer and my Dad who died from liver failure and i saw all the signs of the illness. For all this to happen in three weeks with no other symptons is confusing me totally. I'm sorry for rambling but I have no one to talk to since my BF doesnt want any of his family or his boss to know. And right now he is living 350 miles from me taking care of his mom who had a stroke. He drives to see me at least once a week but doesnt want anyone to see him die of cancer. He says he will just disapear because he doesnt want to "put me thru this" How do i make him understand that he is not putting me thru anything, i want to be there for him like we have been there for each other for 5+ years .

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