Yesterday my dad was taken to hospital with the following symptoms.

Shortness of breath
terrible cough - lasting for the past 12 months
Pain in middle of chest
Hurts to breath
Sore neck

He had xrays done and the Dr said his lungs are "not clear" he is having ultra sounds done today.

At first they thought it may have been a heart attach but all tests on his heart were fine. It is his lungs they are concentrating on.

Any advice?

Capuchin

Wait for the professional's opinion. They are getting lots of evidence and are taking their time in diagnosing your dad. It would be foolish for anyone to diagnose this over the internet without further information.

So my advice is to just wait and let the doctors do their job.

N0help4u

If it is lung cancer they most likely would have found black spots on the x rays.
It sounds like bronchitis or pneumonia to me but they should have been able to diagnosis that right off.
I don't know if emphysema would have black spots on the x rays.

Choux

I saw the x-rays of my mother's lungs; she had lung cancer. The tumors were very obviously tumors and were quite recognizable as such.

Pneumonia is less clear cut on x-rays, I believe.

Altenweg

Don't worry until there's something to worry about. Wait until the doctors have a prognosis and then move on from there. Remember that even if it is lung cancer, early stages of this disease have a good chance of going into remission. Keep your chin up, I hope that everything works out for you and your dad.

inthebox

Cough for the last 12 months? How old ? Smoker? Medications? asbestos? travel?
Occupation?


I would have him see one or more doctors or specialists [ pulmonologists ] to get a definitive answer within the next month.

Lung cancer cannot be ruled out by plain chest xrays - not sensitive enough, therefore you can get false negatives. A Cat Scan with contrast [ if not allergic ] and or a Pet scan would be more sensitive in detecting the possibility of cancer.

Aside from lung cancer, asthma, Tuberculosis, emphysema / chronic bronchitis, some high blood pressure medications, allergies, sarcoidosis, fungal infection, and pulmonary emboli would also be in the list of potential causes [ differential ].


Good luck to your father.