Is there any chance of lung cancer if there is spitting of blood with phlegm?

Question

Hello doctor,

If the X-ray is clear and the person is having a good appetite and no fatigue, but the person is spitting up blood with phlegm, not always. Sometimes the phlegm is white, sometimes black, and sometimes there are traces of blood in the phlegm. No chest pain, no shortness of breath.

Is there anything to worry about?
Is there any chance of lung cancer after a clear X-ray?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your issues.

Coughing up blood can be a symptom of many diseases like throat or chest infection, tuberculosis,bronchiectasis (a disease where your windpipes are damaged) or lung cancer. A detailed history of complaints and your reports are needed to determine the reason. If you are below 40 years and coughing up blood only for a few days, it is likely a chest infection or tuberculosis (TB). If the age is above 40 and a smoker, we need to consider the possibility of cancer. If coughing blood is for months to years, bronchiectasis is the likely cause. If the X-ray is normal, TB and cancer become less likely.

I would suggest you get a sputum exam for TB, blood tests CBC (complete blood count) and ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate). If TB is not detected in the sputum and coughing up blood is persistent, computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest may be needed. The probable causes include bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and tuberculosis.

The investigations to be done are CBC, ESR, sputum AFB (acid-fast bacillus) smear, chest high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan.

I hope it helped with the query.

Please let me know if you have any more questions on your mind.

I would be happy to guide you.

Thank you.