Coughing up blood is understandably worrying — but most causes are treatable, and many are not cancer. What matters is getting a clear answer quickly. Dr Lawrence Okiror, Consultant Thoracic and Robotic Surgeon (GMC 6150382), will review your CT scan personally at the first appointment and explain exactly what the investigation shows. Where cancer is found, every case is discussed with a specialist multidisciplinary team at London Bridge Hospital before any decision is made. Private appointments within 2–3 days. No GP referral required.
Last reviewed: April 2026 · Dr Lawrence Okiror FRCS(CTh) FRCSEd(CTh) · GMC 6150382
The most common causes of coughing up blood are chest infections, bronchitis, and bronchiectasis — all manageable conditions. A CT scan identifies most causes straightforwardly. Getting a clear answer quickly is always the right thing to do.
Where cancer is one of the causes, finding it early means more treatment options are available — including less invasive surgery, targeted therapies, and a better chance of complete treatment. Early investigation is in your interest whatever the cause turns out to be.
Every cancer case is discussed at the London Bridge Hospital chest MDT, attended fortnightly by Dr Okiror alongside specialist oncologists. Urgent cases do not wait — Dr Okiror has direct access to specialist colleagues between MDT meetings when needed.
It is natural to be concerned. The important thing to know is that most causes are treatable — and getting a proper assessment quickly means you will have an answer, rather than worrying without one. A CT scan and a specialist review will usually identify the cause clearly and give you a clear plan.
The most common causes are chest infections, bronchitis, and a condition called bronchiectasis, where the airways become inflamed over time. Other causes include problems in the airways, a blood clot on the lung, a pleural infection, or — less commonly — a lung nodule or cancer. The investigation identifies which applies.
Dr Okiror takes a full history and reviews any existing imaging personally — the actual scan, not just a written report. If a CT has not yet been done, he arranges one promptly. By the end of the first appointment, most patients have a clear working diagnosis or a specific next investigation planned. You will not leave without a plan.
No. You can contact the practice directly and be seen within 2–3 days at London Bridge Hospital. If you have already had a chest X-ray or CT scan done, bring the images — this means Dr Okiror can give you a fully informed assessment at the first appointment without any duplication.
There are several possible causes. Most are treatable conditions. A CT scan identifies the majority of them clearly, and the assessment process is straightforward.
These are the most common causes of coughing up blood. A chest infection or severe bronchitis can irritate the airways and cause small amounts of blood in the sputum. Bronchiectasis — where the airways become permanently widened and inflamed — can also cause this over time. Both are manageable conditions. Treatment is usually medical rather than surgical.
A growth, narrowing, or inflammation of the trachea or main bronchi (the central airways) can cause bleeding directly into the airway. A bronchoscopy — a small camera passed into the airways — allows direct inspection and, where needed, a tissue sample at the same procedure. Dr Okiror leads the Central Airways Service at GSTT. Central airways →
A lung nodule or, less commonly, an early lung cancer can occasionally bleed and cause coughing up blood. This is one reason specialist assessment matters — finding it early means more treatment options are available, including less invasive surgery and targeted therapies. Where cancer is found, the case is discussed at the LBH chest MDT before any plan is made. Lung nodule & cancer →
A blood clot on the lung (pulmonary embolism), a pleural infection, or — rarely — an abnormal blood vessel in the lung can also cause haemoptysis. These are all identifiable on CT scan or specialist assessment. Most are treatable. The investigation process is the same regardless of what the cause turns out to be. Pleural disease →
Every cancer case is discussed with a multidisciplinary team of specialist oncologists at the London Bridge Hospital chest MDT, which Dr Okiror attends fortnightly. Where a case needs urgent discussion, Dr Okiror has direct access to the same specialist colleagues outside the formal MDT — so no patient waits a fortnight for a decision that cannot wait.
MDT
Fortnightly chest MDT at London Bridge Hospital
Urgent
Direct access to specialists outside MDT for urgent cases
Consensus
No treatment plan made without specialist team agreement
Questions most commonly asked by patients and family members when someone has coughed up blood.
Book an Assessment →Or call Jo Mitchelson:
020 7952 2882
No GP referral required. Private appointments at London Bridge Hospital within 2–3 days. Dr Okiror will review your imaging personally and explain clearly what it shows — and what, if anything, needs to happen next.
Jo Mitchelson, Private PA · 020 7952 2882 · pa@lungsurgeon.co.uk
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