lung nodules?

yellowfarmhouse

HI all,

Just a question... I had a recent chest xray -- just routine for a clinical trial I'm in.... my xray came back with a nodule " consistent with healed infection." Anyone else have this kind of nodule? Do you think I should insist my onc. investigate further? He didn't seem concerned-- just suggest CT or Xray if I wanted to but said it would be optional so I figure that he wanted to offer it to ease my mind? I guess for now I'm scheduled for xray in three months... they did tell me that it seems like I didn't have it on films taken at diagnosis two years ago. All my markers are low and no symptoms of any kind are present.

Thanks wonderful ladies,
Wendy

Sachi

Hi Wendy,

I don't have any advice. I just wanted to say hi and that I hope your nodule is from a healed infection, like they say.

I would think that your low markers are a very good sign that its not cancerous.

B

jasmine

I've got a lung nodule too. It hasn't changed since my first ct scan after diagnosis.

nosurrender

I have two. They said they were post radiation changes. They are watching them carefully and will check me out again when I am done with this second chemo. But I was told that lung nodules are quite common in people - even people who never had cancer or rads before.

Calico

I have one as well and my onc said they are followed for about 2 years. Mine wasn't there in 2001 (CT was not related to bc)....
I get PET scans....the last one listed it in the lower lobe vs. the upper one, hope that was a typo...nobody caught it yet, just myself a few days ago....grrr....I hate uncertainty....

If I were you, I would ask for a PET.

God Bless

tflowers

I showed one on my lung and one on my liver with I was first diagnosed and had all of my scans and they weren't worried at all. Not like me and I keep asking to keep if fresh in everyone's minds.

yellowfarmhouse

thanks, girls! I did some internet research and learned that in the midwest there is a common cause for nodules for folks exposed to bird droppings in soil-- a fungus? Anyhow... I guess nodules are pretty common. I'm just going to wait a while to see if anything else turns up. Thanks so much for the info!!!!


blessings,
Wendy

Member_of_the_Club

My husband has b9 lung nodules. Very common. If you want you could have another scan in 6 months. If they haven't grown you can feel more comfortable that tehy are b9.

Carmelle

i had two lung nodules show up after march 2004 after dx march 2003. i had bilateral pheumonia and also radiation damage to tissue.
had CTs and xrays which kept coming back with no conclusion and the nodules remained. very stressful.
That was over 3 years ago and still fine.
Michelle

Fitztwins

congrats on making it into the trial.

sherloc

I have nodules in my lung on rads side too. I think it's pretty common. Doc told me they were blisters from rads. So much for them not hitting our lungs.

yellowfarmhouse

Yup, it's on my radiation side -- but it also occurred to me that it's also my cancer side. But, anyhow, it seems like there are a lot of reasons it could be B9. Isn't it crazy how just when we get to feeling more confident that there is one more little thing that crosses our radar screen? Again, I thank you all for posting. I can always count on you all for support and good advice.

blessings,
Wendy

glaveg

I had one show up on CT as well when I was diagnosed in January, 2006. Nothing showed up on the PET. On my post-treatment scans, it was unchanged in December of 2006 and didn't show up at all on either of my PET scans.

But, I'm like you...anything that is a nodule, cyst, whatever, scares the pants off of me!!

janie44

Hi,

I have many very tiny nodules that are too small to biopsy. They were discovered when I first went to Mayo for all the tests. They and my current onc kept an eye on them. When the number and size stayed the same after treatment it was concluded they are not cancerous. Otherwise, chemo would have gotten some of them. I had a follow-up a few months ago and was assured they are no longer an issue.

Janie

yellowfarmhouse

HI. It's weird, for some reason since the nodule looked calcified they thought it was OK where as with breast cancer calcification is not good. Who knows???

Thanks for the responces. You went to Mayo in Rochester too? I had reconstruction there.

blessings,
Wendy

Jinx

I had lung nodule - opposite side of bc - found during CT scan prior to my bc dx. Had second scan 6 months later and no change in size. I was told that they follow it for two years and if no change they don't worry about it.

I was dx with bc right after second scan for nodule and forgot about the nodule. Remembered it after I was finished with all my bc treatment. But will have it checked when I get my two year scans - coming up soon!

Made

My preop chest xray morphed into a Chest CT where I have 3 nodules - I garden so I blame them on the birds - my medical oncologist is following me with Chest CTs every 3 months to see if anything changes. In March (my 2nd) everything looked good.

I'd blame it on the birds if I was you - make sure you are comfortable with the proposed follow up - then try not to worry.

pennylane

Hi I was dx with diffuse bilateral subcentimeter lung nodules just a few months after treatment (chemo, rads) last year. It was a scarey and depressing time. But now 1-year and many ct scans later, those nodules are stable and some have actually shrunk. So many things can cause nodules to appear on lungs. In my case it was probably chemo-induced pneumonia. In any case so far so good. I hope my story will encourage others here to have a little faith. It really is not always the bad thing. Best wishes, Pennylane

yellowfarmhouse

I really think it's possible that it could be the bird thing as I cleaned out our chicken coop and also our shed that is full of sparrows and breathed in a lot of dust and I garden and also I grew up on a farm. Anyhow... no matter what I'm just going to do the followup scans and hope for the best.

thanks,
Wendy

yellowfarmhouse

Dear Pennylane,

Your story is indeed inspiring. You are so right that we immediately thing the worst. I have to keep in mind that when I hear hoofbeats I should thing horse and not zebra. But, sometimes after we go through cancer, we feel like the person who sees zebras! In any case, there isn't much I can do about it anyway, and I had maximal treatment and now am in a vaccine trial so hey! I gotta look at the positives! Thanks!


Blessings to you all,
Wendy

janie44

No, I went to the Mayo in Jacksonville. They checked out absolutely everything.

DebbieC44

Hi,  I had a ct - scan for another health issue, when in the report I seen several sizes of lung nodules listed.  But at my doctor's visit, my doctor said my test came back ok.  Well, I asked for a copy of the report.  When I got home, I read on the report about the lung nodules, so I made another appt. w/ my doctor, and I questioned her about the lung nodules.  So, she said we should look into it further, so she sent me in to have the ct - scan done.  Well, they found several lung nodules in both lungs.  at least 10 in each lung... imagine my concern.  Well, I got reading on the internet about it, and I am totally scared now...  It said that 75% of lung nodules eventually turn into cancer.  I went in for my second ct scan last Oct. and the pulminary doctor said they are not growing, and to come back in a year for another ct - scan.  So, my third ct, will be in Oct. '08.  I am scared beyond words.  My father had lung cancer, he had a lung removed and lived for 13 years afterwords.  He died from cojestive heart failure, and his breathing was really bad near his end. I just don't know what to do, my breathing has gotten worse, and I was put on advair by my doctor.  Now my doctor moved, and now I have to get looking for a new doctor.  Don't figure !  Anyway,  I wish you the best of luck.  Please keep me informed of your progress.  And any new info. you may have for me.  It is good to have someone who is dealing with the same health issue to discuss it with.  I am going to be 44,  Aug. 10th.  I also, have a cyst in one of my breasts they are watching.  So, I have a few things I worry about.  I don't know how or why I have these lung nodules, and have not been told much by my doctors.  God Bless you.  Sincerily,  Debbie

chrastich

I was just diagnosed with 2 lung nodules that were found when they did a CT/dye scan of my abdomen.  It apparently showed the lower lung as well.  I will be going in to have a CT/dye scan of my lungs.  I had breat cancer in 1999.  I have had a chronic cough since radiation treatment.  I am hoping this is related to that.  I will keep you posted.

Tina

Sierra

Hi Wendy:



I missed your post

and wanted to send

out some special thoughts

tonight



and also so all those posting

here.. with nodules



Hugs, Sierra



as you know

I love Yellow Farm Houses

or rustic farms



))



be well

Katiejane

Hi,  I had a nodule show up on the upper lobe of my R lung when they did a Pet scan 3 months after all tx as completed.(Mastectomy, chemo, and 25 rads on the R chest wall.)  I was totally freaked out but I did remember my Rads. Oncologist telling me that the radiation would hit the very upper part of my R lung and it may leave scar tissue that would possibly show up on future chest pictures. After 3 months they repeated the Pet and the nodule was no where to be seen!!!!  What a relief!!!!  It's my understanding that nodules on the lungs are very common and not necessarily a reason to panic.  Wish it were that simple!!   Chattie

Katiejane

Hi,  I had a nodule show up on the upper lobe of my R lung when they did a Pet scan 3 months after all tx as completed.(Mastectomy, chemo, and 25 rads on the R chest wall.)  I was totally freaked out but I did remember my Rads. Oncologist telling me that the radiation would hit the very upper part of my R lung and it may leave scar tissue that would possibly show up on future chest pictures. After 3 months they repeated the Pet and the nodule was no where to be seen!!!!  What a relief!!!!  It's my understanding that nodules on the lungs are very common and not necessarily a reason to panic.  Wish it were that simple!!   Chattie

Katiejane

Hi,  I had a nodule show up on the upper lobe of my R lung when they did a Pet scan 3 months after all tx as completed.(Mastectomy, chemo, and 25 rads on the R chest wall.)  I was totally freaked out but I did remember my Rads. Oncologist telling me that the radiation would hit the very upper part of my R lung and it may leave scar tissue that would possibly show up on future chest pictures. After 3 months they repeated the Pet and the nodule was no where to be seen!!!!  What a relief!!!!  It's my understanding that nodules on the lungs are very common and not necessarily a reason to panic.  Wish it were that simple!!   Chattie

Katiejane

Hi,  I had a nodule show up on the upper lobe of my R lung when they did a Pet scan 3 months after all tx as completed.(Mastectomy, chemo, and 25 rads on the R chest wall.)  I was totally freaked out but I did remember my Rads. Oncologist telling me that the radiation would hit the very upper part of my R lung and it may leave scar tissue that would possibly show up on future chest pictures. After 3 months they repeated the Pet and the nodule was no where to be seen!!!!  What a relief!!!!  It's my understanding that nodules on the lungs are very common and not necessarily a reason to panic.  Wish it were that simple!!   Chattie

Maryiz

Wendy, I wouldn't worry too much about the lung nodules.  Many of us have them.  Someone suggested a PET, but they would have to be over 1 cm. to be picked up on PET.  If we scanned everyone, I bet a lot of us would have them.  Also, I saw your mention of a vaccine trial and was very interested.  What is their hope with that trial.  I am hearing that they are turning up and look very promising.  Thanks, Mary

A1Tours

Hi Debbie and everyone else: I am writing a reply for one reason only - in case what I have to say might possibly be of some use to ANYone here. I have numerous lung nodules which were found during a CT scan of my heart and the nodules showed up: as we've read in other posts here, the lungs or portion of them show up on chest CTs and sometimes on CT of abdomen. I was a hospital nurse until a back injury in 1987 effectively ruined my entire life, but this is not the place to discuss that, just a little history. My father died of lung cancer and I am a smoker (ashamed to admit that, but it's true nonetheless) so I was a bit shaken up. Needless to say, I rushed home and read everything I could find online about lung nodules, which was next to nothing difinitive. Ct scan was repeated every six months for one year and supposedly one more after this past 6 months, but my heart Dr. left for greener pastures and the new one apparently overlooked it. In spite of the initial panic, I am now not worried because I have learned they these nodules can be caused by many events that occur over the course of our lives. As busy moms, we sometimes keeping going with a "bad cold" which may possibly have been what lay people call 'walking pneumonia' . the scarring that results from that and other lung infections can leave nodules. There are many causes and none are to worry about. UNLESS the nodules are growing or are of a size which is large enough to cause concern, which I am sure your Doctors are well aware of and believe me, as a former Oncology nurse, I can assure you if there was even a slim chance it was something they thought they could treat you with, the majority of them would let you know in a heartbeat, and start setting you up for further testing and treatment, these days usually done out of their own offices (which generates more revenue for their companies as most of them are part of a company or at a minimum a partnership these days) I'm rambling and my dogs need to go out so I will leave here, I hope I have been able to allay at least one person's fears. BELEIVE you will be well and honest to God, I have seen what a positive outlook can do, as well as what a negative  one can. I wish you all well and trust your own instincts above all else.

Susan

Annabella58

Hi ladies:

I had a cat scan of my chest for something else and they found lung nodules....yes, my onc said they are incredibly common, can even be from a healed case of bronchitis!! But when it's on the cancer side, and you had rads, they will follow it first for a three month (mine were stable) meaning "that's good", then after six months, then I think it's for two years they continue to followl.

If it helps, my onc said on a scale from 0-10, these things were a "1" for him in worry.

Mine were fine, but oh my god, it's soo scarey isn't it.  Just when you think you are fine they scare the crap out of you.

Susan, god bless you.  My scan is coming up again in march and this is indeed the "monster in the closet"....even tho they were not concerned, I'm with you; if they did think it was truly something there, they'd have me back in a NY minute for more tests.  I did indeed, have a healed case of walking pneumonia.  And it left me with a cough now and then.  Whenever I get a cold, I can count on bronchitis after it, as I have asthma. 

So I have to concur, most of these things are 'nuttin' and as my onc said, "I have them, your husband has them, most people have them, but unless you've had BC, we don't bother much with them.".