nodules on lungs

precious1969

Hi everybody,

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2009. Had bilateral mastectomy with sentinol node biopsy. Had six rounds of chemo with cytoxan, taxotere, and adriamycin. Last fall, a cat scan revealed lung nodules on both lungs. I had scans every three months since then. Unfortunately, every scan shows something different. The nodules on the scan done three months ago do not show up on this new scan (done last week) but there are new nodules on the new scan that weren't there last time. Doctor doesn't know why nodules are disappearing and new ones appearing. He is checking with radiologist to see if needle biopsy is possible. He doesn't believe that these nodules are cancerous but I would like to know for certain since I have been down that road before. What is your opinion on this? Any insight would be appreciated.



Precious 1969

Packer5

Don't know about lung nodules appearing and disappearing, but in my wife's case she was told that nodules are common in areas where there's above average air pollution  ("just about everybody around here has them") and was told not to worry about them. She has some, but they have not been a problem.

pennylane

Hi Precious...I had a lot of stress from a similar situation a few years back...Finished A&C as well as rads after a lumpectomy back in 2005-2006...A few months after treatment a routine Ct scan showed diffuse bilateral sub-centimeter nodules all over my lungs....Was given 50-50 odds of it being the worst case scenerio...I was a wreck, as like you, had just finished a very rough few months of treatment and was hoping for a little peace of mind..Well, the routine is to scan every 6-months for a couple of years and then you are clear...It will get easier to live between scans...somehow your emotions adjust and you find a groove or sorts...I think the wait before the the first scan (which was indeed just 3-months later) was awful..but now you have that one under your belt..and the news sounds very good....There seems to be some mystery about these nodules and they seem to be so common and very often not the bad thing....I have to think our bodies take such a beating from chemo, and it should not be surprising to find the lungs are fighting off infections after the battle we have put them through....After the first follow up scan, my Dr and I agreed to just do the wait and see and not engage in more agressive poking around....I have a feeling you are going to be just fine (knock on wood)...and am sure wishing you all the best, yours truly, P 

amoccia53160

Any old infection like pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma can leave suspicious spots on a scan.  Get it checked further but don't be overly concerned.   

dlb823

Suzanne Somer's newest book, Knockout, evolved from her experience of being misdiagnosed with mets due to a plethora of nodules that turned out to be something else entirely (desert fever).  Whether you like her or not, the point is, even medical professionals can be fooled prior to a biopsy.    Deanna

deenah

The exact same thing is happening to me, and I am pretty freaked out too.  I had neoadjuvent chemo, then bilateral mastectomy.  My surgery path shows alot of cancer still left, including 18 pos nodes and extracapsular extension.  I was getting multiple opinions about further treatment after rads, and in the process got a CT scan 2 weeks ago.  The CT showed multiple nodules on my lungs, and 2 tiny lesions on my liver (all between 2-4mm).  They couldn't rule out cancer, but said they are likely nothing to worry about.  Yeah, right!  I am a worry wart, so even if there is only a 10% chance of the spots being cancer, I am still worried.  I did have a cold I was recovering from at the time of the scan, so this post makes me feel a bit better.  I haven't been rescanned yet, but I don't want to wait 3 months either!

It sure sounds like your nodules are not cancer.  I don't think cancer disappears like that unless you are undergoing treatment.  And the fact that different ones are there instead is a good sign in my opinion.  Good luck!

redgrldj

Did any of you have a cough also?? I went in to the Dr. with a cough was first diagnosed with pneumonia.. Then a radiologist checked my xray and had me come back in for a CT because I am a breast cancer survivor.. i was then sent to a polmonologist who is doing a biopsy on Tuesday... My dr's are treating this as cancer until it is proven to not be cancer..