Lung Mets?

peacestrength

Hello - I was diagnosed with IDC in 3/13 with at least 1 lymph node involved. I just finished 20 weeks of neoadjuvant chemo (A/C and Taxol). My surgery is coming up in two weeks.



During my orginal diagnosis, the PET show uptake to my breast mass and one lymph node. The PET also indicated 3 tiny lung nodules - the biggest being a noncalcified 6 mm nodule which faintly lit up. The other 2 did not.





After the PET scan, I went in for a CT scan with contrast and it showed a total of 8 tiny nodules (2mm - 6mm). My oncologist and surgeon said too small to biopsy. My second opinion said the same.



I had autoimmune Grave's disease years ago and was exposed to TB as a child. Sacrodisis of the lung runs in my family and I have read that it can happen to people with thyroid issues.



I have had 2 CT and another PET scan since then. While on chemo, only 3 have disappeared and the rest remain.



My oncologist said this is more suspicious but can't prove that it's breast cancer in my lungs.



I'm seeing a pulmonary specialist soon.



This is driving me crazy.



Anyone have lung mets that presented as tiny nodules? Your input and experiences are welcomed.



Thanks much!

shoppygirl

Hi

I have not been diagnosed with lung mets but I do have a single 6mm lung nodule that turned up on my initial ct scan that they are 'watching'.  There are many women on here with lung nodules that have shown up on their initial work up scans that just turned out to be infection or inflammation.  I could be wrong but I believe that the only true way to determine if a lung nodule is a met or not is to biopsy it.  Hopefully you will get some answers soon.

peacestrength

Thanks for your reply, Shoppygirl. I am so worried about these lung nodules.



Did you have a PET scan? If so, did your 6mm light up at all?

shoppygirl

Hi

They don't do pet scans in Calgary. They say that there are too many false positives. I am having a follow up ct scan in September. I understand your concern, it is so hard to wait things out. The dad of one of my coworkers had multiple nodules on his lungs and they opened him up to biopsy them and they turned out to be nothing. So anything is possible with these things. I know that TB can cause these types of things to happen. Also not sure how old you are (I am 42) but as you get older things seem to grow in us! Lungs are funny like that, they seem to have things growing on them very easily and sometimes they change. I hope that yours (and mine) turn out to be just inflamation. Please keep me posted and I will do the same. Take care! Sending positive thoughts your way!