The dreaded rescan of the lung nodule!!

bevin

Hi there, not sure if this helps, but my center also did two follow-up scans after seeing something on my lung. After two CT's , both showing no changes they consider it benign and related to my radiation treatment. And they no longer need to scan.

 

Hoping that's your centers protocol too, but I'd definitely ask if you're at all worried about their follow -up process.

shoppygirl

thanks Bevin!!!

shoppygirl

So here we go again! I thought I was off the hook for another scan of this damm 6mm lung nodule but a few months ago I received the ct scan letter in the mail. I even called my nurse practitioner to ask if this was really necessary as I have never had any change in the 18 months of scanning this thing. She is a real stickler for protocol!! Anyway , the appointment is on Oct 6th so I guess I am going !! I am starting to have those worried thoughts again of "what if"?? Can't wait to get this over with!!!

bevin

HI shoppy.. Its better that they're keeping track of it. I'm glad to hear your doctors are on top of things. Hoping it is stable and shows no growth.

shoppygirl

Thanks Bevin! If there is no change, hopefully this will be the last scan!!!

MrsDarcy

My lung nodules were found (by me) after reading through my file when changing hospitals. CT scan after lumpectomy found them. My first oncologist never told me about them. My new oncologist sends me for a chest scan every November.

Does it stress me out ? Yeah, a little. But at least someone is on top of it I also now have a lung specialist as my father also has lung nodules that are watched every 6 months and his doctor took me on too.

I'd rather do the dreaded scans than have found out years down the road that I had lung nodules that became something else "without me knowing", It sucks, but it's being watched.

No growth as of last year .. will see what this year's scan says!

shoppygirl

Mrs Darcy

I do agree that I can't hide from this ! Glad to hear that you have no change, that's great news!!!. As of my last scan it has been 18 months since they found it and there has never been any change so hopefully if this one is fine, it will be the last one !!!

MrsDarcy

Shoppygirl - keeping fingers and toes crossed for you !!!!!

shoppygirl

Just had the scan, now I wait for the results. Yuck!!

It was weird, no contrast or IV. It was called a dry cry scan. Strange.

MrsDarcy

Shoppy - I have dry scans too .. Don't worry about that .. it's probably because they are not as concerned as they once were ! I have seen the imaging after this type of scan and things show up perfectly !

shoppygirl

Thanks Mrs Darcy!

I'm going to stalk them for my results tomorrow !!

Hopeful82014

Shoppy, mine was without contrast this time, too. Everything showed up clearly and I don't have to repeat it for another year. I prefer it w/o the contrast at this point. BTW - my surgeon called me at the end of the day with the results - I hope you get yours quickly, too - and that it's all clear.

shoppygirl

Thanks Hopeful!

Me too!!!

shoppygirl

Hello all

So my nurse finally called with the results and there is no change!! 🎉🎉🎉

So now it has been 2 1/2 years since they found this one 6mm lung nodule and there has never been any change!!

One would think that that is enough watching it but my nurse isn't so sure. She tends to be a little over the top! Anyway, we may have a disagreement next week at my check up!!! I can't imagine that it is cancer after it being the exact same for 2 1/2 years !!!!

Thanks everyone for the support!!

Hopeful82014

Great news, Shoppygirl!! Thanks for letting us know!

I hope you have a great, long bubble-bath (or better) planned for tonight so you can let some of the stress drain out of your system.

(And yes, it does seem to me that you could dispense with the scans after all this time w/o any change but what do we know? )

Anonymous

Shoppygirl, Awesome news!!!

I too am a member of the dreaded rescan of the lung. My next one is in Jan.

I've also joined the dreaded rescan of the thyroid too.

Maybe we should start a nodule collector thread!!?? haha

Once again, so happy to hear your good news!!

Hopeful82014

SDB - yes, I love the idea of the nodule collectors thread. Maybe we could have a little charm bracelet - Pandora would be super apropos, as being dx with bc really opened up a Pandora's box of issues for us

MrsDarcy

Awesome news Shoppy !!! My lung scan is in November - so would gladly join the nodule collectors thread .. I have a few but one that they watch more than the others.

Happy day to you my dear

shoppygirl

Thanks hopeful, I am not a bubble bath type of gal but a little shopping trip might be in order !! Maybe I will find a charm bracelet!!

Slow, good luck with your scan! I too have s thyroid nodule that is being watched. It was biopsied so I know that it is benign.

Mrs Darcy

Good luck with your scan

Hugs to everyone!!!!

Hopeful82014

Shoppygirl, as long as you can get rid of some of that nervous tension, that's what counts! Let us know if you find any lung nodule charms

Mrs. Darcy, please keep us posted.

muska

Ladies, my chest CT scan is next week - multiple tiny nodules in both lungs from the very first CT taken before chemo. I will keep you posted...

shoppygirl

Muska

Good luck next week and keep us posted.

Hugs!

Yoshi_Falls

At my first staging scan at diagnosis they found 2 lung nodules 1 x 4.7mm and 1 x 2mm. This was in May this year. I have a re-scan this Thursday. I am very nervous. I will update with results if anyone is interested.

shoppygirl

Yoshi, we will all be thinking of you this Thursday.

Please let us know how everything goes!

Here's hoping for speedy results and no changes from last scan

Hugs.

Hopeful82014

Yes, Yoshi Falls, please do let us know your results. In the meantime, I hope it helps to know that the vast majority of these are simply anomalies that have probably been there for years doing absolutely nothing and will continue that way.

We'll all be thinking of you and Muska next week.

Yoshi_Falls

Thanks Shoppygirl and Hopeful.

Originally my BS said they were nothing to worry about and that the radiologist was sure they were just some old scars on my lungs,

My RO and MO are not so convinced and insisted on the follow-up scans. Although my RO did say that they never would have picked them up a few years ago because the scans just weren't as good back then. But since they have seen something on my lung and I have cancer they have to check them.

I guess it is better to be checking them and know what is going on. I guess I would worry either way. If they didn't check on them regularly I would always be wondering what they were vs the stress of the regular CT scan and having them monitored.

I'll let you know the results. (I'm hoping I get them on Thursday, because I see my MO that day as well for chemo, but never any guarantee that they'll have the results, my MO did say she would read/assess the scans herself).

Hopeful82014

I think you'll find that after the first or second re-scan that shows stability you'll be a lot less anxious about future scans, Yoshi Falls. I am almost blase about them now.

MrsDarcy

I agree with Hopeful

A lot of people have lung nodules and never knew and probably won't know. We have just been through a battlefield of tests and they showed up. The Nodules just "sit" there. My father has them too and they have not grown or changed . Mine haven't changed either. My scan is in November and I am not stressed now. I am not thrilled but the way I look at it, I can't change it or fix it but as long as someone monitors it, all is good

Good luck Yoshi

shoppygirl

Yoshi

It seems that every medical professional has a different opinion on how to follow these things.

My oncologist , family dr and radiologist oncologist were not too concerned about my nodule but my nurse practitioner who I deskwith now wants to constantly rescan it! She's a little over the top!

Good luck and more than likely it will be nothing to worry about!!!

Hugs

Hopeful82014

Shoppygirl - my report recommends a final follow up in one year. Maybe your NP will suggest something similar...