Scanxiety

Hopeful82014

I'm scheduled for a 3-month follow up next Monday to check on "stability" of lung nodules found on CT at time of diagnosis and am having a really hard time dealing with the unknown.

I had a few other little spots, hemangiomas, etc., that surgeon said not to worry about. Having to re-check my lung is therefore a bit scarier than it might be otherwise.

I hate being on this roller coaster!

Nancy2581

I hope your scan is clean. I have three lung nodules as well. They were less than 5mm. They were found on my pet/ct scan. I don't think they are even going to be checked again as it wasn't stated to do so on the report and the report said no evidence of metastases. Sooooooo (?)

Try not to worry ( I know easier said than done). Lots and lots of people have lung nodules and they are benign. Hang in there.

Nancy

I hate how these scans create such anxiety for us. When I had that pet/ct scan I think waiting for the results was worse than my diagnosis and I found out things that maybe I didn't want to know about - like the lung nodules and that I have two liver cysts. Good grief

Moderators

Everyone here knows the dreadful time of waiting for results and stress leading up to scans. We wish you the best results.

The Mods

Cuetang

Scananxiety sucks, period. With that being said..... hang in there. We're all with you!

Hopeful82014

Nancy, Mods and Cuetang, thanks for your moral support. I really appreciate it. Waiting for the first set of results back in September was agonizing; being node positive really kicks you into a scary realm. I thought I was doing ok this time until this weekend. Now I'm thinking of seeing if I can move the appt up a few days. I hate getting daunt up in trying to get results during the holidays, what with offices being closed, etc., as those factors really add to the stress.

I don't know what I would do without my supportive cyber sisters here. I'm sorry you are each here but I hope you know how much you're appreciated.

Nan54

Thinking of you, hopeful! We all know how excruciating the waiting is, so please know you're not alone. FWIW, my baseline scan showed a weird spot in my mediastinum (never even knew what that was until this ordeal). Anyways, a few scans later and it is unchanged. In fact, they don't even mention it anymore. Then, I had a weird spot show up on an MRI that everyone thought was 'nothing' but still warranted follow up to be sure. Sure enough, it ended up being nothing. Just sharing these things to give you more anecdotal evidence that this kind of thing happens often and often is NOTHING. Praying that it's nothing for you too! Please keep us posted

Hopeful82014

Thank you so much, Nan. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and prayers so much.

I probably won't be as stressed if there's a next time for these same nodules but this first follow up is definitely driving me up the walls! It's good to be reminded by real human beings that these are probably nothings.

I'll let you know once I have results. In the meantime, best to you.

Hopeful82014

Well, I'm impressed. My surgeon's office knew I was concerned about delays due to office closures over Christmas Eve, etc., so just called to let me know they had talked the imaging unit into squeezing me in tomorrow if I'd like. I'm pretty sure that means I'll get results Friday or Monday, which I can certainly handle in terms of the waiting.

I'd be impressed with their customer service no matter what business they were in - but it's even more unusual in a medical office! I really got lucky with my surgeon, especially compared to the others I checked out.

CassieCat

Good luck with it all. I have a follow up PET/CT on the 29th, and I am definitely nervous about it after having one node show up positive.

Hopeful82014

Good luck to you, too, Cassie. You've got quite a month ahead of you - I'll be thinking of you. I know that learning you have a positive node definitely ups the impact of everything.

It looks as though you were dx 3 days before my routine mammo. that turned the world upside down and you've been through a lot since then. I hope it's all very, very effective and ultimately knocks it all out of your system for good.

PS - Your cat is beautiful, but please don't tell mine I said so; he'd be jealous

Nancy2581

good luck tomorrow Hopeful. We will be thinking of you. I had an ultrasound on the bad boob the Monday before Thanksgiving (I was having on and off pain). I was so happy they told me the results right then. It was all fine as I am hoping for you tomorrow. Let us know.

Nancy

Hopeful82014

It's great when you can get results on the spot, isn't it? Especially just before a holiday! I think that's more likely with an US, as usually the radiologist is nearby, but the scheduler did put add a note requesting a reading a.s.a.p. which I appreciated - and it was her suggestion, which I thought was kind.

Did you ever find any reason for the pain or is it 'just one of those things?'

(Oddly, the only pain I'd ever had was in my unaffected breast, and there is NOTHING there. It may be related to my workouts...)

momand2kids

Hi

for what it is worth-- I had a lung ct last spring because I kept coughing-- and there were nodules on my thyroid that was causing that... but they also found a 6mm nodule on my lung---- and I just freaked. the pulmonologist told me that it was very likely nothing-- that many people had these... this was helpful but I was still freaked...

I went back at 3 months--no growth, no change--so now I can go at 6 months (I did not want more radiation) over the next 18 months. the protocol is to follow for 2 years--- he says that it is a benign infection. I believe him.

good luck

Nancy2581

hi hopeful - no reason for the on and off pains. The radiologist said that even though it was 5 months since my lumpectomy it wasn't uncommon to experience on and off pain. However, since I had that US the pains have subsided. I was probably so paranoid about it that I brought it on myself lol

Will be thinking of you tomorrow.

Nancy

Hopeful82014

Hi, Nancy - well, at least you learned something about the healing process from the experience. I'm glad they did set your mind at ease.

Mom and 2 kids - thank you for sharing your experience. I'm glad yours turned out to be a benign infection, but I'm sure you were freaked! And I agree with you about limiting radiation exposure.

Thanks to both of you for your warm thoughts and good wishes.

dstar

Scanxiety, yes I understand; just scheduled bone scan, CT scan, heart scan next week for final cancer "staging." Had a very large tumor removed via mastectomy on Dec 1. I Now scheduled to start chemo on Jan 7. Wah.

One day at a time is all I can think about any more or my brain will explode. Cancer treatment is highly intrusive and disruptive and cancer is scary. I write stuff down on a list so I show up at the right time at the right place. I walk with my dog, stretch and do light strengthening exercises/ yoga. For now, I can work from home as I can. I learn about my treatment options. I eat nutritious food and visit with friends and family and sleep as much as possible. Everything else is out of my control.

My friend gave me good advice, "try to live through this only once." So I work on keeping my mind quiet with varying degrees of success. Sometimes I want to drink a bunch of tequila but I don't. I don't know if my rambling helps you, I hope so. This is really rough. Anxiety is a very normal response to fear. So you are OK; it is OK to feel anxiety though it is uncomfortable. Breathe deeply, sometimes it helps take the edge off.

SweetHope

Scanxiety...oh yes! I have my first PET scan tomorrow. I don't know what to expect or how long before results. I should have googled this, but I mostly use Dr. Google searching for reasons for my 2 cm lung nodule to be benign.

Any words of advise or info would be so appreciated.

You all are appreciated anyway for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

Hoping I don't light up tomorrow...please let me just be dull.

Hopeful82014

Dstar - your friend's advice is beautifully put and well worth trying to follow. Thank you for sharing it. I'm sorry you're looking at chemo coming up; I just hope it does its job and knocks the cells out of your system.

SweetHope, I've not had a PET scan but you can learn a bit more about it on this site, I'm sure. Results should come fairly quickly; my scans and MRIs are usually available within 24 hours. Don't wait for your dr. to call you - bug them for the results and let them know you want a copy, too.

Just received message from BS's office that my nodules are stable - thank goodness!! Haven't spoken with her yet as call came in while I was on the phone with a client who would not stop! But this is all I needed to know for now.

Thanks for all the helpful, supportive thoughts from each of you. I'm passing them on to the next person in line - and taking a few deep breaths of relief, too.

Nancy2581

YAY good news hopeful. What a relief

Nancy

Hopeful82014

Yes, isn't it, Nancy? I hope others around here get some equally good news too, this week. Thanks again for your caring and support.

SweetHope

It took so long to get back to ya'll. I had forgotten where I had posted. Great news, the PET scan showed no mets to my lung. WHEW! I cried, DH cried, kids cried...as you can imagine. It took about 24 hours to really sink in and relax. It seems to be encapsulated pneumonia. (I had pneumonia last April.) Now I can proceed to chemo, rads, and hormone therapy smiling all the way. The outlook sure is brighter.

Now I am saying extra prayers for our sisters with mets. Just the suspicion of metastasis is terrifying. Confirmation must be Hell.

Hopeful82014

I'm SO happy for you, SweetHope - thanks for sharing your wonderful news and for sharing prayers for those not as fortunate.

I would have cried, too; in fact just about the only time I've started to cry through all of this was when I got word that my neoadjuvant treatment was working.

Enjoy your Christmas and best in the coming year, especially with the rest of your treatments.