Ground glass nodule in lung- new on this forum but not to site

RHGSR

Hello!! I haven't posted anything to this site in a long while. I was a member of the DIEP 2013 / CHEMO 2013 group. But stopped posting because they were moving on and I kept having problems.

I was DX in Aug of 2014 (about 3 weeks after radiation ended) with radiation pneumonitis). Subsequently put on 60mg of prednisone for several months then slowly weaned off. Had a bronchoscopy. And spent a year where I was in and out of the hospital for lung related issues. Probably close to 7-10 visits and I would stay about a week each time. This July will be 1 year since I have been in hospital for my lungs.

However, saw my MO last week for F/U. And mentioned that my O2SATS had changed. Nothing major. Just dropped from 98% on RA to 95%. And it was pretty consistent. So he ordered a lung CT since I hadn't had one in a while.

It showed the old scarring. But also showed new scarring and a new 7mm ground glass nodule.

I've also started coughing. And have been for a week.

My MO kind of blew it off and said just it was inflammatory response doe to the old scarring. But I'm just not happy with that answer.

*I'm 2 years out from chemo and radiation just for reference*

I made spot with my pulmoninologist and RO for next week. So at least I'm getting 2 more opinions.

Should I be worried? Has anyone experienced this?

Beside the O2SAT change and cough, I've also been very fatigued.

Thank you in advance.

Holli

muska

Hi Holli, I am very sorry you had so many problems with your lungs after radiation. I did have some post-rads inflammation in the lungs but it was apparently very light and I could not feel it at all. It just showed up on a CT scan about five months after rads and was resolved a few months later.

Speaking of ground glass nodules I have had them from the start - under 5 mm in size, multiple in both lungs. They have not changed in size since my bc diagnosis in 2013. After my last chest CT my MO told me she was pretty sure they were not breast cancer - it's been two years and no changes - but such nodules are sometimes a precursor of lung cancer, so they would continue monitor them and will biopsy if they start growing and reach 1cm in size.

I think you should get a second opinion if you are worried. Based on your description however, it appears you had a significant inflammation, so your MO is probably right.

KBeee

Lung nodules are quite common; hopefully they'll monitor them for changes. A pulse ox of 95% is still considered normal. I had a big drop in my pulmonary function test for my job, so they are going to watch things a bit more closely. I asked them to hold off on a scan for a couple months though. I have had a cough too, but have allergies. I try to ask myself first if I took cancer out of the equation, would I worry about this symptom. If it is something I would not have worried about, I try not to panic. For me, I have been coughing horribly. MO said we could do a CT, but I said if I am still coughing when allergy season is over in July, then we can scan, because coughing in the spring is not abnormal for me. So...if you are coughing and have other cold symptoms, allergies, or reflux at all, then give it a couple weeks to see if it resolves. If not, then ask for further monitoring. Perhaps they can do a pulmonary function test and/or a CT scan to keep an eye on things. Hoping all checks out normally for you.