Scared about possible lung mets

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I have been having CT scans on my chest every 3-4 months for about 1.5 years due to nodules. My nodules have always been stable and of no concern. My last CT scan (which as suppose to be the very last one) showed that one nodule increased from 3mm to 5mm and a new nodule showed up. My onco said that it could be nothing but we need to do another scan in 3 months. That's a long time to wait! Has anyone had a change in nodules that has turned out not to be cancer? Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited January 2018

    What is their plan after 3 months? Will they biopsy them if they change? If so, is there a reason they can’t now? There likely is a good explanation; I just would ask their reasoning, and for the plan both if they change, and if they don’t.

    Sorry you have this hanging over your head. Hoping the modules are benign

  • wenben
    wenben Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2018

    Thank you for your response. My onco says it is too small to biopsy. The risk of damaging the lungs outweighs the benefits. If there is more growth in 3 months then they will biopsy. If not, they will watch it. I do have an appointment in two weeks with a pulmonologist for a second opinion. All this waiting is making me crazy!

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited January 2018

    I am sorry you have to wait so long. I am glad you are getting a second opinion. I know that pulmonary nodules are common, and I cannot even imagine the stress they bring

  • wenben
    wenben Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2018

    Thank you. Yes, very stressful!!!

  • Alicethecat2
    Alicethecat2 Member Posts: 105
    edited January 2018

    Hi Wenben

    I think the fact that your doc does not want to scan is a promising indication.

    With tiny pulmonary embolisims, I had to take Warfarin for nine months. Then the docs thought I had sarcodosis.

    Six years later, cancer-free - the same as after my treatment. Not everything is cancer!

    Best wishes

    Alice

  • wenben
    wenben Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2018

    Thank you Alicethecat2 for easing my mind a bit :-)

  • wallan
    wallan Member Posts: 1,275
    edited January 2018

    Hi wenben:

    I too had lung nodules that were followed with CT scans. One changed in size a bit and they tracked it after 3 months. It hadn't changed anymore so I went back to the every six month CT scan routine. After 3 of these, CT scans were stopped and it was decided my nodules were benign. That was 6 years ago now. When I have a chest xray now, the nodules do not show up. They did before. That is what started the CT scans in the first place.

    Good luck to you.

    wallan

  • wenben
    wenben Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2018

    Thank you wallan. That does make me feel better. Can't wait till the wait is over!

  • wallan
    wallan Member Posts: 1,275
    edited January 2018

    Hugs to you!

    wallan

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