Two tiny nodules in right lung, mets?

nowaldron

Good Morning fellow sister soldiers,

I hope that everyone is continuing to fare well as the pandemic winds down (hopefully).

This is a new topic for me and one that, to be honest, has been the lowest on my list of concerns. After living with bone and liver mets for 5+ years now, I fully expected my brain to be the next site of concern. I just got the results of my most recent catscan which showed two nodules in my right upper lung. The report noted that one nodule is 3mm (tiny, I know), but more "pronounced" since the last scan in November 2020. I read all my reports with diligence and there was no mention whatsoever of any nodule in that report. Also, this report (5/19) mentioned a second, smaller nodule (2 mm) in the same sport that is unchanged since the last report. Both nodules are of "indeterminate" origin.

I haven't heard from my MO since the report was posted to my patient portal - we have a virtual appt on Monday. I've done a lot of research and reading on small lung nodules which apparently aren't that uncommon even for healthy folks. But, since I do have metastatic disease, what are your thoughts/experiences with this? Often my MO brushes off concerns that I raise due to scan reports. For example, my last scan noted "diffuse bronchial thickening" which she said is nothing even though I have had a cough for more than a year now. She actually said "I am not worried about a little cough." I am guessing, based on my reading thus far, that since these nodules are so small it might be a wait and see approach.

I would appreciate any insights. It will be interesting to see if she brings up the nodules at all. After the last scan I had to ask her about the bronchial thickening as she said prior to visit that the scans showed "still stable disease." I have only recently been able to gather to courage to question her on things - she did truly save my life five years ago as I was more cancer than girl back then. I think that I hold her in such high esteem that it is hard to push when I want more info.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great Saturday and I would love to hear your thoughts on possible lung mets.

With appreciate always,

Nancy

Spalta

hi nowldron

My mom has a similar situation and we are waiting for our virtual appointment this Thursday. Curious to know what happened to your nodules, also my mom is stage 2 and I hoping for the best as I wouldn't want such news delivered to her via phone, if thats how they are doing it nowadays. Please let me know your update and wishing you good health.

Cheers

Sonia

nowaldron

Hi Sonia,

Thanks so much for your comment. My oncologist told me not to worry about the nodules as they are so tiny. She will scan again in six months unless I have other symptoms then it would be sooner. So, we are taking a wait and see approach. I am going to enjoy the summer and hope for the best.

I wish your Mom all the best at her appointment. My oncologist also said that the scans are so sensitive that they pick up many things that may, in fact, be nothing. I hope that is the case for your Mom.

All the best,

Nancy

DivineMrsM

nowaldron, just saw your post today. I understand your concern, your admiration for your onc who's been good for you and your needing courage to question her about your concerns. I have felt all those things with my onc.

At this point I'm dealing with bone mets. My last catscan a few months ago showed slight changes in the lungs similar to yours. My scan reports have mentioned insignificant nodules in the lungs before. This time, it said 'interval increased size' and mentioned one that went from 3mm to 5mm, two measuring 2 and 3 mm and one more that went from 2 mm to 4 mm. It went on to say there is no pleural effusion or thickening.

My onc was not concerned about this and is saying this is a wait and see, let's monitor it thing. She said if the nodule size had jumped significantly from the last scan, say from 3mm to 10mm, she would consider there was more to look at. I had Covid in January and my scan was at the end of March. I had a fever and bad cough with Covid. I asked her if that may be a cause for the slight increase. She said it's possible but at this time they don't know enough about Covid to tell.

I'd also had my first vaccine shot of Moderna about 3 weeks prior to the scans, and who knows if that had any effect on them.

The onc's insight makes sense to me. And like you, I've read up on lung nodules and find they are often found in healthy people, too. I do feel some shortness of breath after climbing stairs and walking longer distances and have been doing breathing exercises (found on youtube) to increase lung capacity. While this would not prevent lung mets, it makes me feel better to be doing something for improvement. I'm not sure how effective it is for the lungs but the off-shoot is that all that deep breathing has had a calming effect on me.

Like you, I plan to enjoy the summer. I hope for good things for both of us at our next scans!