would lung mets show up on chest x ray?

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kathyv
kathyv Member Posts: 52
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I have been having lung problems for the past several months.  The doctor has treated me with 3 rounds of antibiotics.  The main probelme is shortness of breath.  Yesterday I had a medical procedure and they had all kinds of problems with my blood oxygenation.  They told me my O2 sat was 92 before they even started!  Anyway , last night I started thinking about my old friend "breast cancer"  They did a chest x ray yesterday and they said it looked great.  Thanks for any input

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  • ElaineD
    ElaineD Member Posts: 2,265
    edited March 2010

    Mine did (mets to pleura)-but not sure if this is the case all the time.

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  • somanywomen
    somanywomen Member Posts: 872
    edited March 2010

    I had a nodule show up on my pre-surgery chest xray....Then had followup ct and another last month, turns out to be scar tissue or benign nodules (very small 3-5mm) I've had since I was young.....So yes, they can show up and since yours xray looked great then that's a very good thing, lets hope your breathing problem clears up with the antibiotics.....

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  • DJ64
    DJ64 Member Posts: 152
    edited March 2010

    Mine didn't and six months later with a ct scan, pet scan, biopsy it was widespread pulmonary and pleural metastasis (the surgeon said "I was studded with tumors at biopsy).   Waited to have a ct scan because I was in the middle of another acute medical crisis.  

    Have a ct scan to prove you don't have lung mets. 

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  • Mazy1959
    Mazy1959 Member Posts: 1,431
    edited March 2010

    Kathy,

    My onc told me that sometimes it will show on a regular xray but not to rely on it. You need a CT. I hope all is fine. Hugs, Mazy

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited March 2010

    kathyv--did you have radiation? It's pretty common to have lung damage from radiation even with today's technology.  It's call fibrosis.  Fibrosis usually shows up as repeated lung infections that don't seem to go away despite multiple rounds of antiobiotics.  Fibrosis may not show up on a chest x-ray, it usually shows up better on a CT scan.  Fibrosis needs to be treated with large doses of steriods over several weeks to a few months, and even then may be permanent.  Yet another reason to get a CT scan. 

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  • AnneN
    AnneN Member Posts: 241
    edited March 2010

    I have suspected lung mets - spots in my lungs that are too small to tell whether they're cancer. My onc suspects they are because they've been shrinking since treatment.

    They show up on CT but not on x-ray. CT also shows that the largest ones are "spiculated" - an irregular shape that also supports the inference they're cancer.

    So I agree with everyone above - you can see a lot more on CT - go for the CT. 

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  • kalyla
    kalyla Member Posts: 258
    edited March 2010

    Kathy, I had an xray at the end of October that did not show anything suspicious, but my symptoms continued, ie. terrible dry cough and shortness of breath not helped by antibiotics, until I finally had a cat scan in December and it confirmed mets to the lung, plura and spine and ribs.

    Get your doctor to schedule a cat scan for you. I hope its just a nasty infection...

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  • jap
    jap Member Posts: 172
    edited March 2010

    Hi everyone,

    A CT scan before all treatment found one 3 mm spot on my rt lung.  After radiaton I had another CT scan and the nodule was gone!  The nodlue was on the same side where I received radiation and the second CT reported linear foci and scarring in the same place.

    Perhaps the radiation somehow eliminated or obscured a beneign nodule?   Or the CT scan was unable to capture such a small nodule on the second round?

    Please tell me what yopu think.  I am facing another CT scan (a year later) and am very anxious.

    Thanks,

    Jo Anne 

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  • kathyv
    kathyv Member Posts: 52
    edited April 2010

    I have now had 4 rounds of antibiotics and the shortness of breath has just gotten worse.  The cough is somewhat better maybe.  I have an appointment with my GP tomorrow morning and I am going to talk with her about getting a CT scan.  I have a regular appointment with my oncologist in May, but I don't think I can wait that long.  Although I am allergic to contrast for CT scans.  Maybe she will do an MRI.  Of course insurance may argue.  I'm getting relly scared by all of this.  It will be 3 years since my initial diagnosis in July.  I did not do radiation or chemo.  My blood test that determines the chance of metastisis was borderline and the oncologist was ok with me deciding not to do the chemo.  Now I'm regretting it immensely. I also have not been faithful with the tamoxifin and arimidex becasue of side effects.  I will keep you all updated.  Thanks for the responses- Kathy

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  • bethanybeane
    bethanybeane Member Posts: 334
    edited April 2010

    I had an unrelated neck xray yesterday that puzzled the radiologist -- and b/c of my BC history, he ordered a chest xray that I had today. Still inconclusive and so tomorrow am having CT scan and 2 MRIs (one no contrast and one contrast -- not sure what that means but hoping there're will be no needles in the nipple for an isotope)....

    My question is this: can previous radiation treatment have left "something" that he may be seeing on the xray. I know that my right lung was "clipped" across the upper lobe....I would be so grateful for anyone's experience, thoughts, assurances or advice.

    Best wishes to all, Bethany Trying to keep myself from spiraling into panic but my mind is racing.

    Hi Jo Anne! 

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  • jap
    jap Member Posts: 172
    edited April 2010

    Hi Bethany,

    So nice to hace contact with you again!

    I know my CT scan after radiation found all kinds of irregular tissue issues which I was told later by the breast cancer radiologist was caused by radiation treatments and would go away in the next few years.   

    Its probably just radiation changes.

    Good luck!

    Jo Anne

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  • bethanybeane
    bethanybeane Member Posts: 334
    edited April 2010

    Jo Anne,

    Thank you so much for your encouragement -- that's exactly what it was. Had the MRi and cT scans and got results back -- all ok -- the 5mm "nodule" was right in the radiated area and they are not worried about it at all. Whew. I feel even better than I did before I went through this "false positive" -- more assured and relaxed. Now maybe the crick in my neck that caused me to get the xray int he first place can calm down with the rest of me. ;-)

    Best wishes to you. Bethany 

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