Newly diagnosed, pre-treatment CT shows multiple lung nodules.

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edyem
edyem Member Posts: 38
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hello,

Life as I knew it changed on 6/2/2011.  Following a mammogram and ultrasound, the radiologist informed me that I had lumps in both breasts (5 total) that were not cysts.  Two biopsies later, I know that I have IDC in the right breast (2 tumors, one is 2 cm and the other is 1.5 cm) and in at least one lymph node.  The left breast has fibrocystic changes.  On Monday, I had a bone scan and a CT.  The bone scan was clear, but the CT showed @20 lung nodules all of which were 5mm or less.  I have a lung biopsy scheduled for next Monday and I'm worried out of my mind that my cancer has already metastasized.  I do have asthma and have had bronchitis and pneumonia at least 3 times in the past year.  I'm driving myself crazy and spending way too much time on the internet trying to find any possible cause for these nodules.  I'm hoping someone has had a similar experience and can offer advice.  

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  • ma111
    ma111 Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    Edyem

    I presented with metastasis in 2009, lung nodules, shoddy nodes from groin to neck, FDG avid in lung and retropertineol. Not surgical until after chemo. I was shaking so bad I took ativan I got from my family doctor. Chemo took down everything except the axillary and subpect nodes. Surgery could not reach all the postive nodes. Rads killed the still active nodes. 11 months of remission. Now on vaccine and low dose chemo. Still working and mowing the yard. It's a hard life, but doable.

    Hopefully the bronchitis/pneumonia has caused some of the lung nodules.

    Keep posting here, there are a lot of wonderful people that can talk you throw it.

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  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 5,161
    edited June 2011

    Just wanted to send hugs your way and praying for neg results on the lung biopsy, Hopefully it is scar tissue from the many bouts of pnemonia- Im sure some one with more knowledgs will be along and give you some more good advice like ma111 did. ((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))

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  • pennylane
    pennylane Member Posts: 177
    edited June 2011

    Hi Edy, So sorry you are going thru this.I do remember how unbearable the beginning of this thing is.  I had a similar experience though not quite in the same order.  I first had treatment (chemo, rads) before they found my abnormal ct scan...like yours, diffuse bilateral sub-centimeter lung nodules...The lung specialist did a wait and see..which is often the way these things are treated...so every six months for 2-years I had a ct scan of my lungs...There were no changes ( a good thing)...Well, after being on these boards for several years I have met many women with bad lung scans that turned out to be scarring from pneumonia and often scarring from treatment...And like you I did have pneumonia....Your tumors are not that large and the fact that they only see one positive lymph node is encouraging that this may stop there.....I really feel that you are going to slide into an early stage dx in spite of this rough-going...I sure send my best wishes to you...Please stay in touch...Best wishes, P 

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  • edyem
    edyem Member Posts: 38
    edited June 2011

    Thank you for the good wishes and hugs ma, debbie and penny. I hope you are right, penny but it is so hard not to think worst case scenario. I do wish I could just have the surgery and start chemo and then worry about monitoring the nodules. What was supposed to be an appointment to further plan surgery and treatment, turned out to be all about the CT results and how they could drastically change my treatment plan.  I don't see the oncologist again until July 6th!  I'm so worried that we're waiting on results while my tumors are growing.  My PCP pushed my tests through so quickly, but now things are moving much slower and this time just gives me more opportunity to worry and scour the internet for any info I can find.  When I don't know an answer and no one seems to be in a hurry to give me one then I'm compelled to find my own. Luckily, I retired early from teaching (thank you hubby :) but I can't focus on anything else, not even things I usually enjoy doing.  This diagnosis and lack thereof has taken over everything.    

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited June 2011

    Edyem you at the hardest part of this journey....the waiting to find out test results and what treatments will be recommended.   Yes, the Dx (diagnosis) does take over everything to begin with but it will get better, it may take some time but it will get better.  Sometimes we don't do ourselves any favours by doing the Google thing as we find things that aren't always relevant to us and so end up upsetting ourselves needlessly.  Please don't worry about the tumors growing, as most BC's are very slow gtowing and a few weeks even months tend to not make any difference at all so please ut your mind at ease on that one.  The emotions that come with a Dx of BC are firstly shock and then grief.....give yourself the time to feel and deal with both.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

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  • edyem
    edyem Member Posts: 38
    edited June 2011

    Thank you Chrissy.  I do need to spend less time letting Dr. Google diagnose me ;)  I'm looking forward to falling back into some sort of routine daily life.  My next hurdle is the lung biopsy on Monday.  Hopefully, once we have some answers we can get on with treatment.  

     I appreciate everybody's encouraging words.  

    -e 

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited June 2011

    Good luck with your lung biopsy on Monday.  Do you know when you'll get the results back?  Hope they don't keep you in the dark too long.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

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  • dogeyed
    dogeyed Member Posts: 884
    edited June 2011

    My nephew had bone cancer years ago, and it spread to his lungs, they had to take a few spots out of the lungs at diff times, he did a total of a year of chemo, even tho his bone cancer and lung cancers were removed.  He's a 10+ year survivor.

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  • edyem
    edyem Member Posts: 38
    edited June 2011

    My lung biopsy was CANCELED!  The radiologist compared my CT to one done in 2006 when I had a blood clot and saw the exact same nodules and they were the same size.  Evidently, they are scarring from many bouts with bronchitis and pneumonia.  I've never been so happy to have scarring in my life!  Thank you all for your kindness.  I'm happy I found this lovely place to sound off when I need to. 

     -e 

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  • geewhiz
    geewhiz Member Posts: 1,439
    edited June 2011

    OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!!!!!!

    How absolutely positively wonderful!!!!

    One loud war whooping rebel yell for ya!!!

    You will be fine!

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  • bak94
    bak94 Member Posts: 1,846
    edited June 2011

    Best news ever! So glad to hear it!

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  • sweetbean
    sweetbean Member Posts: 1,931
    edited June 2011

    That is amazing news!!!!  Yay for you!

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  • dogeyed
    dogeyed Member Posts: 884
    edited June 2011

    So glad that lung scare was just pneumonia scars, I've had a couple bouts with it and I suppose I have them too, I shall remember that just in case it becomes a topic for me.  Hooray for you! 

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited June 2011

    Oh Edyem that is such good news!!!!  I am so happy for you!!!!  YAHOOOO!!!!!!!

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

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  • nanadeb
    nanadeb Member Posts: 169
    edited June 2011

    Oh my gosh !!! So HAPPY for you !!!!

    Where's the jumping up and down smilie?

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  • edyem
    edyem Member Posts: 38
    edited June 2011

    Thank you everyone.  I'm just so happy to be able to get on with my treatment.  It's strange what pleases me now!

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited June 2011

    This journey is a very big learning curve on all levels..........and we learn to really appreciate the little things.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

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  • pennylane
    pennylane Member Posts: 177
    edited June 2011

    Hi Edy, I am just so happy for you...Getting this horrible question-mark resolved so quickly is the ultimate cause for celebration....It's going to be alright now....Just some treatment and then back to your lovely life.....What wonderful news!!!!

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