Stage 2 Cancer Just told I have Lung Nodules!

I'm sure someone will post for you that knows more about this than I do but I wanted to tell you ...don't think you aren't doing anything because you are..You have started chemo and that is probably the treatment you would do whether the nodules are from bc or not.  Your onc asked about pneumonia, and you have had bronchitis so it sounds like the nodules could just be scar tissue.

My daughter had lung nodules in both lungs, which turned out to be granulomas, when she she was 17.  She has asthma and had frequent bronchitis.  Because she kept getting a collapsed lung, they removed a portion of her right lung and she's been fine since.

Karen, I also had several small ones show up on my first CT. That was a year ago. Follow-up CTs show they have stayed the same so the dx is now granulomas. My MO said most people in the Midwest, where we are, have these. I also have had pneumonia and bronchitis, so that might have contributed to their development. Don't really know what they are, except they are totally benign and nothing to worry about.

We all live with the fear, but it gets better with time. Best wishes!

Karen, I have seasonal allergies, which causes cough and congestion. This has been going on for decades. I usually just cough a little to a lot at night when mucous gets into my throat. With your history my guess is that it's not cancer. But all these things have to be checked out and monitored. I've got my annual bone scan and CT scan coming up in March, and the anxiety is starting to build. I'm pretty sure everything will be ok, but as you say, one never knows. We just have to take things one day at a time. 

Hi Karen

Whilst my scan didn't show anything on my lungs it did on my liver. Like you they decided to wait and see if they improved etc. I had to wait 3 months to discover that they were cysts.

I know what you are going through and nothing makes it any easier. Just be reassured that my scare was 5 years ago.

It's easy to say 'stay positive' but the chances are that these nodules are nothing sinister. The equipment is so sophisticated these days that it picks up all sorts of nodules that we never knew about before.

Take care

Karen, I'm so sorry you're going through what you are, but for what it's worth, I have seen so many women here told they have a spot or spots on their lungs, and it turns out to be something totally B9.  The fact that you have them in both lungs -- and with no other apparent symptoms, such as a nagging cough, for example -- makes me really think this is NOT mets.

I have one question though.  You didn't give us your ER, PR, Her2 stats.  Do you happen to know what those are?  Deanna

ER/PR+, HER2- breast cancer is considered one of the most treatable breast cancers, especially when caught early.  That doesn't mean that it doesn't have the potential to be mean if it so choses, it just means that - at this point - you have a lot of treatment options that you may not have with a later-stage, more aggressive cancer.

Also, keep in mind that your hormone/HER2 status is only part of the picture: the type of cancer (ductal or lobular); the grade (low- or high); the presence/absence of lymphovascular invasion; and node status will all be taken into consideration when staging you and deciding upon your treatment protocol.  But, for the most part, ER/PR+, HER2- breast cancer is, normally, very responsive to chemo and hormone therapy.

Back To the granuloma situation.....my oncologist told me the exact same thing that yorkiemom said..these granulomas are not cancer and they are like little scars from past bronchial colds. My doc has very little concern about them. I also know that the pet scan takes its images in 4mm segments so sometimes a spot will show up or not show up if its 4mm or smaller. Try to take everything in strides :-)

Ditto the responses for granulomas from previous bronchitis events.  They actually did a lung biopsy on me and it was confirmed granuloma.  At the time no one listened to my prior medical hx of seasonal allergies, severe chest colds and most certainly bronchitis - several times in the past. In fear and frustration I consulted with a pulmonary specialist on my own, who confirmed these nodules are common in certain parts of the country and prior respiratory infections.  

Karen, is your onc young? If so maybe she hasn't had enough experience to know these lung nodules are common and usually benign. 

Hi,

I posted a similar thread to this awhile ago. I as well had a bunch of small nodules show up in my pre chemo scans and freaked out. My onc said they see it all the time and I was his second patient even that morning with those results. Said they are usually nothing but unfortunately they're a pain because it can take several scans til you really know what they are. So you have to wait awhile. Definitely stinks but try to stay hopeful! I'm in the same boat.

Karen, I'm going through what you're going through!  My CT scan revealed small nodules on my lungs.  I had another scan and will discuss the findings with my onc in a couple of days.  I am so glad to hear that most occurrences of this type are benign.  I will probably start chemo next week.

Karen... Many MOs won't even give scans to stage I and II patients because of the false positive outcomes. And any "positive" scan needs followup. So no scans here, but based on what you all are saying, I am sure my lungs would light up. I have had a lot of broncial issues and continue to suffer from allergies, with a persistant cough...