Again? Really? Lung looks bad again, says CT scan

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I came here almost 2 years ago when they discovered something on CT in my right middle lobe, which PET scan agreed, needed to be looked in to. The end result was it wasn't any type of cancer, but I had to go through an unsuccessful biopsy, collapsed lung, and thoracic surgery to remove a wedge section of my lobe, 5 days in the hospital and lots of pain and drug withdrawl in order to find that out.  For the complete story of what transpired, you can check out my last thread from 2012 called "I haven't felt this fear in awhile".  

So, since then, I've still been coughing, a lot.  The cough got very bad after a cold I had last May, and never went away.  And after years of telling people to ask why I cough so much "eh, it's just allergies", I decided to go to an allergist to find out.  Guess what?  No allergies.

My primary doctor said to go back to the pulmonologist I saw two years ago, he sent me for an xray.  Xray showed patchy densities in lower lobe of right lung.  So, he sent me for a CT scan and, although I don't have the report in front of me, they called last night and said there were ground glass opacities in the upper right lobe (that wasn't seen in my CT two years ago) and a new nodule in the lower base of the right lobe (that also wasn't there two years ago).

Now I have to see my thoracic surgeon again.  Very scared this time.  I told my husband last night "how many times am I going to be able to dodge a bullet".  FYI - My original diagnosis was over 11 years ago. 

So, it looks like the ride is about to start again.  Hang in there with me, will ya's?


Comments

  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited January 2014

    sandy, sorry to hear this.

    I, too, am having something watched, discovered accidentally during CT scan.  I thought I was "done with this".

    Here is a link to some other lung stories...gives hope.  I think your first go around gives hope too.  I wish you the best.  http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/142/topic/810373?page=2#idx_38

    Pat

  • SandyInNj
    SandyInNj Member Posts: 48
    edited January 2014

    Thanks Pat - I wish you well too. When you say they are watching, are they scanning you every 6 months?  They did that with me when a nodule was discovered a few years ago.  My lungs just seem to keep wanting to scare me.

    I'm seeing the surgeon tomorrow afternoon so he can look at the CT scan and tell me what's next.  If it's like what I went through last time, a PET scan will be the next step.

    I also went and picked up the report which says:

    "Small ground glass infiltrate within the anterior segment of the right upper lobe; A tiny pleural-based nodule is noted within the right lower lobe."

    I'm sure I'll know alot more tomorrow.


     

  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited January 2014

    sandy, I am a 3 month follow up.  Last scan November, next in 2 weeks, February.

    In the interim I changed oncs and begged the new one for a PET scan...as my imagination was overtaking me and I had rib pain not going away.  Anyhow, she agrees to PET, I start exercising instead of sitting like a lump in my chair and the rib pain went away.  I think it was muscular from sitting so much! Lol. PET showed nothing , but onc said my spot from CT is SO SMALL that PET probably could not pick  it up.  the PET was done early Jan. i have my next CT scheduled for early Feb. it will be "low dose" whatever that means...I guess less exposure to radiation.

    Pat

  • SandyInNj
    SandyInNj Member Posts: 48
    edited January 2014

    The little nodule they followed with me from a few years back ended up being completely removed when I had my surgery for the larger spot - and in both those spots, it turned out to be benign.  So I hope that ends up being the case for you.  Sometimes these things really are just nothings there to scare the crap out of us.

    I realized what I'm doing when I come here during my waiting period - it's so I prepare myself if I get bad news.  I don't want to be blindsided like with my original diagnosis.  I let people convince me it was going to be fine, and then was shocked when I heard 'you have cancer'.  It doesn't serve me well to think positively, because I don't want to caught off guard emotionally the next time I hear 'you have cancer'.  I'm sure I can't be the only one that does that.

  • cw89134
    cw89134 Member Posts: 142
    edited January 2014

    SandyInNj,

    I'm exactly the same way you are for the same reason. I, too, was blindsided by my original diagnosis and I vowed never again to be blindsided.

    To cope with that, I think several steps ahead and plan for the worst outcome. I know a lot of people say "think positively". Well, I wish I could but I just can't. I let my positive thinking friends do it for me.

    I, too, am in waiting mode now. I had a mammo on 1/16, was originally told by my BS that it looked good but when the radiologist read it, he asked for magnification shots because he saw new calcifications. I went for the mag shots yesterday and, again, the BS (who runs the breast care place where I get mammos) said it looked good but that it's up to the radiologist whether to proceed further (read "take a biopsy"). What annoys me is that I am within weeks of being 5 years since diagnosis. I know that means nothing but I'm still annoyed.

  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited January 2014

    sandy, I am a planner, so planning for the worst is one of those things I need to do. If I hear a hurricane is coming I batten down the hatches, lay in the food and have the generator ready.  Same for snowstorms.  Better to be ready than surprised.  Also helps to come here and learn from others.  I learned a lot from these boards, even the reconstruction I did.  No plan of action means I am at the mercy of the doctor I am seeing (my PD never mentioned DIEP as a possibility!). Knowledge is power, though admittedly can be frightening.

    CW, I don't hear from my BS until she has the radiology reports.  This makes me happy, why give me an "all looks good" if someone else has the say so, just say he is waiting for radiologist report!

    Par

  • cw89134
    cw89134 Member Posts: 142
    edited January 2014

    Pattysmiles,

    My BS runs a breast care place that handles all things breast related (mammos, ultrasound, biopsies). Having said that, he is a surgeon, not a radiologist. In the past, however, he has been spot on in saying everything was good before the films even left his office (to go to the radiologist who is in another location). I always wondered if he would ever miss something until now that he did. 

    Still in waiting mode. GrrrrSad

  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited January 2014

    cw, I imagine by tomorrow they should have an answer?  Start the harassing phone calls!

    Pat

  • SandyInNj
    SandyInNj Member Posts: 48
    edited January 2014

    I saw my surgeon and he said it's something that's a watch and wait.  We CT scan again in May and if there's no indication of it going away, at that point, he said, he'll be a little more concerned.  He said sometimes these cloudy areas (ground glass) dissipate on their own.  But, there still is a chance it's malignant, but he said that breast cancer mets to the lung does not present this way.  So, with that information, I guess I'm in the wrong place.  I'm ok with the watching and waiting - I definitely wasn't ready for anymore biopsy attempts of my lung.

  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited January 2014

    wow, I wish I had your doctor...mine didnt say a word about it being cancer, or not cancer, or disipating things....so I went home and used dr. Google!  Or that breast cancer wouldn't look like that!

    Here is a link for others here with lung cancer. http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/142/topic...

    Wishing you the best!

    Pat

  • cw89134
    cw89134 Member Posts: 142
    edited January 2014

    Just received "the call" and follow-up fax of radiologist's report: 

    "Dystrophic calcifications related to surgery and radiation therapy" 

    "No malignant-type calcifications are seen".

    As a precaution, instead of waiting a year for the next mammo (I am 5 years post-diagnosis. This is the point where they go to annual mammos instead of 6 month mammos), the BS wants one in six months. No problem!

  • shoppygirl
    shoppygirl Member Posts: 694
    edited January 2014

    cw! 

    Yay!  Good news! 

  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited January 2014
  • cw89134
    cw89134 Member Posts: 142
    edited January 2014

    Thanks, ladies. 

  • SandyInNj
    SandyInNj Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2014

    Good news cw!

    And Patty, thanks for that link.  I went there and started reading - I didn't realize there was a place here when you get another diagnosis of something different.  Let's hope I don't have to use it.  Although I have become Dr. Google lately myself..mostly seeking info related to ground glass opacities, I'm not letting any of this worry me - at least not yet.  When it's scan time again, then the worry picks up a little!


  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited February 2014

    sandy, glad you are able to not let it worry you!  I am trying!  Here is another link I found of lung "issues". ...some positive outcomes in them.

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/67/topic/8...

    Pat

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