Very scared...weird situation...any help is appreciated.

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Macy187833
Macy187833 Member Posts: 182
edited February 2015 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hi all, I'm hoping someone else has been in a similar situation. My wonderful history with BC is outlined below. I had a DIEP reconstruction in early December 2014. A routine x-ray done during surgery showed suspicious nodules in both lungs. You can probably guess what my medical team was assuming. I had a CT done a few days after surgery, when I felt well enough, and it confirmed the presence of 'multiple pulmonary nodules highly suspicious, etc.' A few days later I went for a bronchoscopy which came back negative for malignancy. Yay!

However, my doctors were still concerned and had me do a second, even more accurate, fine needle biopsy 3 weeks later. It also came back negative for malignancy when they probed one of the larger nodules. Yet, my medical team felt both biopsies were inconclusive and wanted me to go for a third biopsy: one that is more invasive and risky.

After talking with my oncologist, she and I decided that another chest CT scan was a good step before this riskier biopsy. I just found out that my nodules have shown progression in this latest CT scan.

I'm confused and scared. How can both biopsies be inconclusive (the actual path report said negative for malignancy) and yet the nodules are growing? Some of the nodules are quite large which is scary especially when I read Dr. Google.

Has anyone else been a similar situation with biopsies?

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  • terrij152
    terrij152 Member Posts: 530
    edited February 2015

    I don't have any answers for you, but I think the odds are pretty good for you that both biopsies came back negative. Have you seen a different group of physicians for a second opinion? That would be my suggestion. Have the done a PET scan? That will show the metabolic activity of the nodules and the higher the metabolic activity the greater chance of malignancy.

    I will be having a lung biopsy myself soon. I will keep you in my prayers!

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  • Macy187833
    Macy187833 Member Posts: 182
    edited February 2015

    Hi Terri, thank you for responding. I guess my situation is too unique! :) It would seem that two negative biopsies would be enough to settle my fears-and the concerns of my medical team. However, no one can tell me what those nodules are in my lungs. No PET scan since my oncologist explained the reasons it would not tell us anything.

    I do have complete confidence in my medical team so I'm not after a second opinion at least at this time. I travel a long way to be seen at this hospital. I guess I will wait for the open lung biopsy (gulp) to see what is what.

    Good luck on your biopsy too, Terri. I will also keep you in my prayers.

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