Lung nodules

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terrij152
terrij152 Member Posts: 530
edited April 2015 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

July 2013 I had a CT scan that showed a 1.3 cm nodule on my lingula (left lung).  I had two PET CT's after that and both showed decreased metabolic activity in the nodule.  It hasn't changed in size in over a year, but since then a 3mm nodule appeared last October and this October the CT picked up two more nodules.  They are 3 mm and 7 mm in size.  The radiologist and my oncologist are recommending to repeat the CT in 3-4 months.  I'm ok with this but a few friends are saying I should get a second opinion.  

What do you all think?  I'm five years out and praying this isn't metastatic lung cancer!

Life is a journey...Enjoy the ride!!! Dx 3/16/09, Lumpectomy 4/21/09, Oncotype Score 13, Bilateral Mastectomies with TE's 6/18/09, Tamoxifen 7/22/09, Exchange Surgery and Nipple Reconstruction 1/8/10!

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  • DiamondGirl
    DiamondGirl Member Posts: 1,046
    edited October 2014

    Hi Terrij,

    Congrats on 5 years out.  I have a 7mm nodule in R lung picked up by a CT scan in Dec 2013, saw my pulmonologist and he ordered 2nd CT, no change to the nodule so my next appointment is Dec 2015. I think it is a great idea that your doctors are monitoring it closely.  I try not to think about it too much (and I know it is hard). I will keep you in my prayers.

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  • terrij152
    terrij152 Member Posts: 530
    edited October 2014

    Thanks DiamondGirl!

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited October 2014

    I just thought to mention that benign lung nodules are seen particularly in areas of air pollution, allergies and those with hx of respiratory infections, bronchitis, etc.

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  • terrij152
    terrij152 Member Posts: 530
    edited February 2015

    So had a follow up scan yesterday and one of my nodules has clearly grown, so guess who gets to have a biopsy? ME! I really don't want to go on this roller coaster ride again, I didn't like it the first time!

    Hoping for B9 results!

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  • Nan54
    Nan54 Member Posts: 93
    edited February 2015

    Hoping and praying for B9 for you as well!!! When is your biopsy?? Waiting with you...

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  • sandilee
    sandilee Member Posts: 1,843
    edited February 2015

    Good luck, Terri!

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited February 2015

    Best wishes for a clear biopsy. Praying for you.

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  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited February 2015

    Sorry you have this new worry. Fingers and everything crossed for you!

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  • shoppygirl
    shoppygirl Member Posts: 694
    edited February 2015

    Sorry you are going through this. Good luck to you and praying for benign results.

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  • terrij152
    terrij152 Member Posts: 530
    edited February 2015

    I need to have blood work done first to make sure my blood is clotting properly. Once the results come back, the biopsy will be scheduled.

    Thanks everyone!!

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  • Macy187833
    Macy187833 Member Posts: 182
    edited February 2015

    Hi Terri, I don't have a lot of words of wisdom but I am going through a somewhat similar situation. I should also be having a biopsy scheduled pretty soon. It sucks to maybe have to go through this a second time or even have to think about it.

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  • terrij152
    terrij152 Member Posts: 530
    edited March 2015

    Had a biopsy last week and just got the results- Suspicious but not confirmatory of a tumor. WTH? Going to meet with my oncologist on Wednesday to see what the next step is. UGH!


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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited March 2015

    Sorry you do not have definitive answers. Can they send the tumor biopsy to another pathology lab for another opinion?

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  • terrij152
    terrij152 Member Posts: 530
    edited March 2015

    So my oncologist feels that it is metastatic breast cancer, however it was dumb luck that we found it. This all started 2 years ago when I went to the ER with chest pain and they did a chest CT. They found two nodules then that haven't really grown all that much, 1-2 mm at most but October a new one popped up. This one has grown from 1.7 cm to almost 3 cm in 5 months. If it wasn't for me going to the ER 2 years ago we would have never found this.

    Just had blood work done to check my tumor markers and will be having a bone scan and MRI of the brain in a couple days. After that we will decide if we need to do another biopsy or just treat it as cancer.

    The weird thing is he's not recommending chemo at this time, just wants to switch me to Femara. What do you all think?

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited March 2015


    I am so sorry you are facing this.  I don't have experience with what you are facing but know those who do will be along soon to provide input. praying all goes well and you remain stable with treatment.

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  • Carrye
    Carrye Member Posts: 43
    edited March 2015

    I had ground glass spot on an xray of chest last fall and my oncologist decided to order ct scan this month. The scan reports several nodules on both lungs, plus areas of radiation damage, plus an area of lungcollapse and an area of untreated infection damage. Also so found cyst on liver. I am now fearing i have mets. I am having more sweats lately and low energy. My onc says all is well. Help

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  • terrij152
    terrij152 Member Posts: 530
    edited March 2015

    Carrye, I have a couple cysts on my liver and at the last scan, that's all they are, just cysts. I too am having low energy, but I think it's from the stress of the past month. Luckily all my other scans have been clean and my tumor markers are not elevated. Trust your oncologist, and worry when he/she tells you to worry. I know it's easier said than done, but hang in there...You're not alone!!

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited March 2015

    Hooray for the clear bone scan & MRI! I will be having a repeat CT in a month for a couple nodules found earlier this year which I think are probably stable. We have some ladies in our local support group who have had lung mets for several years and they are doing well. Signs of advancing disease would be cough and shortness of breath. Until those symptoms show up, it's probably best to maintain a "life's a journey, enjoy the ride" philosophy like we see in terri's signature...

    Assuming you've hit menopause, the aromatase inhibitor letrozole/Femara is probably a good choice as an anti-estrogen. I usually think of it as more potent than tamoxifen. Have you made the switch yet?

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  • terrij152
    terrij152 Member Posts: 530
    edited April 2015

    Just saw my oncologist and I've officially made the jump to Stage 4! We repeated the biopsy Monday and it was positive for metastatic breast cancer. I have another nodule that we haven't biopsied, but he feels that it is cancer too. Luckily all of my other scans for brain, bone and liver are clean. Will be starting on Femara in the next couple days. Hopefully this does the trick and keeps this at bay for a very long time!!!!

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited April 2015

    Praying Femara works for you. 

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited April 2015

    Keeping you in my thoughts

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  • AlwaysSunny79
    AlwaysSunny79 Member Posts: 65
    edited April 2015

    You're in my thoughts and prayers!

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  • terrij152
    terrij152 Member Posts: 530
    edited April 2015

    Thanks everyone! Waiting for the order of Femara to arrive through our mail order pharmacy.

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited April 2015

    I wish you all the best with it, Terri, in terms of both efficacy and ability to tolerate it easily. I hope it arrives SOON!!

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