Cat Scan found lung nodule...nervous

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Ltam16
Ltam16 Member Posts: 34
edited October 2015 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I went today this morning for my cat scan. They already posted the report on the portal and it says there is a 6 mm nodule in the superior segment of the right upper lobe (lung.) I have read that it could be from past pneumonia (which I have had.) Anyone have this when they went for their cat scan prior to radiation? I'm nervous now.

I go for my simulation Oct 2 and start rads Oct 5.

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  • pennylane
    pennylane Member Posts: 177
    edited September 2015

    Hi Ltam, I am ten-years out, and yes, I had crazy diffuse subcentimeter nodules all over both lungs...I believe mine were discovered after rads....I was so scared and dr. did not calm me down...Had to come here to get real story...So many ladies came on board to tell me they had similar experience and it is quite common to have benign stuff show up on scans of lungs...It is the price of being an adult in an unclean world...and certainly pneumonia is prime source of odd little nodules...and I had just gotten over pneumonia when I was scanned...You may be asked to come back for additional scans every 6-months for a year or two...Your Dr may want to do a PET but You are stage 1...and that is a good indication that this thing is just residue of an old illness...I just know you will be fine! Best wishes....

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

    Ltam, I had nodules show up at diagnosis; they re-scanned at 3 months and will do another one next month. As long as they are stable I'm not worried about them, particularly since the MD who read the second one described one as being consistent with scarring from previous illness.

    As pennylane says, these are common and increasingly so. Equipment today has a much high resolution and nodules and cysts, etc., that wouldn't have been seen even five - ten years ago now show up routinely.

    It is unnerving - absolutely, but it's also extremely likely that it's absolutely nothing to be concerned about. Take care and good luck with your radiation. If you haven't started moisturizing your skin yet, this is a good time to start. It does help a lot!

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  • Ltam16
    Ltam16 Member Posts: 34
    edited September 2015

    Thanks all for responding! Feeling a little calmer!

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  • shoppygirl
    shoppygirl Member Posts: 694
    edited September 2015

    I have a 6 mm nodule that they are watching. I have had scans over the last 18 months and there has never been any change. I too have been very nervous about it but I know they are very common.

    Hugs.

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  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 563
    edited September 2015

    I had a calcified lung nodule show up on my pet scan they knew it wasn't cancer because it was calcified and didn't light up apparently they are common in middle eastern states due to a fungal infection from birds I guess..maybe you request a pet scan

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  • Ltam16
    Ltam16 Member Posts: 34
    edited October 2015

    thank you! I'm not normally such a worrier...until I found out I had cancer.

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

    Ltam, it's natural to be concerned. It gets easier over time. I hope your radiation's going well and will do you a ton of good. My skin did GREAT through radiation - much better than I expected. It wasn't easy and it wasn't fun but there's proven benefit so I persevered and got through it. Let me know if you ever want any tips or have any questions. Enjoy your weekend break from it!

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