Lung mets?

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  • Citrinetiff
    Citrinetiff Member Posts: 88
    edited October 2016

    I was dx'd with IDC October 27, 2015. I had scans before my treatments started in January 2016. My original CT scan stated "9 mm nodule at the left lung apex need follow up as metastasis cannot be fully excluded." I had a follow up scan after all my treatments were completed (AC + T, and rads) October 12. The results read "increased size of the left upper subpleural nodule, which also appears more irregular than before. Short-term radiological follow up recommended.) I had a PET scan yesterday, and I should have the results next week.

    My question to all of you is: can this be lung mets? What are the chances that it is benign or something insignificant? Has anyone had similar findings and it turned out to be nothing serious? As you can all imagine, I am a basket case.

  • shoppygirl
    shoppygirl Member Posts: 694
    edited October 2016

    I m so sorry that you have to deal with this. I too went through the lung nodule scare that was found on my work up scans. After two years it was considered benign. One of the things that I as told was that even if it grew a few milimetres , it did not mean it was cancer. Benign scars and inflamation can fluctuate in size by a few mm's. Also mine did not have any definite signs of it being benign but it was.

    Good luck and let us know how it goes.

    Hugs

  • cive
    cive Member Posts: 709
    edited October 2016

    Seeing you were node negative and chemo did not decrease the size, it is likely that it is not a metastases. It is not unusual to have b9 growths and the PET scan will determine if it is metabolically active or b9.

  • Citrinetiff
    Citrinetiff Member Posts: 88
    edited October 2016

    shoppygirl and cive, thank you for your adivce/comments/words of encouragement.

    I guess I am worried because of the original comment that metastasis could not be ruled out, and because of the urgency from my onc that I get a PET, see a surgeon and a lung specialist as soon as possible. Anyway, there is nothing I can do now. I will have to wait to get the results (hopefully this week).

    Thank you again.

  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited October 2016

    My PET scan had the phrase metastasis cannot be entirely excluded. I think they are covering their butts. I did have a cold (didn't know I wasn't supposed to do a pet scan with a cold) and it identified an inflamed node and sinus mucosal thickening, which has, so far, not turned into anything.

    Have you had any allergies, cold, or anything sickness related going on? How much of an increase in size? It can also be related to rads

    Hugs, I hate that you are worrying.

  • Citrinetiff
    Citrinetiff Member Posts: 88
    edited October 2016

    Hi Italychick, I didn't have a cold or allergies. Also, my rads were on my right side, but the nodule is on the left. Can rads done on the right have a nodule on the left grow?

    The nodule grew from .9 x .6 cm to 1.1 x .9 cm.

    I wish I didn't have to worry.

  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited October 2016

    sorry you are worrying. I don't know the answer to the rads question.

    Keeping fingers crossed for you

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited October 2016

    Sorry you have this added stress. Please do keep us posted

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited October 2016

    Hey Citrine I'll join you over on this thread so I can hold your hand as you go through this. My CT said new 1.3 mm node could be benign or malignant! How evasive is that?? So I get what you're going through and I know how you feel right now. Hugs sweetie. You are not alone.

  • Citrinetiff
    Citrinetiff Member Posts: 88
    edited October 2016

    Barbe, I am so sorry you (and me) have to go through this. Are you having any scans to check? I had a PET scan on Friday, so I should get some news this week-hopefully!

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited October 2016

    I have to get my pacemaker switched out to an MRI compliant one. That could take months and by that time I'll be doing my next CT in February!! I have brain problems right now that they are more concerned with which is why I need the pacemaker switched. A PET would show too much activity in my brain to be affective. And the lung node we know is new and growing fast. Last CT was February and it wasn't there.

  • Citrinetiff
    Citrinetiff Member Posts: 88
    edited November 2016

    I got the results of my PET and I would love to have some help deciphering them:

    No typical evidence of FDG avid local recurrence of metastatic disease.

    The left upper lobe pulmonary nodule is not hypermetabolic, favoring benign etiology. Although low-grade or well-differentiated malignancy cannot be totally ruled out. To be followed by anatomic images.

    The good news is that it favors a benign outcome, but there is still a chance that it is cancer, right? What are anatomic images>?

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited November 2016

    I think it's a good report! They always cover their butts by saying "may or may not". The fact that the node is not active is a very good thing!!! That means no vascular activity which would be blood flow.

    I think they are saying to keep following up with CT, MRI or X-ray. The FDG reference seems to be the reaction (or not) that is referenced on the PET result.

    All in all, I'd love to have the same report!! Way to go, sweetie!

  • Citrinetiff
    Citrinetiff Member Posts: 88
    edited November 2016

    Thanks, Barbe! I am so relieved to see that it states no evidence of recurrence or metastatic disease. I would love if it said, "everything's good. It's all benign" I hate the "may of may nots"!

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited November 2016

    So now they'll just keep an eye on it for you, right? I bet you can take a really deep breath now, eh?

  • Citrinetiff
    Citrinetiff Member Posts: 88
    edited November 2016

    Barbe, my doctor said we will keep a very close watch on it. I hope for even better news for you: completely benign

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited November 2016

    Well, as you know, I'm still waiting to find out when I can get my pacemaker switched out so I can get an MRI. I'll keep y'all posted.

  • shoppygirl
    shoppygirl Member Posts: 694
    edited November 2016

    I think this is great news! The people that read these scans always to have leave a little room for the "what if" to cover their butts!! I guess you will now be on the same "watch and wait " schedule I was on for 2.5 years until they finally said my nodule was benign.

    Just to let you know , everyone is on that schedule when they find a nodule , whether they have had BC or not. Glad you got good news !

    Barbe, good luck to you as well !

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited November 2016

    yep, they always will say they can't rule out metastatic disease in s cancer patient because the only way to rule it out completely is biopsy.

    Barbe. Keep us posted

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