Lung Mets - I just know it

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TexJerseyGirl
TexJerseyGirl Member Posts: 19
edited June 2021 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

It's been a few years since I've been to this site, but I am back. I guess it was inevitable. Diagnosed with Stage IIB IDC in 2015. Underwent double mastectomy, chemo and reconstruction. Couldn't tolerate AIs so stopped after a few months. For the second time I've developed capsular contracture and surgeon ordered breast MRI before scheduling surgery. The MRI showed bi-lateral pleural effusion with a 2.4 cm region of T1 hyperintensity in the anterior right lung base. Recommended chest CT for further evaluation. I have been feeling very tired, short of breath when exercising or laying flat for many months now.

The MRI results were posted to my patient portal late this afternoon so I've not had a chance to discuss with my doctor. I have the weekend to worry and ruminate. I know the futility of this but what are the chances that this is anything but lung mets? This one seems pretty straight forward. Words of encouragement are in the end, just words. I need to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. What I really need is plain talk from those with experience.

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  • LivinLife
    LivinLife Member Posts: 1,332
    edited June 2021

    Hi TexJersey! I don't know about lung mets though certainly reason for concern with the results you posted. Did you have radiation? wondering if that could've caused you such issues as well? I was told not to have radiation due to heart and lung concerns - I have scleroderma so already have some issues there and couldn't afford added risk.... I'm sure it's difficult not Googling about this - I know I would.... though try not to or only research specific questions if you must do any "research." I would add I had a small area of pleural effusion some years ago though only in one lung. It cleared up on its own... not sure about the hyperintensity though.... Please let us know what's going on after you speak with your doc.... Gentle hugs and lots of support and positive energy sent your way!!

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  • 2019whatayear
    2019whatayear Member Posts: 767
    edited June 2021

    I hope you got your results and that they were surprisingly good and/or actionable--esp if you are still having trouble breathing.

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  • LivinLife
    LivinLife Member Posts: 1,332
    edited June 2021

    So glad you checked in 2019!! TexJersey I'm hoping you know your results now... I hope you are all right?

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  • TexJerseyGirl
    TexJerseyGirl Member Posts: 19
    edited June 2021

    Sorry for the silence. Dealing with the added stress, work, family, etc. Chest CT is this morning, so likely won't know anything until tomorow.

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited June 2021

    Sending good thoughts!

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  • 2019whatayear
    2019whatayear Member Posts: 767
    edited June 2021

    Thinking about you, hope the CT results come back fast and are good.

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  • SolarSister
    SolarSister Member Posts: 67
    edited June 2021

    Just wanted to chime in and say that I’m thinking about you and hope for the best. Gentle hugs

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  • TexJerseyGirl
    TexJerseyGirl Member Posts: 19
    edited June 2021

    Replying to all who commented and sent words of encouragement... CT results showed a hiatal hernia and not lung mets. For those not familiar with this condition, basically a rather large portion of my stomach has herniated through my diaphram into my chest cavity causing shortness of breath, collapsed lower right lung, irregular heart beat, fatigue, poor appetite and just generally feeling like I'm slowly dying. Have a consult with a surgeon next week. As bad as it sounds, I am relieved.

    In processing my relief, I have been asking myself why I chose to prematurely post my concerns to a group of total strangers, before I had an official diagnosis, before I could talk to my doctors, before I could tell my family or friends, before I could even process the information myself. Should I have waited instead of tugging on the heart strings of people who are already so unfairly burdened by real recurrence or metastases? I think I realize that no one else could possibly understand the fear, the dread, the despair, the hopelessness that comes even after "cure" or "remission." These words are just safe places to hang our hat so we can go on living our lives, until we can't. Now I'm going to focus on getting my hernia repaired, and promise to never forget those who aren't as lucky.

    Best wishes to you all.

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  • smc123
    smc123 Member Posts: 71
    edited June 2021

    TexJerseyGirl, I can understand why you would want to post your concerns...I feel like this is a safe place where you’re fears won’t be dismissed. I am happy you have a diagnosis that’s not cancer and I wish you a successful treatment plan. Good luck to you.

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  • 2019whatayear
    2019whatayear Member Posts: 767
    edited June 2021

    Im so happy to hear it’s not cancer! I think it’s easier to post worries here because we get it and we won’t minimize your worries

    Hope the surgery goes well and soon you are running around feeling great

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  • LaughingGull
    LaughingGull Member Posts: 560
    edited June 2021

    Congrats TexJerseyGirl for the good news. I feel happy for you. I get why you posted your concerns

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  • Salamandra
    Salamandra Member Posts: 1,444
    edited June 2021

    I'm so glad! And I'm glad that you posted here too, so that you could have community through this time. And I'm glad that you updated, so that future readers get an example of how sometimes our gut feelings can be mistaken, and the cancer dice can still roll lucky for us even when they've come up unlucky many times before.

    Good luck with the treatment of the hiatal hernia!

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited June 2021

    SO happy to see your post. Thank you for the update. Sometimes, it is easier to tell strangers because we feel as though they do not judge, and if they do, they are not people we see day in and day out. Family is sometimes harder in that regard.

    I feel fortunate we have this forum to share our collective emotional angsts and worries; stories and sharing help the person who posts but it also helps those of us reading because any one of us could have similar symptoms that also cause us to worry...and reading that it isn't always cancer is reassuring and helpful for all of us. How others navigate situations is helpful to all of us. Thank you for sharing and good luck with your surgery.


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  • SolarSister
    SolarSister Member Posts: 67
    edited June 2021

    I agree with all of the above! Such great news, what a relief. You where so sure! I’ve been there too (I’m there right now actually)So happy for you and glad you wrote here. I have been writing like a maniac on here lately, and to be honest the support I’ve gotten has helped me more when it comes to getting through the anxiety than my appointments with my psychologist have done.

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited June 2021

    I think we all LOVE seeing good news, and we get it. Schrodinger's Cancer (is it or isn't it? and going through tests and waiting) is one of the toughest mentally.

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  • LivinLife
    LivinLife Member Posts: 1,332
    edited June 2021

    Though you certainly have a lot of terrible things going on - CT findings.... so much better than mets!!! Wishing you well in your surgery and recovery. Also, if I ever felt scared about recurrence this would be one of the first places I would turn to - it may be the first place I would turn.... as others have said we understand the fear and we're better at supporting each other b/c of that.... I also likely wouldn't want to tell family and others until I knew something more tangible though I likely would tell one or two of my best friends.... Please do not regret sharing here! It is why (one of the reasons) we are here... We are here for each other!

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  • cyathea
    cyathea Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2021

    So happy to hear this wasn’t lung mets, TexJerseyGirl. For others who may faces similar symptoms and concerns, I wanted to echo with my Mom’s experience. She had BC over 30 years ago and then again about 4 years ago. We had been noticing that she was coughing a lot and became concerned that she had lung mets. But like TexJerseyGirl she has a hiatal hernia. Perhaps due to the size or other factors, doctors have decided to leave everything as it is and not do surgery.

    I’m glad TexJerseyGirl posted this because she can help many future BC sisters in the future

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