New, and just told

[RonL]

I had a ct done in May, which showed nothing. Now its September. And had a routine xray done for possible bronchitis. It comes back reporting a 5 cm rounded masslike density obscuring a portion of the right heart border, felt to be within the right middle lobe. I'm waiting on a ct referral, but everything I read online is horrible, dismal survival rates, maybe jumping the gun a little, but that 0 to 5 cm in 4 months is very disconserting. Anything hopeful to even consider on this ? Very upset and scared.

[Steff]

Hi Ron,

What a punch in the gut, huh? A scare like this will do that.  I would be very upset and scared too.  I think it's natural to "jump the gun" and start checking into things.  First and foremost, you don't know what the mass-like density is.  Although you want to immediately jump to the possibility of cancer, but it may not be.  And this mass may look very different in the CT.  And even then, a CT will not definitively tell you if you have lung cancer. 

As for survival rates, don't pay attention to them and it would probably be in your best interest not to look at them anymore.  They are out of date and published during a time where people were not receiving the life saving treatments they are today.  These statistics also take into account any deaths for lung cancer patients, even if they did not die of lung cancer.  Not to downplay the seriousness of lung cancer, but it is survivable.  You will meet some of the survivors soon (I am just a care advocate, but my mom is a survivor and lives her life to the fullest despite having lung cancer).  You likely have a long road ahead of you to find out exactly what's going on in your lungs, but we are here for you every step of the way. Please feel free to vent or ask questions and keep us updated on what's going on.

Take care,

Steff 

[RonL]

It's that 0-5 cm that is blowing my mind at the moment.  That seems really bad. And its torture just waiting on getting the darned ct referral.. arrrrgh

[Steff]

Yes, the wait is complete and total torture. It was probably the worst part for us.

[Kleo]

Hi Ron and Welcome!

I think we all here understand that initial fear and shock. When they found a 5.6 cm mass in my lung in January...during an xray for bronchitis...I was absolutely freaked. I went and had another xray at a different doctor just to confirm. Then a CT scan, then a PET, then biopsy...etc. The second xray doctor told me it could be pneumonia.  I think I knew it wasn't though-as I didn't FEEL like I had pneumonia. I felt pretty good really except for the stupid cough that wouldn't go away! 

One thing I remember is they told me not to do too much online research. I did anyway- until I realized it was just scaring me and making me overly anxious. Felt better after I stopped.

It's too soon for them to know really what it is. If the CT scan concerns them they'll have you follow up with a PET scan, which can show the "activity" of the mass. That usually gives them the best indication of whether it appears cancerous or benign. I had the mass plus 2 lymphnodes show activity. They biopsied and found that one of the lymphnodes that appeared cancerous actually wasn't. So even PET scan results aren't certain indicators!

 The waiting and worrying really is the worst.😫 

Keep us posted please!

 

[RonL]

Well, I have my ct scheduled for today at 1.. next is waiting for that to be deciphered and on to the next step whichever way that points.  

And thanks all for your support.

[Kleo]

Oh good! Let us know how it goes!

[RonL]

Needle in, ..... into the spinning tube, ..... needle out... now were waiting again.

[Kleo]

When is your appointment for results? 

[RonL]

Dr has emailed that he keeps checking and nothing has come back yet.. he should email me e tomorrow.  Actually it's a mychart online app. I can send him messages look at test results. All kinds of functions. Pretty nice way to communicate.. and he is pretty responsive,  returns my messages very quickly. 

[LexieCat]

Not much comfort, I'm sure, but that's faster than most of us get results.  Sounds like you have a good doc.  My surgeon gave me his cell phone number.  I used it twice (only when I absolutely HAD to), but it was comforting to know that if I needed to, I could reach him.

[Kleo]

I like those online charts! Fastest way to get results I think. Mine doesn't have that option unfortunately. BUT...I'm way too impatient to wait for my scan results until the next doctor's appointment. I am really close to the center that does the scans so I go back the morning after my tests and get my results! 

I have a restaging CT scan scheduled for next week. I'm with you on the Scanxiety. 😫

 

[Roz]

Ron,

Let us know what your results show. Hope you get them soon to alleviate that horrible "waiting" time. 

Kleo,

Good luck with your restaging CT!!!

 

Ro

[suecris]

Hi Ron - I saw this and had to chime in. In June of this year I had pneumonia (not very bad, I was not terribly sick) and suddenly got very intense chest pains. At the hospital they did a CT with contrast and found that I had 4 small pulmonary embolisms. They also saw a 4x1 cm mass at the bottom of my left lung. I have a long smoking history (I'm 60 and smoked for most of 40 years). That, coupled with the pulmonary embolisms, made them think that mass was probably cancer. The ER doctor told me so. So, a pulmonologist came in to my hospital room and talked to me. There is a family history of clots. I had SOME pneumonia symptoms, though not many and not bad. He told me he would wait 6 weeks and do a PET scan then to see where things stood.

I *sweated* those 6 weeks. I came here and posted for support. I had pretty much mobilized my family to get ready for the bad news. I made a will and trust. I had it BAD. 

Fast forward to my 7/27 PET scan. Nothing left of the mass - "resolved." No further action required.

That's the watchword at this place. It's not cancer until a biopsy says it's cancer. I like coming here to read people's stories because everyone here is so helpful and positive. That said, I have NEVER successfully logged in with my prior password. Every single time my account gets locked and I have to choose a new password. So I don't post much. But be positive, don't lose hope if this CT scan shows the mass still there. They will do a biopsy if they can, or they will do a PET scan. So just try to think of something useful to do (like getting around to finally doing that will and trust) but try not to brood too much. It may just be what they call atelectasis, which I think means part of the lung has folded in on itself. Or it could be the bronchitis is really pneumonia. The CT scan results are not going to be the final word (unless it's gone).

[RonL]

First I want to say thank you for everyone (no matter the final results) for giving me something to hold on to.. some hope.. internet information is good, but makes you think your lucky if your going to have another year. 

Let's get a bigger history out here. I'll try to keep it brief. Ha.

Spring of 2017, bad cold, lost smell and taste. Fought that until the fall and finally had sinus surgery. Ahh..smell and taste again.

Jan 2018, upped metformin and added linsopril bp meds. Developed cough, switched meds around, no help. Developed lethargy, weight loss, pain in legs, and neck and top of head. Short term prednisone .. all went away. A month later it's back. Pulmonologist doesnt see anything on ct. Off to rheumatologist,  ultrasound on neck and temples.. diagnosed with temporal arteritis.  (Some kind of vascularitus) Put on 60 mg prednisone for a month. Just dropped to 50, a week ago. But got sick Sunday,  coughing up this ugly reddish brown stuff. Off to dr... xray.. put on augmenton for bronchitis..oh let's check and see if the xray report came back (only done 1 hour earlier).. oh, there's this 5 cm mass.. and off to the new races of.. what is it. And now were caught up.

 

[LexieCat]

Sounds to me like there's a good chance what you're seeing is related to the respiratory issues you've been having and not necessarily cancer.  That's why they use CT scans for cancer screenings--they are much more accurate and useful for imaging lung nodules/masses.  

All I can say is hang in there.  

[RonL]

First I want to say thank you for everyone (no matter the final results) for giving me something to hold on to.. some hope.. internet information is good, but makes you think your lucky if your going to have another year. 

Let's get a bigger history out here. I'll try to keep it brief. Ha.

Spring of 2017, bad cold, lost smell and taste. Fought that until the fall and finally had sinus surgery. Ahh..smell and taste again.

Jan 2018, upped metformin and added linsopril bp meds. Developed cough, switched meds around, no help. Developed lethargy, weight loss, pain in legs, and neck and top of head. Short term prednisone .. all went away. A month later it's back. Pulmonologist doesnt see anything on ct. Off to rheumatologist,  ultrasound on neck and temples.. diagnosed with temporal arteritis.  (Some kind of vascularitus) Put on 60 mg prednisone for a month. Just dropped to 50, a week ago. But got sick Sunday,  coughing up this ugly reddish brown stuff. Off to dr... xray.. put on augmenton for bronchitis..oh let's check and see if the xray report came back (only done 1 hour earlier).. oh, there's this 5 cm mass.. and off to the new races of.. what is it. And now were caught up.

 

[RonL]

Well, that didn't work well, let's try that again...

My report came in... here is what it says :

 

1.     Masslike density within the medial aspect of the right upper lobe. Given the rapidity of findings as compared to the April study this is felt to be infectious or inflammatory in etiology. Nonetheless close clinical follow-up and repeat imaging is
recommended to document resolution of this process. If clinically indicated a bronchoscopy could also be performed.
2. Stable prominent right paratracheal node
3. Unchanged bilateral basilar bronchiectasis

 

Narrative

2.     CHEST CT WITH INTRAVENOUS CONTRAST:

TECHNIQUE: Multiple axial CT images of the chest after the administration of 75 mL of IOPAMIDOL 76 % IV SOLN intravenous contrast. CT dose reduction techniques utilized.

PROVIDED CLINICAL INFORMATION: R91.8-Other nonspecific abnormal finding of lung field 5 cm mass in right lung

 

 

INTERPRETATION:

CHEST:
No significant interval change in the large right paratracheal node which previously measured 27 x 13 mm and currently measures 27 x 12 mm.. The heart is within normal limits.


As compared to prior exam there is a masslike density within the medial aspect of the right upper lobe measuring 66 x 40 mm. There are mild adjacent groundglass opacities along the periphery of this density. Mild bilateral basilar bronchiectasis with
minimal bilateral linear bandlike atelectasis and/or scarring. There is also mild bronchiectasis seen within the right middle lobe. No significant interval change in mild peripheral fibrotic changes with mild intralobular and interlobular septal
thickening.
Bony thorax is age appropriate and soft tissues are unremarkable.

Evaluation of the upper abdomen is grossly unremarkable

__________________

Not to sure about the broken glass part.. but I go to see the pulmonologist next wed.  But at this point.. i have no idea how to interpret that report, but I'm thinking, GOD has blessed me and let me slip one by.  

[LexieCat]

Not a medical professional, but it looks like good news to me.  Probably just related to the infection you had going on.  "Ground glass" is just the way they describe how certain things look on the image.  In itself, it doesn't mean anything specific.

You're obviously going to have to follow up on whatever's going on, but I think you can relax a bit.

[Tom Galli]

Ron,

I'd also say the latest CT report is promising. It has been  4 months since your May CT and there is no increase in size in the right paratracheal node.  So that is very good news. The right upper lobe object is described as a masslike density and if that is cancer, masslike is a very unusual descriptor.  I'm not doctor but have had perhaps 40 CT scans in my treatment history and the words mass and dense were used as descriptions for my metastatic tumors.

From what I read, I agree that you slipped by.  I'd keep the pulmonology appointment; something is going on.

Stay the course.

Tom