Just looking to see if anyone else has had the same experience- I’ll try to keep it brief!
Diagnosed in 2023 at age 45 With primary breast cancer that was also in lymph nodes, underwent mastectomy, lymph node clearance ,chemo and radio. On abemaciclib. Letrozole, zometa infusions, prostap hormone injections.
In March had an mri due to headaches that thankfully didn’t show any issue with brain, but did pick up a small area at the top of right lung . Had a CT and was hoping that this scan would show what it was, waited very anxiously around 3 weeks for the results - However when I saw my oncologist she said the scan didnt really give them the information and I was to have another in 3 months! She said she needed time to see if it had grown or disappeared and this would give them a better idea what it was. So I’m no better off - I still have no idea if it’s lung mets .. or just an infection .. my husband asked her if it was still there but hadn’t grown in 3 months what happens then? She said they’d scan me again in another 3 months.
I’m finding this very frustrating- I would really like to know what it is as if it is secondary Breast cancer I want them to start treatment asap - just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience?
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Hi!
I can understand how very worrying and frustrating this is for you. It might be helpful to get hold of the scan reports and ask for them to be interpreted properly for you.
The trouble with modern scanners is that they pick up all sorts of things these days and mostly these things are benign nodules etc that have been there for years. I had something similar seen on my RT planning CT scan which gave me weeks of worry ( and I’m a retired NHS consultant who spent every wednesday working in the MRI and CT scanning suite). These thing are known are “incidentalomas”! It’s surprisingly common especially as we get older. I would imagine that you would have been sent for a biopsy or bronchoscopy etc if the radiology and oncologist thought that they had seen something very worrisome. These scans etc generally get reviewed at MDTs by the whole team and they are taking a conservative approach.
Try to put it out of your mind at the moment if you can.
Sending best wishes.
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It is a worrying time for you waiting between these scans. As the previous poster said the scans now pick up much smaller “things” which are not always immediately obviously this or that. There is a protocol that the lung team will be following in your case.
My CT scan showed “something” and I have had several scans since at increasing intervals. The consultant I spoke to said that a few years ago this would not even have been seen on the scan, it is just that the resolution/sample size is so much better nowadays. This is why they developed this pathway of scanning at intervals to see if things are stable or changing.
This is really reassuring , thanks so much Xx
Thank you! This is really reassuring xxx
I have the same.. they told me if they took 100 people off the street and gave them a CT scan that there would be about 80% show something up.. when I had my first CT scan it showed lung nodule and liver nodule.. I ended up having a liver MRI which showed a haemangioma which I’ve had for years apparently and the lung nodule like you was indeterminate which meant scans every 3 months for a year then they will dismiss it if no changes by then.. I assume yours is similar.. I was told not to worry about it.. I’ve also heard 3 other people ( friends) in the same boat.. I’m sure you will be fine , try not to worry x