Hi. Diagnoses December 21 with TNBC. CT scan taken. Lung nodules found. No concern. Move onto January this year where I had a recurrence exactly where the intial tumour was. CT scan showed no change wih the lung nodules. Given a single mascectomy & then 4 rounds of TC. Was given an all clear after the mascectomy. Given a CT scan to reassure me on the 9th September. Scan shows 2 new lung nodules which the oncologist says are tiny specks. He said it’s 50/50 it’s cancer. He’s contacting a lung specialist for advice. The only virally thing I had was back in May which I had a mild cough. Am I right in saying that nodules can appear years after having infections or radiotherapy. Radiotherapy was in the Autumn of 2022. Surely with all my treatment, this critter wouldnt have spread to my lungs so quickly. Also why did they not see previous nodules as being of no concern but they do with these two. I didnt think they would be able to distinguish what is malignant & benign from a CT scan. I’ve also got no symptoms at all & feeling well. As you can see my head in a whirl & my anxiety has hit the roof! Help & advice please
Hi @Pewter
Gosh what a worrying time for you 
, the wonders of modern technology are that we see inside the body in ways we just didn’t before , however the caveat is that sometimes something fairly innocuous can be seen which may or may not be something and nothing .
Essentially your consultant won’t know what these nodules are without further monitoring .
As you know yourself , nodules can indicate an old infection and I do know as an ex smoker that they can appear on smokers lungs , they can also be a sign of EARLY lung cancer .
Basically it is a case of waiting to hear what your consultant comes back with after getting further advice , they might suggest re scanning in a few months .
Breast cancer just feels like the gift that keeps on giving with all the endless worry and what ifs that seem to follow treatment and diagnosis .
Obviously no one will know what these new spots are without further monitoring … which doesn’t really help because it feels like limbo land again , they could be again more harmless spots - or if early cancer then you are in good hands with early intervention and treatment x
Arty1
Thank you. Yes the wonders of science now able to pick up things so minuscule. It’s the definately not knowing & the fearing the worst. I just wondered can a nodule just appear now from an old chest infection i had a couple of years ago & wasnt visible back in Feb but has just showed up now. If that makes any sense x
Hi Pewter,
Thanks for posting.
It’s understandable your head is in a whirl and your anxiety has hit the roof following your CT scan in November.
As you and @arty1 have said, changes on a scan can occur for different reasons including infection that you may have had some time ago and previous treatment.
However, it’s also important to investigate any new changes thoroughly so that breast cancer can be excluded. CT scans are read and interpreted by radiologists. Sometimes it is possible to distinguish between malignant and benign changes but on other occasions further expert advice or tests are required. This may be why you oncologist is contacting a lung specialist for further advice.
If you haven’t already done so, we would encourage you to talk to you breast care nurse about how you are feeling. They can provide you with information and support. The NHS also have information to help you manage anxiety.
Some people find it helpful to explore their thoughts and feelings through talking therapy. Your GP or breast care nurse can tell you more about what is available locally.
We offer a range of free supportive services which you may be interested in. They include face to face and online courses and events.
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