Spots on lungs that is not cancer

[Lady1958]

I have COPD and Stage 4 Lung Cancer when I received my follow up the CT scan found spots and the Cancer doctor does not know what it is. Really? But the cancer is getting smaller. Went to my PCP Dr and got a bunch of antibiotics and lets see if this works it should?? Another Really????

Now I have an appt with my Pulmonary doctor on Friday feel a little better but not breathing better and probably never will. Just can not stand sitting here wondering what these spots are. I'm hoping maybe someone else may know what these spots are. These spots have never showed up on CT Scans before and I have had a lot of scans.

What is this Lady1958 new question for the month. HaHa....

[Ncpoet]

Could it be an area of inflammation? I have stage four and I had spots show up on one scan and the next scan they were gone. My doc thought it was inflammation. Let us know what you find out.

Judy

[Lady1958 in reply to Ncpoet]

The oncology dr says my lungs are not inflamed and everything looks good..... I go to a new lung dr this Friday lets see what he sees. I just do not trust doctors anymore. Before the cancer was found I already had spots on my lungs but they were too small for any doctor to mess with. So it got to the point of me not being able to walk but I told the doctor over and over it was my hip so was sent to a different doctor and there was a tumor on my hip that was cancer which came from my lungs this went on from July 2019 until November 2019......

Started treatment in February so half of my hip is gone and hip surgery is out of the question. Sorry to go on about this and doctors but I still have some hope. I find my hope thru praying everyday.

Lady1958

[Ncpoet in reply to Lady1958]

You have had it rough, but keep hoping. I was diagnosed in 2013 and have had no signs of cancer since 2016. Hope the new doctor turns out to be the best.

Judy

[Lady1958 in reply to Ncpoet]

Congrat's on your diagnose of no cancer since 2016 I hope I get there one day too.

Thank you for the vote confidence a new doctor can be better and hope will be better. Not I need to figure how to get in the shower and not have a panic attack.

One day live will be back to half way normal again I hope.

Lady1958

[Lady1958 in reply to Ncpoet]

I know I should not be reading the report but it has for the chest. There are multiple irregular mass like densities and nodules within both lower lobes. Distribution and relatively rapid onset would suggest that these are infectious in etiology. However,, neoplasm cannot be excluded. The rest of the report shows little or no change in the cancer.

Not sure what this means but per google which I should not do either is some type of infections.

Also sent KatherineK the report please is help me understand. Life is getting harder to get by on.

Friday cannot get here soon enough.

Lady1958

[Ncpoet in reply to Lady1958]

Reads like nodules may just be infection. My doctor followed up on mine in three months after they appeared on scan and they had gone away. Didn’t do any treatment since no symptoms at time. It was just a wait and watch. Just see what your new doctor thinks. Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” Praying for the best for you!

Judy

[Lady1958 in reply to Ncpoet]

Thank you I hoping that is all it is my lungs are not the greatest. I surely cannot take anymore troubles.

Thank you again Ncpoet.

[Lady1958 in reply to Ncpoet]

Dr was really good but seems to think that maybe it could be pneumonia. Put on more Antibiotics. I have been on antibiotics for months now and getting really tired of going in circles. Anyway lets do this and see if it is gone in about 4 weeks.

Lady1958

[Ncpoet in reply to Lady1958]

Definitely sounds like a reason for spots. Glad you are continuing antibiotics. I also had pneumonia. Hope it heals soon.

Take care,

Judy

[Lady1958 in reply to Ncpoet]

Hello Judy "Ncpoet" I was wondering what type of treatment do you have done and are you still doing treatment? I'm doing Keytruda and have been told to never stop the treatment due to the cancer well come back. Please let me know still worried about life in general. Lost my caregiver also Life keeps getting harder and harder maybe God is trying to tell me to get up and live life again and stop sitting here crying.

Thank you so much,

Nancy "Lady1958"

[Ncpoet in reply to Lady1958]

I tested ALK and took drugs that worked best for that. Keytruda was not recommended for me. Each person’s treatment is as individual as their cancer. I was supposed to take Alimta as my maintenance drug. After three years, I had adverse side effects and had to stop taking it. I am currently not in treatment and no evidence of disease at present. I am so sorry you lost your caregiver. My caregiver passed away a year ago. You do need to live while treatment goes on, but it is OK to cry when you need to. It helps to think of yourself as a survivor!

Hugs and prayers,

Judy

[Lady1958 in reply to Ncpoet]

Thank you so much just trying to find a normal life again. My old boss said he would hire me back part time but got to be able to get down there. One of my friends found me a caregiver at $12 Per hr. which is a great help.

Hugs and prayers ,

Nancy

[Ncpoet in reply to Lady1958]

Glad things are becoming better for you.

Cancer has taught me this:

Celebrate the little things. Happiness comes from within. Don’t wait until you feel better to be happy. Enjoy every day of life even when there is pain. Find things that make you laugh. Humor really helps with healing. Keep a gratitude journal, writing three things before bedtime that you feel thankful for that day and then go to bed feeling blessed. Let family and friends know you love them. Pray for others and then yourself. Stay positive. Believe you will survive. Remember Romans 12:12. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”

Keep the faith,

Judy

[Lady1958 in reply to Ncpoet]

Thank you again, it is hard when my oldest daughter and grandkids do not speak to me. She told the kids to never talk to me again. My Ex husband was taking care of me but just wanted my house since he has no job and no house. He was using me for my money would not spend his own so was dragging me in a hole again which he has done for 38 yrs. I kicked him out this past weekend. My youngest daughter is the only one helping me and is there for me but is starting her career and still in college. She works 2 days out of the week at the State of Texas I'm so proud of her. I have a friend that found me a caregiver so somethings are looking up. I still trying to keep my head up and thank God for giving me another day.

Thank you for all of your support and will try to keep the faith

Nancy "Lady1958"

[Lady1958 in reply to Ncpoet]

I will let you know as soon as I find out thank you for (+) outlook.

Lady1958

[Feelingblessed2013]

Don't ya just love it when drs don't listen? All the more reason for us to be our own advocate

[Lady1958 in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

Hello KatherineK

I know I should not be reading the report but it has for the chest. There are multiple irregular mass like densities and nodules within both lower lobes. Distribution and relatively rapid onset would suggest that these are infectious in etiology. However,, neoplasm cannot be excluded. The rest of the report shows little or no change in the cancer.

Not sure what this means but per google which I should not do either is some type of infections.

Friday cannot get here soon enough.

Lady1958

[Lady1958 in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

Hello KatherineK

Dr seems to think it maybe pneumonia so more Antibiotics. I have been on antibiotics for months it seems like. Lets keep playing this game and see what happens. I just want a somewhat normal life again. At least be able to go somewhere besides doctors offices.

Laby1958

[Feelingblessed2013 in reply to Lady1958]

I am sorry I didn't reply to your last post, life kind of got in the way.

But: some infections are harder to kill needing more/different antibiotics for a longer period of time.

As for not reading the scan report, I read mine every time. The radiologist saying "neoplasm cannot be excluded" is just him or her covering their butt.

At one point after my second LC surgery, I had a radiologist say that a large spot on my still healing lung could be a new tumor. It was bruised and swollen, I was only a few weeks post op.

You will get through this. Just repeat after me "this too shall pass" and keep saying it until you feel a little better. Try to have a positive attitude ( I know, some days not easy). I tell myself all the time that every day I wake up is a good day.

[Lady1958 in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

Thank you so very much KatherineK. The lung doctor seems to think and hope it is pneumonia since my lungs are sooooo bad that I might be on antibiotic all the time. Going to take antibiotics the after 4 weeks do another CT scan. If not gone then a biopsy is next. My lung cannot be poked with a needle are it will clasps. I do not want to be on a respirator either. So my sponsor says just wait it probably is not cancer are I would in a hospital for me to try to be "I DO NOT HAVE CANCER AND EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT" I wake up every morning and thank God for giving me another day and try to make the best of it.

Lady1958

[Feelingblessed2013 in reply to Lady1958]

My oncologist told me at the very beginning of my journey that a good attitude helps a lot. You seem to have that.

I look at it this way, we are actually kinda lucky. We have faced our mortality, we know how precious life is, we have an understanding and an appreciation that too many don't. We realize that life isn't guaranteed, I could step off the curb tomorrow and get hit by a bus. Makes us appreciate what we have.

[Lady1958 in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

Thank you KatherineK I have some days that I wish I could just go back.

[Feelingblessed2013 in reply to Lady1958]

I think a lot of us have those days. Days that we wish we could redo stuff in our past. Unfortunately, all we can do is go forward from here. One day at a time, I step at a time.

[Lady1958 in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

It one of these days "THIS TO SHALL PASS AND TOMORROW WILL BE A BETTER DAY"

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

More than 90% of lung nodules are benign. Here in Michigan and any other state that is part of the Ohio River Valley there is a harmless fungus that can get into the lungs and cause nodules. It’s estimated that half of the people in Michigan die of old age and other causes never knowing they had it. It’s called histoplasmosis. There are similar infectious processes on the east coast and in the southwest. Probably the northwest as well.

[Lady1958]

Oh thank you if that is what it is which I'm hoping then it will not effect my breathing any more than now.

Thank you so much for trying to keep the (+) outlook in my life.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

How did it go?

[Lady1958]

The Lung doctor thinks it could be Pneumonia so he put me on antibiotics then after 4 more weeks another CT scan to see if the spot is gone if not biopsy. The doctor said the spot is much larger then the other spots which is cancer so he thinks it is not but can not rule it out.

More sitting and waiting it no wonder I have anxiety and take so many pills.

I'm trying to stay (+) but getting hard to do when you start having hope then something else pops ups.

Thank you Denzie for asking and keeping me in your thoughts.