Kind of feel lost and mentally and emotionally overwhelmed.
It started this week, Monday morning, found a hard moveable lump on my collarbone. First I thought it was a reactive node from my second COVID vaccine jab a few days prior, did an ultrasound and biopsy, still awaiting results, but the prelim report said they found atypical cells. Kind of makes me think not vaccine related. Saw another doc today and told him about the lump, he ordered a chest x-ray for me.
Got the results immediately as it was a phone report, but basically the doctor said they found small markings on my right lung, ordered a CT scan for tomorrow.
Can someone explain small markings? It can be sign of cancer, but could it be scarring or something?
I’ve been a smoker for the last 25 years, about a pack a day. So I guess I asked for it...
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No one deserves cancer. Smoker or not. Only about 14% of smokers get lung cancer. The ACS and American Lung Association put so much focus on the use of tobacco they generated a stigma about it. So please forgive yourself.
Small markings could be scarring from infections or asthma. I send hope that is what this turns out to be. The CT scan will give them more detail and tell them if it's necessary to have a PET scan then a biopsy if it's indicated.
I never smoked at all and had 2 small spots found because of a CT for my breast! That CT saved my life! Both taken out 4/30/2018 and thankfully have had clear scans since...it is very scary for sure! I just had surgery to remove more in my thyroid on 4/20/21 that was also partially removed in 2018...the waiting is the worst part!! Everyone tells me one day at a time...hard to do but best. I also read everything on the computer and it is the worst thing to do - we are stronger than we think! I found this site very helpful - there are a long of strong survivors here - use this place to ask questions and vent!
As others said no one deserves cancer, as hard as it is keep the faith and hope. You did the right thing getting it checked. I was a social smoker but it could just be an affection of some sort too. Get the tests and go from there. I had a chest X-ray first thought to be round pneumonia, CT showed more detail then I had a PET and an MRI of the brain then a biopsy. That was five years ago and I am now in complete remission. Lung cancer isn’t what it was 40 years ago there are a lot of good treatments if it is. Also whatever your results get a second opinion. I started at a local hospital but after my tests I got a second opinion at a university hospital. Stay strong and be your own advocate through this. God Bless
God bless you all, truly ❤️. A small update, final biopsy results from the lymph node came in, they think it’s reactive due to either the vaccine jab, or an ongoing chest skin infection (been 6 months and have had to drain some postules several times). No malignant cells found.
So there’s some good news there. Hoping the lung CT shows something innocent too, but I haven’t had a chest infection, nor do I have asthma. Going to try and relax a bit this weekend (doubtful).
Glad that you're a bit more reassured - imaging and other tests can show discrepancies but there can be many causes. even if a tumour or a lung nodule, not all are malignant so the test for malignancy being negative is positive for you. As others have said, smoking has a stigma and association with lung cancer but for those of us who developed lung cancer with never smoking in our lives, it's also not something that most people are aware of.... if you have lungs you can develop it irrespective of smoking status. Maybe this 'wake-up' call will help you improve your lung health but as others have said, nobody 'deserves' any cancer. In mid Oct I went to A&E with strange symptoms for me and a chest x-ray showed a 'lesion' then CT over a month later showed a 'large mass'. I had surgery in the December to remove the 'mass' and half my lung diagnosed as lung cancer in the January and was back at work and swimming in the March. That was Oct 2010 and January 2011. Since then much more research and treatments for all types of respiratory conditions and lung cancer so hope they get to the bottom of whatever it is and get you treatment or reassurance you seek. good luck. let us know how you get on.
If you've been exposed to allergens, air pollution, fumes from cleaning supplies, or molds they can cause issues too. So glad you have found some relief from some of the anxiety.
Glad you got reassuring news. There have been some studies that indicate that post vaccine there can be swelling of the lymph nodes which needs to be accounted for depending on the timing of the scan after the vaccine.
With all of that said, depending on your age, you still qualify for yearly lung cancer screening so please do talk to your PCP about it for next year. The guidelines just changed in March of this year, to decrease the pack years to 20 years and the age requirement to 50. Even if you quit smoking within the last 15 years you would still qualify for the screening. Please let me know if you have any questions about it. Here's the link to more info on the GO2 Foundation website: go2foundation.org/risk-earl...
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