Been told its scarring but still worried

[Pattyb56]

Hi i posted last year because i was going thro alot of tests with the lung team becsuse they found a shadow on my right lung in sept 2020 and i had alot of ct scans pet scan broncospy in the year that followed but still wasnt told it was cancer as all the tests didnt show up any deasease as the shadow had not changed or grown and i had another ct scan in movember last year and that showed it stil had not changed or grown from the very first scan i had so the mdt team decide in dec that they think it is scarreing from a nastie invection i must of had previously and they didnt say i had luncar and they decided that i had another ct in a years timewhich was good news. I suffer with severe anxiety and i cant stop worring every time i get a pain in my chest or i feel short of breathe i start thinking wat if mdt are wrong it is lung cancer not scarring and they are letting me wait a year for another scan. I keep teling myself the lung team would not let me wait another year if they thought there was a chance it is lung cancer. Sorry for such a long post but just needed to abit of reasurance and maybe abit of advice. X

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

You are right. If they suspected lung cancer they would not wait a year for follow up. 94-95% of all nodules are benign. They turn out to be scarring from illness, allergy, exposure to chemical fumes,molds, allergens and cleaning supply fumes.

How large is the shadow? If they strongly suspected cancer they would have you come back for a CT in 2 or 3 months. Bringing you back in a year is added insurance. If this is a cancer, even a slow growing one, the will be only a very little bit of growth.

[Pattyb56 in reply to Denzie]

Hi denzie thk you so much for repling back to me the shadow is 2cm in my right upper lobe and it was that size when i first went for a ct scan back in november 2020 and from then on i had 4 more cts and pet scan and broncospy with a wash which they said there was no evidence of any desease and had not grown though out 2021 right up to my last scan in the end of november last year which showed it had not changed from very first scan. And in december thats when the mdt team said that they think it is like i said scarring from a nastie infection i had just before the found the shadow and do a follow up ct scan in november this year xx

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Pattyb56]

Your doctors have been very thorough so far. So glad you’ve a great medical team watching you.

[Jenniferroseolson]

I am glad you advocated for yourself and had a care team hear yourself concerns and order scans (especially PETscan) to confirm Ct findings. I agree with Denzie that it sounds like you are getting good care. But the anxiety sounds terrible and I encourage you to reach out to your doctor about getting some help managing that. I personally don’t know how I would handle it all without exercise, good nutrition, talking to friends, AND psychotherapy and anti anxiety /antidepressant medication. Best wishes to you

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Jenniferroseolson]

Yay, Jennifer! You are absolutely right. Excellent advice.

[Hidden]

Hi PattyIt's a worrying time.

You'll have a worrying time with lots of on going tests.

It's hard but to have to wait for other investigations.

I have pain in shoulder and shortness of breath.

You will get resurance and support on here.

It's a wonderful site.

Wishing you all the best.

Pam