Waiting repeat CT scan for lung nodule

Hi,

I had a CT scan for heart issues and they found a lung nodule - 8mm in the left upper lobe. Dr rang and said he wasnt unduly concerned but wanted to repeat CT scan in three months. I had never spoken to him or met with him before the scan or since. So CT is booked for June 28th. He suggested it might have always been there but it wasnt on CT scan done in August 2017.

In the meantime, I still have a cough, am breathless but asthma meds dont help and have a pain like pleurisy in the left upper part of my back. Went back to GP and she asked if I had night sweats - yes and losing weight - no. She said it was pointless doing chest xray as scan is booked. She suggested I take paracetamol.

I have a couple of questions. Would they be able to tell me if it was spiculated or not given its size?

I've read the CT scan would be low resolution but they have confirmed it is a high resolution with contrast dye again. Is that just them being thorough?

Is the fact I have pain in the same area relevant? I've googled and usually nodules have no symptoms.

I feel like there is an elephant sitting on my chest but GP said no wheeze - I have never had wheezy asthma - and no sign of infection. She said lungs sounded clear.

The breathlessness has been an issue for a while, it comes now and again and was part of the reason I had my heart checked (family history of heart disease) Heart is perfect. Pain gets worse on breathing in.

I am more fed up than anything else. I am constantly tired but doc says that is depression. They blame everything on that lol. The GP said pain and breathlessness could be anxiety caused by depression - it could but they were there before the CT scan showed anything

The night sweats could be menopause which may also be causing the breathlessness.

I feel guilty even asking these questions. Mam died of breast cancer and father had prostate so I am in awe of people on here who are so strong and seem to cope so well.

I hate the waiting and not knowing. Its driving me nuts.

Thanks

ps ex smoker more than twenty years since last cigarette

[Benjy2018]

Hi

I had a upper right lobectomy in April 2017. One year on there was a nodule but 3 months later it had disappeared. I think these things can come and go. I do get a lot of upper respiratory infections, but on the whole try to keep as healthy as possible. My mother also had b/ccancer so it is always a worry. I do get post operative pain, usually when hiccuping or just randomly it feels like a punch, and was told it can be persistent, however this seems after 2 years to be less. Please assert yourself when asking questions, and be aware that you have a choice of where you are referred. Kind regards Susan

[Hidden in reply to Benjy2018]

Thanks Susan. I dont have anyone to ask questions of at the moment. GP told me to forget it as I am not a chain smoker and not coughing up blood so cant be anything sinister. I am glad things are working out for you

[jckjanetrosalin]

Hope all work out well for you. I had lobectomy that turned out to be inflammation.

[Hidden in reply to jckjanetrosalin]

oh no, I am so sorry that happened. I dont want surgery if I can avoid it. I am allergic to a lot of painkillers The strong ones!

[jckjanetrosalin in reply to Hidden]

I came of morphine and all painkillers after 4 days as they played havoc with my irritable bowel. I ended up having enemia. I just used water bottle.

[Mauranne]

Hi

Your symptoms of breathlessness and cough could be due to something like silent reflux. There are other symptoms of course which you can look up. It was some weeks before I was diagnosed with this after having a lower right lobectomy to remove a 3.5mm ground glass nodule which was adenocarcoma. A lot of people have silent reflux without knowing it.

A cough, hoarseness and noisy breathing are my main symptoms but my lungs are clear. The odd little pain you have could be heartburn. Your lung nodule is very small which is good news and it is unlikely that your symptoms are due to that. Try not to worry because it will make you feel worse. Good luck with your scan.

Regards

Maureen x

[JanetteR57]

Understand your concerns but nodule management is quite rigorous as many are now found on the lung health checks around the country (Manchester, London, Leeds and Liverpool) and more pilot schemes about to start. Many people have nodules in the lung in the same way most of us have freckles and most will not develop into anything in the same way freckles/moles do not all develop into something sinister. As others have said, some of these come and go as do other marks on the lungs that are often caused by inflammation and scarring after infections including TB. Observation is the usual process (in case you think you are missing out) and CT with contrast is more accurate than chest x-ray as your GP has told you. I'm a little concerned at what your GP has told you about not being a chain smoker - anyone can get lung cancer - not necessarily related to smoking. They need to get up with the times. I lost half my left lung and had a 7cm tumour removed in Dec 2010 diagnosed in jan 2011 as adenocarcinoma and I have never smoked in my life. It took several months after going to A&E with symptoms for my treatment and diagnosis. I've had quite severe breathlessness in the last few months (after being hospitalised with a respiratory virus - in isolation - in January) and had temperature fluctuations, extreme fatigue and unable to get into my usual rhythm when swimming (I usually swim 200 lengths but even after a couple have been in difficulty in recent months so not done more than 100 for several weeks and only going once or twice a week instead of 3-4 times) but am being pushed between heart and respiratory departments with neither saying they are the cause. Given my cancer history, they are investigating but even so, it takes weeks and months between one test and another. I, like others, have to appreciate these things take time and patience is one of the skills I had to learn before. It's important that tests are done so that harsh treatments are not given unnecessarily. I do know that anxiety and worrying won't help so try and distract yourself if you can although I appreciate that's difficult. good luck.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hi Hidden,

As you can see from feedback from your post there is a lot of support available here on the forum from those who have experienced waiting for investigations and results. Hopefully when you have your scan in four weeks time you will be better informed re diagnosis and about how your care will be managed.In the meantime if you would like to speak to someone please don't hesitate to call the nurse led Helpline 0800 358 7200.

Kind regards,

All the team at the Roy Castle Helpline