Recently I have started to have wheezing most of the time I breathe, so I decided to go Doctors and have it checked out as it has been 7 weeks. I came away a bit shocked if I'm honest. She has sent me for a chest Xray as apparently I have a Nodule on the bottom of my right lung! I've not been told of this before, the last X ray was a couple years ago. Well, now I am panicking incase its sinister. She said the wheezing could be to do with reflux, which gas never gone.
Just wondering if any of you have experienced this ?
Thanks for reading.
Popsic. X
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Popsic
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I am 72 years old and 17 years post an Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy. In 2014 (i.e. at a similar age to what you are now) after a winter chest infection, I was sent for a routine chest X-ray, as a result of which it was discovered that I had an 13mm growth on my upper right lung. It was considered too small to biopsy, therefore the medical team decided simply to monitor it. Over the following 18 months, I had three CT scans at six monthly intervals, which showed no measurable change and it was concluded that the growth was a benign nodule.
Five years later in 2021, because of a persistent cough, my GP again sent me for a chest X-ray. The growth was still there, but had grown to 20mm. After endless tests, including a bronchoscopy, a PET scan and a dotatate scan, it was concluded that the growth was in fact a carcinoid. These are very slow growing cancerous tumours, which do not normally spread to other parts of the body. The standard treatment is to remove them surgically, by performing a lobectomy. However, because of my previous IL surgery, during which my right lung was collapsed and then re-expanded, the thoracic surgery team were reluctant to operate. We jointly decided that they would continue to monitor the tumour. Since then, I have had two further CT scans, the last one in December 2024, and there has been no further change.
There are two further things that I should mention. Firstly, the carcinoid is unrelated to my previous oesophageal cancer and, secondly, the carcinoid is not the cause of my persistent cough, which I still have from time to time. The cough is due to a combination of post-nasal drip and LPR (silent reflux).
The key thing I would like you to take away from my story is that a nodule is not something to worry about.
PS. I should also have mentioned that in 2016, after experiencing breathing difficulties, I was diagnosed with late onset asthma and prescribed a steroidal inhaler. Whether this was in any way caused by the collapsing of my lung in 2007, or is just age-related, we will never know.
Hello Spikey,You have no idea how much peace you have just given me. I am a worrier, so anytime I am told something I don't understand my BI polar kicks in.
The doctor did ask if I was asthmatic, which, as far as I know I'm not, but both my children are!
I couldn't understand why no one had mentioned this nodule to me before now. I have a chest X ray tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see what is found / said. I feel that given my history, IL and the Squamous that I had removed 2 years ago, my surgery don't seem to take me serious when I say something isn't right. I don't go to the Doctors unless I really need to, so it isn't as if I'm there every five minutes.
I am glad that you are doing well, in fact All of us IL survivors are amazing! I never really think about what I've gone through, it's just another blip in the road.
Thank you again for this, you really have put my mind at ease.
I am 5 years post op and had a small nodule at the bottom of my right lung that was picked up by a semi-annual CT scan 2 years ago. My thoracic surgeon recommended removing it since it had grown slightly over a 6 month period. It turned out to be malignant, MRS+ type of cancer, which was different than my esophageal cancer. This reset my "cancer clock" and I need to go another 3 years before I can be considered being cured (5 year cancer free). It was a relatively easy surgery compared to the esophagectomy and recovery was pretty fast. I would keep monitoring your nodule size which I imagine your oncologist will in case it does grow or change, then deal with it if necessary. Good luck!
Ahh thank you for that, I don't see an oncologist regularly now, but I am still in contact of sorts, so I will be asking a few questions. I am pleased yours has been sorted for you. Hopefully onwards and upwards for you. I have an Xray booked for tomorrow, so we shall see what happens from there. Take care of yourself.
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