mets to lung
Comments
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CT done. And the wait begins... Seems too simple and short of a test to yield such major life altering information.
Brenda, Jean, Carol & all - you are in my prayers daily. I am glad all seems to be relatively well with you all.0 -
MO just called with preliminary results. Mixed results - The 4 small nodules (3mm, 4mm, 5mm & 6mm) are no longer evident which could mean they were not malignant or alternatively, that the chemo is working. Great news or OK news. However, three new areas showed up. One 5mm nodule and two "abnormal areas", one fairly large. So we are waiting for the pulmonologist to tell us if those two could be radiation related (hopefully that's it). The nodule we are hoping is an infection given there is accompanying inflammation. Lots would have to go right for the lungs to all be good, but it is still possible.0 -
Warm thoughts and prayers go out to you, Chanah! I hope a lot goes right for you. BTW, I know I am starting to sound like a carbo/gemzar advertisement, but it looks like you have not tried this combo! I know we are all different, but that might work for you, too!
Hugs,
Brenda0 -
Yes, Padiddle, I also find that any little physical thing hits me harder too. I underestimate what all these chemicals are doing to my body sometimes! The chemo vacation did my system a lot of good, I think, feel so much stronger now. It was worth trading small progression for the break.
Brenda, my onc's thinking is that because the nodules are growing slowly a single agent will be enough and he wants to keep the Gemzar/Carbo for next line treatment. I hear some good results from Xeloda. In any case, we'll scan 2 months into treatment and see if it's working.
Had an MRI and it showed NO bone mets (yay!!), but I have degeneration of the vertebrae in my lower and upper spine. Nothing needs to be done about that now, I guess if it gives me more trouble I'll see an orthopod.
Now for the exciting news!! My friends took up a collection and have paid for a skydive for me!! So I had to wait for my onc to see the MRI and let me know if it would be ok for me to dive, and he said yes. So I'm hoping to do it next week! Am so excited, know I'll probably wet my pants before jumping out of the airoplane, but it's a tandem dive, so the instructor dives, I'll be like a baby kangaroo, strapped onto his front.0 -
I am hoping that I will not belong here but I have been reading these past 12 pages of discussions and really learned a lot. Thank you all. My CT scans have been consistently "stable", but on Wednesday I gathered them up and mapped them out on a drawing of my lungs. I have gone from 2 nodules seen during my initial BC workup to 6, with the largest now 13x6mm and most of them 4-8mm spiculated noncalcified nodules. I don't feel comfortable with the term "stable" any longer and am seeking a second opinion from a pulmonologist, when I find one. My questions are: How was your diagnosis of breast cancer lung mets determined? What are the most commonly used tumor markers for lung mets? And I was going to ask about treatments, but you all have mostly really covered that area, again, I thank you.
I was PM'g some of you, and I would still appreciate any information you might care to provide. I am worried, I don't know how I will find a good pulmonologist, so I am hunting on the Internet. My and my husband's PCPs have given us names to call, I am truly just hoping that I am being an alarmist here, and there is really nothing going on. I feel good, I have my energy back and I am optimistic but reading things here has made me realize that I need to be proactive, for sure, and not be lulled by this term "stable".
My best wishes to all of you.
Linda0 -
Carolben! You wild girl, you! Skydiving! I hope you post the pics!!!!
LindaF - Sorry you had to join our tribe, but welcome to you! I hope that your nodules are benign - as many are. But yes- we have to be pro-active for our health.0 -
Linda,
Nodules in the lung are pretty common and can be the result of previous or current infection, but with a bc dx, you should keep track of them. Mine were dismissed by my pulmonologist for over a year, even with pleural effusions, but after bc was finally diagnosed I had a PET/CT to have another look at them. Even though they showed increased uptake, it was still considered possible that they were not related to the bc, since no cancer cells had been found when they drained the pleural effusions. The deciding factor was a lung biopsy that showed cancer cells like the ones found in my breast biopsy.
If you don't have any shortness of breath and there's no fluid around the lungs on your scans, they will probably just watch and wait. If you do develop symptoms, a PET/CT would give more info, but only a lung biopsy would be definitive. It's stressful to just monitor them, but lung biopsies are a lot harder than breast and you'll want to wait until it's really necessary.
I hope you can find a good pulmonologist. Maybe your mo has a recommendation.0 -
Linda, my onc had scheduled me to see a pulmonologist until I got the results of my pathology report from lung fluid that showed original bc cells. He then said that I didn't need the pulmonologist since my diagnosis was lungs mets. I totally trust my onc and would look for another one if I had any doubts about my treatment. I was diagnosed with IBC (Inflammatory breast cancer) in 2005. I had a 51% chance to survive 5 yrs. I will soon figure out how to update my info to show my journey until the present. Mine spread to my bones in 2011. After being on Arimidex for 6 yrs., it stopped working and I lost 32 pounds. I was on Tamoxifen for 13 mos. Then this past September I had CT scan and bone scan and there was fluid in my pleural cavity. I had a hacking cough that was so bad I would vomit and the wheezing was so bad (I was a runner) that I had to use an inhaler frequently.
My onc put me on Xeloda for 14/7 schedule; had to stop it after one cycle and now on the combo.
I don't know if I've helped you at all. I hope so, maybe a little. I have a cousin that saw a pulmonologist first and then somehow she ended up w the onc last. She dropped the pulmonologist after she saw the onc because she has small cell lung cancer. I was so anxious for her to see a oncologist asap.
Good luck w whatever you decide!0 -
Linda, my pleural effusion fluid had breast cancer cells. The CT scan showed about 100 little tumors in the lining of my left lung. They went away after 5 treatments of carboplatin and gemzar.
Carolben: Skydiving! I am so happy for you! If you're afraid of peeing in your pants you may want to wear a diaper? Just for that occasion? Happy diving, my friend!
Hugs to all,
Brenda0 -
Wow, ladies, thank you all.
Brenda, I followed your conversations with notes, and if I read them correctly your mets were only diagnosed in late Sep and are now apparently gone??? and I have that combo circled, believe me. I have received back several PM from you all and I really thank you for taking the time to talk to me, answer my questions and encourage me.
I sincerely hope I am being an alarmist, but I was a nurse-practitioner and I probably can read things into this that may not be concerning to those in the know. If my concerns are valid, my Arimidex stopped working back last Oct, darn as we were getting along so nicely!!
You are one brave, strong, and giving group. You may never know how much the information you have shared will be of help to others, but know that I have a far better picture of what questions to ask, and how to proceed than I did before I came here yesterday!
I will keep lurking, I am totally awed by the amount of information I didn't know about breast cancer metastses. Thank you.
Linda0 -
Do pleural effusions show up on lung CT without contrast?
Do recurrances to the chest wall show on a lung CT?
What about nodes in the chest near the lungs, do they show up on lung CT's?0 -
Chanah, My pleural effusion showed during regular x-ray and CT scan with contrast. A lung CT should include the chest wall. I think nodes have a way of showing during a CT scan as well, not sure about the need for contrast.
Linda, I was diagnosed with mets on Sep. 11, 2013. This is when they did my CT scan with contrast and numerous (too many to count) tumors showed up on the lining of my left lung. They did not officially diagnose until the Monday after that when the pleural fluid showed positive for metastasis. The amazing thing was that I only had 5 weekly chemo treatments. The CT was scheduled only to determine what the tumor receptors were. They looked very hard (in the chest and lung areas) and could not find any tumors to biopsy. This is my "miracle" for the moment. Long may it last.
Hugs,
Brenda0 -
Brenda, that is great news!! This is encouraging for all of us!!!
Thanks for sharing!!
Judy0 -
The information on this thread is so informative. Some of the questions asked are some that I have had too and the answer comes before I am able to even ask. That's fast! I just had my 31st dose of Abraxane. My latest issue is belly ache with nausea. Nurse at chemo asked me to start taking Pepcid AC, so I started that on Monday. It has not made a difference yet.
I am almost certain nodes show up on CT scan. When my son was being treated for cancer, he had lymph nodes effected deep in the abdomen that were monitored via CT scan with contrast.
Long may your miracle last Brenda! Carolben: That's awesome you are skydiving. That is something I always felt would be a blast to do. Are you going to sing a song on your float down?
Hugs to all.
Jean0 -
Carolben, you go girl! You are braver than I. When I was younger I wanted to skydive. Now I don't want to do anything dangerous! Hope someone takes a picture of you that you can post for us!!0 -
Anyone heard from Europa? It's been a little while.
~Brenda0 -
Mixed results. The 4 old lung nodules are no longer evident on CT, but there is one new 5mm nodule. Also there is now two larger areas showing. Those are hopefully delayed reactions to radiation. Apparently from 1 to 11 months out from the last radiation treatment, any lung damage begins to be visible. It's called radiation pneumonitis. Often it resolves slowly but other times it progresses from radiation pneumonitis to fibrosis. Pneumonitis is reversible, fibrosis is not reversible and I think it is terminal.0 -
Chanah: I hope it works out to be reversible. Will you stay on the current treatment with Femara? Jean0 -
Chanah, I never had radiation so hadn't heard that about radiation pneumoniitis. How long til you know if it is reversible or not? Just had my third round of cmf yesterday. It is a beautiful day here so I'm going to rake some leaves while I am on the decadron high. The nurses were worried about my sob getting worse. Said I could throw a clot and reminded me that is fatal. I never think about things like that so was surprised when they were debating on whether or not to give me chemo. My onc was out of town. I insisted that he would give it to me because he knows I freak out if I have to miss a treatment. His nurse came in and conferred with me and the other nurses and agreed to give me the chemo. I had to promise if I had pain in the chest that I would call immediately. I have had no pain at all so think I am okay. I hate having to worry about this crap and hate what cancer does to my psyche. I much prefer my Pollyanna personality! LOL!0 -
Chanah, I hope it is the reversible kind as well. I'll be thinking about you.
Glenna, I'm glad you had no bad s/e's with your chemo.
Hugs to everyone!
~Brenda0 -
Thank you all for your kindness.
I have been off the boards for a few days - breathing has been tough. Feeling a bit better today.
I have an appointment on 11/19 to talk with the pulmonologist about how best to deal with this and about how/when we will know if it will resolve or a prognosis timeline if it does not.
Jean - yes, the oncologist thinks even if there is progression, there is regression too so for now we will stay the course with Femara (actually its generic, letrozole) and Herceptin.
Glenna - glad you got your treatment and had no bad se's.0 -
Chana,
Hope the lung problem turns out to be pneumonitis. I understand the treatment for that is steroids. The pulmonologist I saw thought I had either pneumonitis or fibrosis initially - my lungs had a lot of inflammation, but no signs of metastasis. Turns out on biopsy that I did have mets to the lungs -spread through the lymphatic system so widespread (lots of tiny nodules that didn't show up on CT scans.) The shortness of breath (SOB) is so discouraging. Do you have oxygen at home? I have a concentrator and then portable tanks for when I need them. Right now, Xeloda has helped me with the SOB. Will be thinking of you tomorrow and hope you get some answers.
Laura
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Thank you Loveforlife (love your moniker by the way). Pulmonologist gave me steroids and said it is too soon to tell what is going on - says we will stay in "wait and see mode". Letrozole (= Femara), Herceptin, with steroids and inhalers added. He plans to retest breathing in 8 -12 weeks and then rescan in 16 - 24 weeks based on symptoms. I find it easier to move forward with living when discomfort in my lungs and SOB are not distracting me.
Which leads to a funny thing. My first time on the boards, someone mentioned "the SOB" driving her nuts. I wondered to whom she was referring. Looked at her other posts - still didn't get it. My dh says I was a cancer virgin. Chemo, rads and mets - now I must be a cancer slut???0 -
Ha ha ha! I did not know what "SOB" meant until someone spelled it out!
Wait and see mode is fine with me. Are you okay with that?
Hugs,
Brenda0 -
Most of the time I am OK with wait and see. It's easier when I am not working on breathing... I'm sure you can relate to that.0 -
Chanah, I am hoping and praying that your breathing issues get resolved. You are right. I can truly relate to the SOB.
Hugs,
Brenda0 -
The SOB is difficult. I've been trying the purse lip breathing technique which is suppose to help. There are videos showing the technique. My neighbor is in pulmonary rehab for a lung disease and she told me about this technique. It might be of some benefit for us with SOB. When it gets cold outside, putting something over your nose and mouth helps with SOB. If anyone knows of other ways to help with SOB, could you post them. Every little bit helps. Hugs to all of you. Jean0 -
Chanah - I hope that the steroids help drive away the SOB! (LOL!)
Jean - Pursed Lip breathing definitely has helped me.
Also being very aware of my breathing when I'm doing something that might make me SOB - I take my time and breathe very deliberately. (Walk up a few stairs, stop and breathe, walk a few more stairs, stop and breathe...) It takes longer to do anything - and it's totally against my jump up and move nature - but it helps.
I think just getting used to being slower is the toughest thing for me. Before this, I would backpack/hike, snowboard, snowshoe, move at a mile a minute, now I'm a turtle... Slow and steady wins the race - right?
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Hello all!!! I have been away from the boards for a while, I sorta got caught up in a marathon reading binge! I love to read and I came across a series and I have finished it. LOL.
Brenda, I am so glad to read of your wonderful news!!!! If Xeloda doesn't do its job, I am definately going to be asking about your combo!
Chanah, good to see you! I hope your results are all to the good!
Carolben, I have skydived also. It is fantastic and I would do it again in a heart beat. It is expensive though.
Loveforlife, I hear you on the shortness of breath. I have that too. I have to rest very often between what I am doing. It took me nearly all day to do a couple of hours of leaf raking. Too many rest breaks but I need to take them.
Padiddle, good to see you again also. Thanks for the tips on breathing exercises!
Hello and blessings to everyone else, I will stop by for longer in a bit.
Hugs....Euro0 -
Europa: Glad to see your back too! Thanks Loveforlife for adding more tips. Yup, slow and steady! Chanah: Thinking of you and whether or not the steroids and inhalers have offered you some relief of your symptoms. Hang in there all. Jean0
