hi...
so FIL went in on friday for an appt with plastic surgeon. first reconstructive surg had been scheduled for 6.15. upon arriving, expereienced heavy chest pains and so they sent him immediately to ER- pericarditis was determined to be the issue (an imflammation of the heart lining)- treated and went away within a day.

however, before they determined what it was, they were running through the whole gamut to make sure it wasnt a heart attack. that included at CT scan. CT scan showed a nodule on his lung. we wont know more until later tomorrow (monday).

when they started his treatment over the winter, they did several scans prior to the surgery to make sure it was localized and had not spread- at that time it had not localized- it was only in the jaw region. they have not done any scans post surgery yet because hes had infections in his mouth.

i am nervous and wondering if this is definitely a spreading of cancer? i am wondering why it would be a nodule in the lungs... getting nervous... please share any advice if you have any or if you have heard of this. thanks

I can not help you, but I know others on here who can. I will say prayers for your FIL. I do know that my Drs are always checking my lungs and if they the slightest wheeze or rumble they get my an x-ray right away. Possibly for metastasis. Not saying that is what it is. It could also be the start of pneumonia. I have had that before and had to have several x-rays through the coarse of treatment as they wanted to make sure it was going away and not anything else.

Palm, best of luck to your future FIL this week. Hope the tests come back with good results. Sorry but Im not familiar with what yo are asking about. The only info I know is that IF the cancer comes back sometimes it is in the lungs. Remember, everyone is different and it could be anything.

thanks guys... hoping for some positive news today

I'll keep you all in my thoughts and prayers for some good news. (((((HUGS)))))

I'm by no means an expert, however before reacting to this news remember, it's NOT cancer until a biopsy says it is.

Several different conditions will show on a chest CT, pneumonia (old or new) inflammation etc...it's not necessarily cancer.

My first post Tx scan show 2 spots in the upper part of my lung and my docs said "not to worry". YEAH RIGHT especially since I was told that IF my cancer went beyond my nodes it would usually show up in my brain or my lungs!!. Next scan, 3 L O N G months later, those spots were gone BUT 2 new spots showed up in the lower part of the same lung. Again "not to worry" and again YEAH RIGHT. Next scan another 3 L O N G months and finally all were resolved. Lets pray it's nothing.

hi... thanks guys.. still no news. the group of doctors meet weekly to review cases and at their next meeting they will discuss course of action. until then, we patiently wait and pray. i am trying to remind myself it could be nothing, but it makes you very worried and anxious.

[quote=EricS]I'm by no means an expert, however before reacting to this news remember, it's NOT cancer until a biopsy says it is.

Several different conditions will show on a chest CT, pneumonia (old or new) inflammation etc...it's not necessarily cancer. [/quote]

I agree with Eric! My primary care Doc, prior to my Dx, had been watching a 'nodule' in my lung for years... it shrunk, on it's own, from 7mm to 4mm in a year, then stayed that way for 2 years.

My Oncologist saw it too, in the initial cancer CT scan.

After chemo and radiation, it was gone entirely in my last scan, six months post Tx.

thanks, it is reassuring to know this has happened to others. what makes me nervous though was that this did not appear in his previous scans prior to surgery- at least not that i or the family is aware of. who knows maybe he didnt even have a scan of his chest previously? i honestly dont get much info...

the news today is he has an appt on the 23rd to discuss next steps- im confused, whats there to discuss? why not just biopsy the nodule??

urgh! sorry for my frustration.