Christine --

They'll probably review this every 6 months or so with a chest CT, but I'll know more after I see the pulmonologist on 9/7. Looking at two of my prior reports, this seems to be in the same spot as one of the nodules I had monitored between 2006 and 2008. They had it at 4 -5 mm as well, so could be the case. At that size, somewhat surprising they even saw it on CXR.

No future guarantees, but all is good for now. All we can ask for, eh?

Thanks for the good thoughts.

Jeff,
Glad to hear that it is not urgent or imminent.
I hope that any future follow-ups show that there is no change or better still that it is gone.
Gabriele

Brian, Thank you for putting me somewhat at ease. My PET came back negative, so all is good for now. Following up with another CT in 3 mos.

Hello all,
First time post here ~ being CG to hubby John ~
He is 3 mo. post Tx and just got the all clear for his BOT (yay!), but the PET scan showed some "lung spots" they are concerned about, and new since the first PET before Tx. So we're headed for a biopsy this week to see what is going on. Needless to say we're panicked, anxious and downright scared at the possibilities. Docs are saying they are really surprised at the new spots showing up and it could be nothing, or of course, more cancer. Any others with this same situation or advice is most appreciated.
~Bonnie

Bonnie,

Where is he being Tx'ed?

I had some spots post Tx and Moffitt said "not to worry, probably just inflammation from the Tx", yeah right, but they said lets wait a few more months and see if they clear up. Sure enough 3 months later those were gone BUT 2 new spots appeared in the lower part of my lung (same lung) and again they said "not to worry", yeah right and they said to wait a few more months and I did and 3 months later all were gone.

Point is I would want to ask a few more questions before I let them poke my lungs or whatever the biopsy procedure is.

Bonnie - Think also about the "good" possibilities - that it is nothing serious. I certainly agree with David - that more questions would be in order. My son recently had an Xray showing "spots" on his lung and this is almost 4 years past end of TX. Then, a CT scan showed the spot was just scar tissue from pneumonia he had last winter. I've also read on this forum that sometimes PET scans can give false positives.

Thanks for the good news story in your case, David. John is being Tx'd at UofM (MI).
He has never had pneumonia that I know of, and these spots are recent since Tx. Still scares the dickens out of us.
The biopsy is less invasive, a needle aspiration type. Won't know the results til Friday or next Mon. Pray it's nothing.
~Bonnie

I suspect your husband was also given prophylactic radiation to the upper chest area, as I was, as insurance against metastasis. That can cause inflammation by itself, which will light up on PET. Also, the Midwest is fertile area for fungal and other processes that show up as inflammatory processes in the lungs.

It looks like my nodule was probably one of the same ones identified back in 2006, and is unchanged. Haven't heard to the contrary from the thoracic doc, who said he would call if something needed to be looked at further.

It's tough, but hang in there. Once you go through the cancer experience, everything seems to raise the specter of cancer. Lots of other things go on in the human body, and sometimes we forget that.

Jeff my friend. I sure will have you in my thoughts and prayers for this. You are a tough nice guy and will come out the winner.

Thanks Jeff for the extra insight. We did hear from the RO that things show up on the scan that are from enviromental exposure - ie: fungal stuff in the dirt, etc., as well as false positives.

The biopsy went well today and we are hopeful that the results will prove nothing to worry about.

Thanks for everyone's input and wealth of experience. Sure helps when all you get is the generic stuff from the MO's and RO's - you've all BEEN THERE, which is a world of difference. Bless you all!
~Bonnie