90 day post-treatment shows lung inflammation/"warm" spots
BUT, they discovered what they described as "warm" spots in my upper lungs. They say these are caused by inflammation, infection or metastatic cancer. There is still a lot of swelling and puffiness in my neck from the treatments and one of the docs said that the swelling was probably letting some food, etc, get into my lungs causing inflammation. However, the air in the room was very somber. I was sure hoping for a clean break. I am very happy about the head and next condition, but really don't want this damn metastatic cancer thing hanging over my head.
Anybody been here done this? I now have another scan set up in September to see what they can see.
Mike
Comments
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lung spots
Hi Mike
I have actual lung spots as opposed to warm spots. I have never gotten a clean scan and probably never will. More than likely you will get a clean scan next time around and these are just false positives. Everyday I say to myself, "You don't have cancer today, as far as you know anyway" and that's as good as it gets sometimes. happiness is truly a clean scan, or in some cases an "unchanged'" scan is just as good. Hang in there.0 -
LUNG SPOTS
I went through this also. First off, 90 day scans can still reveal hot spots from treatment, so do not pay much attention to them.
At my 90 day scan, and chest CT, there was a "glassy" type appearance in my right upper lobe. It was then diagnosed as scar tissue from the IMRT radiaition, or some type of inflamation. I had another Chest CT 6 months later, and the spot was gone, so it was officially diagnosed as inflamation from an unknown source, and I was told to go have a great day and to not worru any more.
My guess is this is what you are going through.
Mike0 -
Thanksluv4lacrosse said:LUNG SPOTS
I went through this also. First off, 90 day scans can still reveal hot spots from treatment, so do not pay much attention to them.
At my 90 day scan, and chest CT, there was a "glassy" type appearance in my right upper lobe. It was then diagnosed as scar tissue from the IMRT radiaition, or some type of inflamation. I had another Chest CT 6 months later, and the spot was gone, so it was officially diagnosed as inflamation from an unknown source, and I was told to go have a great day and to not worru any more.
My guess is this is what you are going through.
Mike
Appreciate the input0 -
Thanksluv4lacrosse said:LUNG SPOTS
I went through this also. First off, 90 day scans can still reveal hot spots from treatment, so do not pay much attention to them.
At my 90 day scan, and chest CT, there was a "glassy" type appearance in my right upper lobe. It was then diagnosed as scar tissue from the IMRT radiaition, or some type of inflamation. I had another Chest CT 6 months later, and the spot was gone, so it was officially diagnosed as inflamation from an unknown source, and I was told to go have a great day and to not worru any more.
My guess is this is what you are going through.
Mike
Appreciate the input0 -
Spots before and after
Doug's scans showed some spots in his lungs both before and after treatment - for both, they indicated it was likely due to infection/inflammation. I find it scary no matter what - Doug's father (a non-smoker) died of emphysema, so any kind of lung irregularity is alarming to me.
However, I can only freak out about one thing at a time. Doug's agreed that, if the spots show up on the next scan, but are again considered not to be cancer, we will go see a lung guy and get it checked out. I suggest the same to anyone else with similar scans - it's wonderful to not have cancer, but other things can get you as well (aren't I cheery?).
Fortunately, emphysema takes a while to develop, and might even be prevented if caught early, before symptoms show up (according to my asthma doctor).
Mike, I don't remember - did you get a neck dissection? If you did, then your ENT might be able to reassure you; if the cancer did not spread beyond a certain point in your lymph nodes, it is very unlikely it spread to your lungs.
Enjoy your cancer-free status; I hope your September scan adds to the good news.0 -
Warm SpotsDrMary said:Spots before and after
Doug's scans showed some spots in his lungs both before and after treatment - for both, they indicated it was likely due to infection/inflammation. I find it scary no matter what - Doug's father (a non-smoker) died of emphysema, so any kind of lung irregularity is alarming to me.
However, I can only freak out about one thing at a time. Doug's agreed that, if the spots show up on the next scan, but are again considered not to be cancer, we will go see a lung guy and get it checked out. I suggest the same to anyone else with similar scans - it's wonderful to not have cancer, but other things can get you as well (aren't I cheery?).
Fortunately, emphysema takes a while to develop, and might even be prevented if caught early, before symptoms show up (according to my asthma doctor).
Mike, I don't remember - did you get a neck dissection? If you did, then your ENT might be able to reassure you; if the cancer did not spread beyond a certain point in your lymph nodes, it is very unlikely it spread to your lungs.
Enjoy your cancer-free status; I hope your September scan adds to the good news.
I had the exact same thing and it turned out to be nothing. Hope the same for you.
Denny0 -
NECK DISSECTIONDrMary said:Spots before and after
Doug's scans showed some spots in his lungs both before and after treatment - for both, they indicated it was likely due to infection/inflammation. I find it scary no matter what - Doug's father (a non-smoker) died of emphysema, so any kind of lung irregularity is alarming to me.
However, I can only freak out about one thing at a time. Doug's agreed that, if the spots show up on the next scan, but are again considered not to be cancer, we will go see a lung guy and get it checked out. I suggest the same to anyone else with similar scans - it's wonderful to not have cancer, but other things can get you as well (aren't I cheery?).
Fortunately, emphysema takes a while to develop, and might even be prevented if caught early, before symptoms show up (according to my asthma doctor).
Mike, I don't remember - did you get a neck dissection? If you did, then your ENT might be able to reassure you; if the cancer did not spread beyond a certain point in your lymph nodes, it is very unlikely it spread to your lungs.
Enjoy your cancer-free status; I hope your September scan adds to the good news.
Hi Mary, yes I did get a Neck Dissection, just a "modified", not a radical. My ENT was able to get clean margins, but not without some dilligent surgery.
Hope Doug is doing well and back to stopping shots on a regular basis.
Mike0 -
WRONG MIKEDrMary said:Spots before and after
Doug's scans showed some spots in his lungs both before and after treatment - for both, they indicated it was likely due to infection/inflammation. I find it scary no matter what - Doug's father (a non-smoker) died of emphysema, so any kind of lung irregularity is alarming to me.
However, I can only freak out about one thing at a time. Doug's agreed that, if the spots show up on the next scan, but are again considered not to be cancer, we will go see a lung guy and get it checked out. I suggest the same to anyone else with similar scans - it's wonderful to not have cancer, but other things can get you as well (aren't I cheery?).
Fortunately, emphysema takes a while to develop, and might even be prevented if caught early, before symptoms show up (according to my asthma doctor).
Mike, I don't remember - did you get a neck dissection? If you did, then your ENT might be able to reassure you; if the cancer did not spread beyond a certain point in your lymph nodes, it is very unlikely it spread to your lungs.
Enjoy your cancer-free status; I hope your September scan adds to the good news.
Sorry Mary, wrong Mike.0
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