2 year ct scan

tomswift
tomswift Member Posts: 8 Member
edited September 2021 in Esophageal Cancer #1

Greetings...

9/10/21 had my annual ct scan. Afterwords doc said scan looked good, thus 2 years cancer free since my esophagectomy. Several hours later after doc more closely reading my ct scan contacted me and say they found a 1.9 x 1.8 cm nodular subpleural lesion in lung in the lingula. Now i gotta go in for a broncoscopy for a biopsy... Since day one, i understood there many routes this part of my life can take. And i may be jumping the gun somewhat, but ever since i had my esophagectomy surgery, i've complained i had some pain (mostly mild to annoying, but a type of pain just the same) on my right side that felt like it was originating in my lung and made worse when i cough. Doc assured me that pain was nerve damage pain from the surgery, couldn't tell me how long it would last or if it would ever go away. As of now, that so called nerve pain has gotten worse and so has my cough. For the last few weeks i was thinking i might be coming down with covid. Now i'm almost hoping its covid... My biospy scheduled for oct 5, will keep the csn updated...

Comments

  • Deathorglory
    Deathorglory Member Posts: 364 Member
    #2
    Rooting for You

    Hello tom,

    I can imagine how you're feeling now.  I've had the EC recur and metastasize to a lung twice.   The 1st time it was treated with just chemo, since radiation and surgery weren't options.  The 2nd time the treatment was just surgery, no chemo or radiation.  Neither time was any fun at all.  The 1st recurrence was accompanied by a lot of coughing, but the 2nd time wasn't.  The 1st recurrence was in 2011 and we thought that it might be emphysema.  I still remember how twisted it was to be hoping that I have emphysema, just like you're almost hoping it's covid.  This disease puts us in some stange places.  I hope your biopsy gives you positive news.  I'm rooting for you.

    Ed

  • tomswift
    tomswift Member Posts: 8 Member
    edited October 2021 #3
    Update...

    Thanks Ed for the reply...

    Broncoscopy went well. After procedure doc seemed confident the nodule wasn't cancer. Says biopsy results unclear, thinks its just inflammation. Doc didn't give me good answer when i asked what could be causing inflammation. I sort of assume lack of a good answer means the inflamation could be due to many things. For now i'm just going to be happy one of them many things isn't cancer. Doc starting me on some antibiotics and scheduling another ct scan in december...

  • Deathorglory
    Deathorglory Member Posts: 364 Member
    #4
    Awesome News

    Hey tom,

    That's great news that they think is was just inflammation in your lung.  The 2nd time I had a recurrence in my lung, there was something in the left lung for a while.  Seemed very suspicious of cancer.  Then, two spots showed up in my right lung and were growing pretty quickly.  I was set up for a biopsy of the new spots.  I was prepped, taken into the room and laid on the table.  Apparently, they then run a CT scan just to double check what they're looking for.  The two spots weren't there any more.  I was told it must have just been some inflammation that resolved itself.  They cancelled the biopsy and sent me on my way.  The stuff in my left lung was cancer, though, and I had to have half of the lung removed, so it wasn't all gravy.  A lot of things can cause inflammation, like just a simple lung infection that you would have otherwise been oblivious to except for getting scanned.  Good for you.  I hope you keep testing clean.

    Ed

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