Hello all, I have just joined this community. I have had breast cancer stage 2 in the past (32 year's ago) and recovered well. A close friend of mine was diagnosed three week's ago with inoperable lung cancer - the small cell aggressive type, and has just started palliative chemotherapy as the only treatment they can offer at this late stage. Everyone is still in shock. Because of my friend's diagnosis I thought I would visit my GP with a tickly cough I had after getting Covid for the first time in the middle of May. It was the first time I had been to see my GP for over five years as I am always fit and well, I eat healthily and exercise regularly.
The GP sent me for an X-ray which showed an abnormality, so a CT scan was arranged. I went to see the consultant radiologist for a chat about the results yesterday. He said he is 99% certain it is a cancerous lesion - it was first thought it was fibrosis after the X-ray because I was told by the oncologist at the time of my breast cancer treatment that I had an area of fibrous tissue in the opposite lung because of all the radiotherapy, but the CT showed the possibility of cancer. It is not termed a "mass" as it is only 2.5cm and it is being called either a nodularity or a lesion, and because of this the consultant radiologist suggested I may not need surgery just radiotherapy or chemotherapy, but he is arranging a PET scan as there is lymph node enlargement - this is what is worrying me. I know lymph node enlargement can just be a sign that cancer is present, but it can also be a sign the lesion has travelled to the lymph node.
I am now awaiting a date for a PET scan...I just can't seem to stop this "mind chatter" going on in my head. I'm keeping busy, but as soon as I stop or as soon as I wake up my mind starts racing again. Everything went really fast with the tests etc., but unfortunately where I live (North Wales), not everything is available in one hospital, I had the X-ray in one hospital, then I had the CT-scan in another hospital, and now the PET scan is in another hospital, which apparently I have to wait three weeks, it seems to add to the stress.
Apologies everyone for the long post.
Hi Sanguinesse and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.
I'm sorry to read that having dealt with breast cancer many years ago you might now be facing lung cancer.
The online community is divided up into different support groups so the best way to connect with others who may have had a similar diagnosis is to join the lung cancer group, which is a great place to ask questions, share experiences and get support.
To do this just click on the link I've created and, once you've joined, you can start a new post in the same way as you did here and join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.
It would be great if you could pop something about your diagnoses and treatment into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
