Shadow on mums lung

Hi C.girl 

I'm sorry to hear that this next scan is tying you in knots. The simplest answer would be to ask your mum. Is your mum aware of these shadows that they want to investigate? If so, I wouldn't hesitate to ask her. Cancer is a very up and down journey, as you know, and there may be a simple explanation. For example, I had my scan in Sept at end of treatment which showed no active cancer. I had a telephone consultation in January and oncologist booked another check CT for beginning of March. The consultation letter from the January appointment said that he wanted to check nodules. These hadn't been mentioned to me at all. I could have worried about it until my CT results at end of march but I chose not to, as what will be, will be and worrying won't make it better and is bad for my health. I hope you can see what I'm trying to say and that I'm not being flippant about your question. I'm sure your mum won't think you're bursting her bubble and she will not want you worrying. If you definitely feel that you can't ask her, why not ring Macmillan helpline, you can ask an expert or speak to a nurse, or you can email your question. This is the link https://www.macmillan.org.uk/about-us/contact-us

I hope you get some answers and that it's not as bad as you think. Sincere best wishes to you,

A x

Thankyou for your message. No course your not any sort of message helps. 
my mum was aware of these shadows but then went through chemotherapy and surgery and that’s come back worked, they want to go back over to check if shadows still there or not, which she’s not worried about because she said if they was cancerous the chemotherapy would have got rid of it. I just want to know would it of ? Or would it not been targeted because her chemotherapy was for her2 positive breast cancer ? 
mum just in a tizzy about it all. 
thankyou for your response means a lot I’m in my 20s and my brothers not really been much of a shoulder so I’m a worried mess. 
thankyou again x

Hi C.girl 

My limited knowledge of chemotherapy is that it targets fast producing cells like cancer or such as the gastro tract, which are good cells but chemo can't distinguish, which is why heartburn is a side effect of chemotherapy. Therefore, in my mind, I would think that all cancer cells would be targeted but there are different types of cancer cells and different types of chemo. I am not medical and it's not my place to give you medical advice. I can only tell you about my experience and information I've read. Can I suggest that your mum rings her CNS/specialist nurse tomorrow as I think you both need some clarification. Hope you get sorted.

A x

Re-scanning after the end of chemotherapy (usually about 6 weeks after) is normal.  That is usually a PET-CT scan and is better for detecting possible cancer than a normal CT.

Chemotherapy is aimed at treating a specific, known cancer and won't necessarily have an impact on a different type of cancer. 

There was a mass visible on my left lung when I was diagnosed with lymphoma and it was still visible following successful chemotherapy for lymphoma.  A biopsy showed it to be primary lung cancer so I actually had two different types of cancer at the same time. My lung cancer was low grade and chemotherapy is best suited to treating high grade, aggressive cancers.  I ultimately had radiotherapy and surgery for my lung cancer.

Many, many people have nodules on their lungs which are not cancerous.  They still need to be investigated, though.

Regular surveillance scans are part of our lives following cancer treatment.  It would be a good idea to talk to you mum's team about how often they will be done as it can be quite stressful to be waiting for results every few months.