My recent ct scan results! I'm so scared.

I think my post went to the wrong place, I’m not very experienced with posting my test results. I’m hoping to get some feedback from anyone who has experience in this area especially with exposure to toxic substances and how it impacts their lungs.

@frouke, I moved your post to the right spot in both the Lung Cancer and Lung Health support groups.

I can imagine that you are panicked. It's a mixed blessing getting the test results right away, but before you can meet with your doctor. You have helped support so many people on this forum. You'd be the first person to sit with them virtually, keep them company to help reduce their fear. Let me and others here do that for you now.

Worry won't change anything. Trying to figure out what you did or if exposure to mold or fire might be the cause is something you can ask the doctor about to protect your lungs in the future. Don't beat yourself up now for something in the past.

Tomorrow you're going to call the doctor's office to schedule the earliest available appointment. Tonight you're going to focus on relaxing so you can get a good night's sleep. To help you do that, imagine I just poured you a cup of tea. Let's chat a bit. A burden shared is a burden halved. Tell me what is weighing on your mind and heart. Then tell me what has helped to calm you in tense situations in the past. Can you do them now?

Praying g for you @frouke ♥️ Thinking of you as you go through the next steps to see if there’s something you do need to address, or not. You’ll do what you need to do, I would be freaking out too and need to take a step back ❤️‍🩹

I worry when I use fly spray inside. Or insecticide outside. Worry whether I’ve breathed anything in that I shouldn’t. Or whether I shouldn’t have had that rare glass of wine.

I have an area on my lungs after stage 4 appendix cancer which is one of the areas my medical team watch closely by both CT and PET scans,

Sometimes it gets inflamed for who knows what reason 🤷‍♀️ But by the next suite of tests it’s back to “normal”. Each test I worry.

The wonderful thing is if there is something that needs to be addressed our surveillance scans get it very early ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

@colleenyoung, I’m happy to hear back from you, I usually don’t do this because I haven’t spoken with anyone yet about the new results, everything was stable on my scan except for the new information regarding my left lower lobe. I’m hoping that the radiologist comments regarding possible inflammation is the case here, when I went through the exposure to toxins in the past few months I thought that for sure there’s going to be a change. I’m trying very hard to remain calm and optimistic but it’s a struggle for me, I can only pray that it’s inflammation, the medical team is not aware of what’s happened to me in recent months. Thank you for getting back to me and I will try my best to wait and see what comes up.

Hello @frouke
I’m so very sorry you are going through this stress. It’s scary getting test results, it causes instant anxiety, that’s only natural.
You are human, we all are. I bet my mind would have gone in the same direction.
Colleen is so right, no point in being hard on yourself or to worry, be kind to you 🩷 and know that worry is a waste of precious energy.
As hard as it is to wait, seeing the doctor will answer your questions, until then when I catch myself with thinking fearful thoughts, I remind myself that I’ll cross that bridge when and only if I even have to.
I also remind myself of what the results could mean in the not worst case scenario …. keep breathing, praying and do what you need to calm the stress.
Expressing your emotions is excellent, I’m glad you are here.
As well, like Colleen said, you have been such a supportive part of Mayo connect. I’ve seen this time and time again with your support of countless others. You have always supported me from day 1, you were actually my very first response back in April. Your words were appreciated more than you know that day, thank you.
Huge huge hugs 🤗
Daisy

@frouke, It's human nature for our minds to race to the worst case, but the worst case isn't always the reality. Most of us have some anomaly in our lungs at some point in our lives. For most, it's not cancer. I have lung cancer, and a fungal nodule that just won't seem to go away.
Let us know what you find out as you are able to get more information. Hugs.

I'm so sorry for the stress and anxiety you are experiencing right now. Like Lisa, the Volunteer Monitor wrote, what you are experiencing is completely normal. Your medical team can clarify the test results next week. In the meantime, if I were seated next to you, I'd hold your hand, look into your eyes and ask you if you have a "rock" in your life - a family member or friend or neighbor, a dog or a cat or a horse - that person/creature you go to for comfort and rely on for the peace they bring by their very presence. Sometimes words are not needed; sometimes a soft touch or gentle embrace can suffice. I'm here for you.

We all worry before the results come and then often after the results come. I worry always mostly at night. My previous pulmonologist said that the interpretation of the ct scan varies by who reads how it’s compared which means the results will vary as far as mucus plugs or other details. So please wait for the doctor to comment on the results or if your appointment is not soon, email asking for comments. All in all you know that you will deal with the situation and do what is recommended if you think it’s good for you. I hope your problem will be resolved. Please let us know what happens because this community is real support.

I spoke with a NP today regarding my ct scan, I was happy that she called me instead of the doctor because I was able to talk with her about my concerns, the doctor would never give me the time to do so. She was focused on a nodule in my right upper lobe which had slightly changed last year but it has remained stable since, I asked her if she felt that I have inflammation in the lower left lobe and she said it’s possible but nothing definitive. I informed her about my exposure to smoke from the forest fires last June and she said that it can cause inflammation, I wanted a follow up scan in three months but she said that inflammation takes 4-6 months to recover so I will have to wait six months for the next scan. Of course I would have liked more reassurance but this will have to do, nothing is ever for sure when dealing with this evil disease. Also, thank you to everyone who sent me messages of support and encouragement, you all are truly an awesome group of good souls, God bless you and keep you safe and healthy, always, Frouke.

Hello @frouke,
I’m so glad you were able to talk with the NP today. I agree, NP’s are the best at taking the time to listen and talk with us.
Great news that your right upper lobe nodule has remained stable since last year, yay !
I’m sorry you were left feeling less reassured than you needed about the possibility of inflammation.
I’m glad you were able to ask about wildfire smoke.
It’s a wait for sure until your next scan, but since it takes the body that long to recover, and as hard as it is to wait, I imagine it’s the best timing wise.
So much of this disease involves the waiting game.
Meanwhile I’ll wait with you, as I’m certain everyone here will too.
And thanks, God bless you and keep you safe and healthy.
Huge hugs Frouke
🤗 Daisy