introduction and scared
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introduction and scared

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › introduction and scared

  • Post
    • July 2, 2018 at 12:25 am
    Lizzie518
    Participant

      I am new here.  I have had two melanomas.  One was on my calf when I was in my early 20s in 2000.  The staging was different then, I think.  I had a centinal lymph node biopsy and wide excision, and was fine.  I had another melanoma in situ in 2007 on my arm. Wide excision.  No problems.  I had my annual check in at MD Anderson over a week ago, and had a chest xray.  I just realized today that they have been calling me to come in.  I looked up my test results, and it says there is a "nodular opacity in the right mid lung.  non specific."  I am freaking out.  I am beyond terrified. Has anyone had this turn up on a chest xray and it ended up being OK?  I have to go in for a CT now.  Really, I am beyond panicked.  Can someone please talk to me?  

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        • July 2, 2018 at 1:33 am
        Harley Worthet
        Participant

          I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. Waiting for that Dr's Appt is the hardest part. FWIW I had a lymph node light up in my chest as well, early on, that turned out OK. Was just inflammation from respiratory illness.

          Your Dr's will have tools, such as blood labs, needle biopsies & such get to the bottom of it. If the xray came from your family Dr. I would keep a melanoma specialist in the loop as well, just in case.

          It's perfectly normal & OK to be afraid. The fear should settle down after a while. In the meantime we will hope & pray that they have good news for you.

           

            • July 2, 2018 at 12:09 pm
            Toby0987
            Participant

              Hey Lizzie-I’m currently stage 3b since 2013 and have had PETS every 3 months for 1 year then every 6 months after that. I’ve had so many false positives I no longer worry about it when the doc says he has found a spot. My lungs and liver always have “spots” mucus plugs are the most common ones in the lung. My dr says when the PET shows its melanoma it shows melanoma-that is; when he reads the PET he can definitely tell what’s Mel and what is white noise. I understand your worry but by the 5th or 6th time of the PET crying wolf I was able take my hand off the panic button.  

              • July 2, 2018 at 1:32 pm
              Lizzie518
              Participant

                Thank you.  That is the most reassuring thing anyone, here or in my personal life has said to me.  You taking the time to write that brought me tears of relief as I wait by the phone this morning.  I know we ALL have personal lives that make us feel like we just can't handle cancer.  I'm panicked because I'm a single mom of two young children, and the primary care and financial provider.  

              • July 2, 2018 at 1:27 pm
              Janner
              Participant

                Pretty common to find things in the lungs that are NOT melanoma.  Unless the CT shows something really worrisome, most likely they will want you to do a baseline CT, then followup in a certain time frame with another CT to make sure it isn't growing.  That's pretty standard for watching lung abnormalities.  It's not melanoma until they say it is melanoma.

                  • July 2, 2018 at 1:34 pm
                  Lizzie518
                  Participant

                    Yet another reassurance.  I've had chest xrays every year since 2000, and this is the first time anything has shown up, so I'm new at this.  I thought I was in the clear.  I'd come to see my trips to MDA as relaxing – a time would I could sit in a peaceful waiting area with a latte and read a book or catch up on work.  Not at all feeling so peaceful right now.  

                  • July 3, 2018 at 12:39 am
                  doragsda
                  Participant

                    There are many many things that can cause an opacity on a chest xray, and the vast majority of those things are NOT cancer, so odds are in your favor.   Just be sure to follow up with the next tests they order so they can figure out what is really going on.   An employee of mine was told he had lung cancer by a nurse who glanced at his chart, and it turned out he actually had a fungal infection in his lung that was easy to treat.

                    • July 10, 2018 at 2:39 am
                    Ridingaroundwith27Jennifers
                    Participant

                      Hi Lizzie,

                      Sorry you are here.  Hopefully your CT scan results show something which is easy to treat and isn't cancer.  Yet if it is please know that you have the community here and most likely the community around you and your children who will offer to help you.  I had families of co-workers offer to care for my children or even send us meals.  People I never considered were stepping in to help me clean the house and so simple errands.  My neighbors even offered to do our laundry and give the kids rides.  You are strong and you can handle whatever comes your way.  Good wishes to you.

                      Jennifer

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