Signs of travelling to lungs?

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
Trying
Posts: 250
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 10:11 pm

Signs of travelling to lungs?

Postby Trying » Thu Jun 07, 2018 9:02 pm

Over a month ago i was diagnosed with stage 4 that had gone to my liver. I had a ct scan and biopsy to determine this. I have been anxiously awaiting the Pet which is this saturday and wont see the dr for results until a week later. Would my abdominal ct scan have shown my lungs? Im so terrified its further than my liver. Any experience, advice or words to calm me? Ive always suffered anxiety but anxiety and cancer are so much to handle.
38 yr old single mom of almost 2 year old at the time
April 2018 colon cancer stage IV 10 liver mets and peri met. Folfox and 12 rounds oxyplatin
Fec 2018 Down to 2 mets in liver. 8 dissapeared
July 2019 switched to xeloda pills as I prefer to 3 day infusion. Also on avistan
Oct 2019 emergency colostomy due to perforated bowel. ( unreal pain)
Feb 2020 show 2mm tumor increase.
Plan to go back on oxy
Oxy failed- irinotecan as of of Sept 2020

Dionca
Posts: 48
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2017 2:04 am

Re: Signs of travelling to lungs?

Postby Dionca » Thu Jun 07, 2018 11:04 pm

My CT scan always includes both abdomen and chest, so I thought that was pretty standard. The hospital sends me a form with the appointment date and shows chest and abdomen checked off. Why don't you call your dr's office tomorrow and ask them if both were included?

I can understand the anxiety - are you taking anything for it? I usually take an Ativan before going to get my results. It also helped get me through chemo and sleepless nights.

Best wishes to you
stage 3b T3 N1b MX 2/27 nodes (surgery 4/2015)
moderately differentiated
PNI - positive
LVI - positive
Folfox 12 sessions (w/out oxi for 11 & 12)
Neulasta with 3-12 due to low WBC count
CEA at diagnosis 8.6
CEA after surgery 1.2
CEA during chemo 4.6 / 3.3 / 2.3
CEA after chemo 1.5 / 1.2 / 1.2 /1.2 /1.2 / 1.4 / 1.1 / 1.2 / 1.9 / 1.3 / 1.6 /1.4 /1.5
neuropathy
recurrence in left lung (surgery May 2020)

Trying
Posts: 250
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 10:11 pm

Re: Signs of travelling to lungs?

Postby Trying » Thu Jun 07, 2018 11:58 pm

Thank yiu for respinding. I went into the ER with lower stomach pain and thats where they did the ct. Thatz the reasin im not sure if they inckuded my lungs.Ativan before appts is a great suggestion. Thank you
38 yr old single mom of almost 2 year old at the time
April 2018 colon cancer stage IV 10 liver mets and peri met. Folfox and 12 rounds oxyplatin
Fec 2018 Down to 2 mets in liver. 8 dissapeared
July 2019 switched to xeloda pills as I prefer to 3 day infusion. Also on avistan
Oct 2019 emergency colostomy due to perforated bowel. ( unreal pain)
Feb 2020 show 2mm tumor increase.
Plan to go back on oxy
Oxy failed- irinotecan as of of Sept 2020

User avatar
DH2Sleen
Posts: 81
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:10 am

Re: Signs of travelling to lungs?

Postby DH2Sleen » Fri Jun 08, 2018 6:32 am

Trying wrote:Over a month ago i was diagnosed with stage 4 that had gone to my liver. I had a ct scan and biopsy to determine this. I have been anxiously awaiting the Pet which is this saturday and wont see the dr for results until a week later. Would my abdominal ct scan have shown my lungs? Im so terrified its further than my liver. Any experience, advice or words to calm me? Ive always suffered anxiety but anxiety and cancer are so much to handle.

You are in charge of your medical records. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You have a right to see your CT scans and have the doctor explain them to you. You should also be able to request a copy on CD of the CT scan and look over it yourself on a PC. I know that most people don't have experience doing this, but you can ask your doctor to teach you; if he won't, fire him. You can handle this... take control. Demand that your medical professionals do their job of keeping you informed and read everything you can here to teach yourself. You got this.
DW, Sleen dx 9/2013 @47yo: IIIc T4b N2b MX
9/2013 colectomy
10/2013 - 3/2014 FOLFOX
4/2014 - 6/2014 Rad to bladder
12/2014 +'ve for lung mets, MX becomes M1
3/2015 enter TIL trial @ NIH
7/1/15 Receive 148E9 cells to target K-ras G12D mutation
8/11/15 Reduction=18%, no new tumors
9/15/15 25%
10/20/15 27%; PET -> one hot met
11/24/15 30% all mets shrinking
1/26/16 46% but one suspicious met
3/24/16 46% but one growing
4/7/16 Lung lobectomy NED for the first time
3/3/20 Still NED "cured"

crikklekay
Posts: 142
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Richmond, VA

Re: Signs of travelling to lungs?

Postby crikklekay » Fri Jun 08, 2018 9:08 am

When my husband went to the ER they only did a CT scan of his abdomen which did not include the lungs, but he was complaining of gut problems so they didn't really need to do a chest scan. But once they did the colonoscopy in the hospital and realized he had cancer the Oncologist we were provided ordered a chest CT to make sure it hadn't spread anywhere else. When we ended up BACK in the hospital due to a staph infection they did another abdominal CT to see if there were any pockets of infection around his surgery site and at the very tippy top of the scan they could see the bottom of his lungs and that's how they spotted his PEs, so a full chest CT scan was ordered.

If it was JUST an abdominal scan it most likely only shows the bottom portion of the lungs, at least in my experience. He has always had either an abdominal or a chest CT, I'm not sure if they can do one big CT of the whole center section of your body? But the protocols at our hospital could be different from yours. Like DH2Sleen says, call and ask for a copy of the report or even just call and ask what portion of the body your CT scan covered and then you'll know for sure. I definitely understand your anxiety, so I would call your Oncologist with your questions and concerns for a little peace of mind. Good luck!
Caring for DH John
Stage IIIC, Lymph nodes: 6/22
Chemo: FOLFOX (6)
12/17 ER and emergency surgery
02/18 Hospital w/MSSA infected port, PICC line inserted, chest CT scan showed septic emboli & blood clots
03/18 Hospital w/CDIFF
08/18 CT Scan Clear, NEMD
2018/2019/2021 Colonoscopy Clear
2019/2020/2021/2022 CT Scan Clear
2021 PET scan & MRI show one spot on liver
08/21 Liver surgery to remove spot, confirmed mCRC. Now Stage IV
09/21 Start Folfiri + Avastin
03/22 CEA Rise, continuing chemo

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Signs of travelling to lungs?

Postby NHMike » Fri Jun 08, 2018 9:14 am

The CT that I had after diagnosis covered the liver and lungs (I read through the pathology report). I think that one of the MRIs that I had done did this as well.

I understand the anxiety. Every time I have a coughing spell, I worry about spread. I had this this morning when waking up but I'm pretty sure that it was just seasonal allergies. It's tough waiting for test results.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

sdino
Posts: 85
Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2017 5:32 pm

Re: Signs of travelling to lungs?

Postby sdino » Fri Jun 08, 2018 10:33 am

when my Wife had her first Colonoscopy, they found the cancerous tumor in Sigmoid Colon. Our GI Dr. ordered an abdominal CT scan. Most abdominal CT scans catch the lower portion of your lungs, hence that's where they found some nodules. Also, I just had an abdominal CT scans last week for some urine flow probs, surer that all heck, My scan also caught the lower portion of my lungs. In addition, my Wife had a slight irritable cough for 2 years prior to her Dx. On Chemo - the cough goes away. But when she takes a chemo break, the cough slightly re-appears.
Caregiver for Wife 54 yrs old
DX:11/16-CC sigmoid colon
Lung Mets: 25+ Bilateral ranging 4mm-5.0cm
MSS, KRAS-G12D; TP53
iTCR TIL Trial NCT03412877 4/19 to 7/19 Off trial, - Sept. 2019 TIL trial NCT01174121
CT Scans: 7/2020 lung met shrinkage 36%, 3 lung mets left, two Liver mets destroyed by TILs
Brain tumor removal 3/2020
CEA:16-11/16; 5 -9/18; 63 -8/19; 1 -1/20; 0.8-5/20

Trying
Posts: 250
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 10:11 pm

Re: Signs of travelling to lungs?

Postby Trying » Fri Jun 08, 2018 6:49 pm

Thanks everyone
38 yr old single mom of almost 2 year old at the time
April 2018 colon cancer stage IV 10 liver mets and peri met. Folfox and 12 rounds oxyplatin
Fec 2018 Down to 2 mets in liver. 8 dissapeared
July 2019 switched to xeloda pills as I prefer to 3 day infusion. Also on avistan
Oct 2019 emergency colostomy due to perforated bowel. ( unreal pain)
Feb 2020 show 2mm tumor increase.
Plan to go back on oxy
Oxy failed- irinotecan as of of Sept 2020

User avatar
CRguy
Posts: 10473
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: Signs of travelling to lungs?

Postby CRguy » Fri Jun 08, 2018 7:45 pm

Hey homie !
just FYI ... I had a lung met and had NO signs of it until I did a routine chest xray NOT CT or PET or MRI
and my radiologist noted a " WTF ????? is THAT ! "

read my bio .. have had LOTS of imaging, BUTT a CT of abdomen will only pick up the lowest part of the chest

When my abdominal CT missed my chest met that the xray picked up ...
I changed doctors
changed cancer centers
AND I WAS A FULL ON in yo' face MoFo asshole about getting C-A-P CT scans ( chest-abdomen-pelvis ) because I had a low rectosigmoid primary
AND they usually met to the lungs and have a higher level of recurrence.

MESSAGE :
I took control of WHO was doing WHAT about my own personal situation.

You may need to as well

NOT sayin' you have lung issues ...... BUTT
if none of the docs are LOOKING ... how the hell will they even know ??????

YOU are in charge of your own medical destiny

KEEP pushin' sista' until YOU get answers YOU need to know that you are doin' OK

AND keep on keepin' ON
HERE .. 'cos we gotchur back

Cheers and Harmony on the Journey
PM me or post anytime
CRguy
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

Trying
Posts: 250
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 10:11 pm

Re: Signs of travelling to lungs?

Postby Trying » Fri Jun 08, 2018 10:23 pm

Thanks!
38 yr old single mom of almost 2 year old at the time
April 2018 colon cancer stage IV 10 liver mets and peri met. Folfox and 12 rounds oxyplatin
Fec 2018 Down to 2 mets in liver. 8 dissapeared
July 2019 switched to xeloda pills as I prefer to 3 day infusion. Also on avistan
Oct 2019 emergency colostomy due to perforated bowel. ( unreal pain)
Feb 2020 show 2mm tumor increase.
Plan to go back on oxy
Oxy failed- irinotecan as of of Sept 2020

User avatar
henry123
Posts: 218
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2017 3:25 am

Re: Signs of travelling to lungs?

Postby henry123 » Tue Jun 12, 2018 6:53 am

Liver , lungs and skin are the organs to which body sends whatever it perceived to be harmful or toxic.
That's why most of the mets start with liver and lungs.
46yo M msi-high Lynch +ve
5/16 lap AR 14/21 L nodes +ve
T4N2M1
7/16 Capox 9 cyc
9/16 cea 2
1/17 550
PET CT mets in lung & peri
iri+ avast fail
3/17 10577
4/17 regro fail
5/17 cea 28800
5/17 CT inc in size of mes nodes ,onset of multi nodules in liver
6/17 Opdivo start
7/17 26754
8/17 5623
9/17 497
10/17 52
CT all clear exc a nodule in Lung. liver norm
1/18 3.6
Aspirin start
6/18 1.5 CT clear
12/18 1.1 NED
1/20 NED Opdivo stop
8/23 1.0 All ok


Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 99 guests