Scan Anxiety- Update

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
DCook54
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2020 10:12 pm

Scan Anxiety- Update

Postby DCook54 » Tue Jul 13, 2021 6:17 pm

Hello, everyone!
I just want to say thank you to everyone who posts on here. Your stories, advice, encouragement, and resources mean so much to me. I go for follow-up scan next week and I'm so proud of myself because I haven't been a complete nut-job like I was last time. I am anxious to see if the nodule in my lung grew, but my thoracic surgeon said we will take it out if it has grown any. I spent two weeks at the beach with my children and grand children recently, and it was just what I needed!

I was originally dx in Dec 19 as stage 1 but by July 2020 had 5 Mets to lungs, so stage 4. None of the 30 LN taken during my first surgery were positive. Doesn't it make sense to y'all that if it made it to my lungs, it probably made it other places too? I took 6 rounds of Folfox after lung Mets were removed.

Thank you!
Last edited by DCook54 on Tue Jul 20, 2021 4:58 pm, edited 2 times in total.
54 yo f
Stage IV colon- mets to lungs
KRAS G12V
Dec 2019- partial colect adenocarcinoma
0/31 LN
Jan 2020-PET NED
Jan 2020- Staged at I
July 2020-Ct-nodules both lungs
July 2020-VATS both lungs pos crc mets Stage IV
Aug 2020 began 1/6 cycles Folfox
Nov 20 Comp 6 Folfox
Dec 20 Colonoscopy/CTs clean
Dec 20 NED
April 21 Stable scans. 4 mm lung nodule to watch
Aug 21 VATS 2 nodules cancer
Sept 21-present Xeloda Main.
Nov 22 clear scans = 15 months NED
Dec 22 pleural effusion neg for cancer

boxhill
Posts: 789
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:40 am

Re: Scan Anxiety

Postby boxhill » Tue Jul 13, 2021 6:31 pm

Wow, going from Stage 1 in Dec to Stage 4 in July must have been a nasty shock. Glad your thoracic surgeon has a plan in place.
F, 64 at DX CRC Stage IV
3/17/18 blockage, r hemi
11 of 25 LN,5 mesentery nodes
5mm liver met
pT3 pN2b pM1
BRAF wild, KRAS G12D
dMMR, MSI-H
5/18 FOLFOX
7/18 and 11/18 CT NED
12/18 MRI 5mm liver mass, 2 LNs in porta hepatis
12/31/18 Keytruda
6/19 Multiphasic CT LNs normal, Liver stable
6/28/19 Pause Key, predisone for joint pain
7/31/19 Restart Key
9/19 CT stable
Pain: all fails but Celebrex
12/23/19 CT stable
5/20 MRI stable/NED
6/20 Stop Key
All MRIs NED

DCook54
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2020 10:12 pm

Re: Scan Anxiety

Postby DCook54 » Tue Jul 13, 2021 6:37 pm

It was a shock! It was actually found by "accident". I was having abdominal pain so my Dr ordered an abdominal CT. The scan got the bottom of my lungs and that's how the Mets were found! If I had not had the abdominal pain, it would have been 5 more months for my follow-up scans from original surgery. I am so thankful!
54 yo f
Stage IV colon- mets to lungs
KRAS G12V
Dec 2019- partial colect adenocarcinoma
0/31 LN
Jan 2020-PET NED
Jan 2020- Staged at I
July 2020-Ct-nodules both lungs
July 2020-VATS both lungs pos crc mets Stage IV
Aug 2020 began 1/6 cycles Folfox
Nov 20 Comp 6 Folfox
Dec 20 Colonoscopy/CTs clean
Dec 20 NED
April 21 Stable scans. 4 mm lung nodule to watch
Aug 21 VATS 2 nodules cancer
Sept 21-present Xeloda Main.
Nov 22 clear scans = 15 months NED
Dec 22 pleural effusion neg for cancer

Nor Cal
Posts: 89
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2020 8:18 pm

Re: Scan Anxiety

Postby Nor Cal » Tue Jul 13, 2021 7:46 pm

I haven't quite mastered nut-job avoidance yet, so congrats on that. Best of luck with your scan and keep moving forward.
Dx June 2020, stage IV, w liver mets in both lobes. M, age 50. Right-sided colon tumor. CEA 120.
BRAF+ TMB 5% MSS TDL1-1%
July 2020 - Present: 55 cycles chemo (All the various 5-FU regimens)
December 2020 - February 2021 Y90 Radioembolization, Chemoembolization x2

roadrunner
Posts: 460
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 8:46 pm

Re: Scan Anxiety

Postby roadrunner » Tue Jul 13, 2021 8:52 pm

You are asking a very tough question. I don’t think there is a definitive answer, but I’ll venture a little information that may help.

There are certainly many cases where pulmonary metastases are isolated or develop without disease elsewhere. This is more common with rectal cancer, but it can happen with colon cancer. So it’s definitely possible that lung mets are all you have. I assume you’ve been scanned aggressively, so the fact that nothing else is showing up a 1.5 years after removal of the primary is a positive thing. Of course, it isn’t good that it metastasized, as that indicates it is capable of spread. But it was stage 1, so perhaps it didn’t have time to seed beyond your lungs, or your adjuvant chemo (post-VATS) wiped out all microscopic cancer. The fact that you had that treatment before you saw other (non-pulmonary) issues is also potentially protective and a good thing.

Even better, your lung surgeon is saying that your remaining potential disease is resectable. If that’s so, and nothing else shows up, you’re good. If something else does, you may well still have good options. Pulmonary mets are usually slow-growing and there are many ways to deal with them. The greatest challenge comes when there are many or the disease spreads elsewhere.

Hope this helps.

I wish you a stable scan. You have my admiration for the strong attitude. I just had two small suspicious pulmonary nodules scanned and was pretty nervous (mine were potentially resectable too). Fortunately, they were stable. But it’s a tough job waiting for those results. Good luck!
7/19: RC: Staged IIIA, T2N1M0
approx 4.25 cm, low/mid rectum, mod. well diff.; lung micronodule
8/19-10/19 4 rds.FOLFOX neoadjuvant, 3 w/Oxiplatin (reduced 70-75%)
neoadjuvant chemorad 11/19
4 rounds FOLFOX July-August 2020
ncCR 10/20; biopsies neg
TAE 11/20, tumor cells removed
Chest CT 3/30/21 growth in 2 nodules (3 and 5mm)
VATS 12/8/21 sub-pleural met 7mm.
SBRT nodule 1/22
6/20/22 TAE rectal polyp benign)
NED from 3/22 - 3/23
4 cycles FOLFIRI
LUL VATS lobectomy for radio resistant met 7/7/23

DCook54
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2020 10:12 pm

Re: Scan Anxiety

Postby DCook54 » Tue Jul 13, 2021 10:19 pm

Thank you so much for your thoughts on this! What you said makes sense and I'm going to think about it like that. It really does help to talk about it with someone who understands. I'm glad yours is stable!
54 yo f
Stage IV colon- mets to lungs
KRAS G12V
Dec 2019- partial colect adenocarcinoma
0/31 LN
Jan 2020-PET NED
Jan 2020- Staged at I
July 2020-Ct-nodules both lungs
July 2020-VATS both lungs pos crc mets Stage IV
Aug 2020 began 1/6 cycles Folfox
Nov 20 Comp 6 Folfox
Dec 20 Colonoscopy/CTs clean
Dec 20 NED
April 21 Stable scans. 4 mm lung nodule to watch
Aug 21 VATS 2 nodules cancer
Sept 21-present Xeloda Main.
Nov 22 clear scans = 15 months NED
Dec 22 pleural effusion neg for cancer

DCook54
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2020 10:12 pm

Re: Scan Anxiety- Update

Postby DCook54 » Tue Jul 20, 2021 4:03 pm

As I suspected, the nodule in my lung grew from 4mm to 6mm. Other than that, there was nothing significant noted in the radiologist's report today. I will see my oncologist and thoracic surgeon tomorrow to see what they recommend. The surgeon said that if it grew, he would take it out, so that's what I'm expecting. Do you think it is reasonable to ask for follow-up chemo? I just want to be sure we've done everything we can to prevent more disease from popping up. I would rather be proactive than reactive. Thank you!!
54 yo f
Stage IV colon- mets to lungs
KRAS G12V
Dec 2019- partial colect adenocarcinoma
0/31 LN
Jan 2020-PET NED
Jan 2020- Staged at I
July 2020-Ct-nodules both lungs
July 2020-VATS both lungs pos crc mets Stage IV
Aug 2020 began 1/6 cycles Folfox
Nov 20 Comp 6 Folfox
Dec 20 Colonoscopy/CTs clean
Dec 20 NED
April 21 Stable scans. 4 mm lung nodule to watch
Aug 21 VATS 2 nodules cancer
Sept 21-present Xeloda Main.
Nov 22 clear scans = 15 months NED
Dec 22 pleural effusion neg for cancer

roadrunner
Posts: 460
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 8:46 pm

Re: Scan Anxiety- Update

Postby roadrunner » Tue Jul 20, 2021 4:43 pm

So as I understand it, the only progressing nodule is the one that went from 4mm to 6mm, right? And there were other nodules, but they are gone or not progressing?

If that’s right, it may well be that the surgeon will want to take this growing nodule out. It’s still pretty small though, so I would at least ask if he/she can find it easily and not take too much healthy tissue (in case you end up needing more surgeries), and whether there will be enough material for genetic testing (potentially relevant to chemo/immunotherapy choice). I also think you def should raise the question of follow-up chemo. I have seen at least one recent study that supports its use, can post a link if you want to read it. I get the sense that this is a bit of a controversial issue, though. Finally, it’s good nothing new came to light, for sure.

[By the way, I think your last post somehow also populated into your first post at the top of this thread. That may be a bit confusing, so you may want to edit to clean that up (if I’m right).]
7/19: RC: Staged IIIA, T2N1M0
approx 4.25 cm, low/mid rectum, mod. well diff.; lung micronodule
8/19-10/19 4 rds.FOLFOX neoadjuvant, 3 w/Oxiplatin (reduced 70-75%)
neoadjuvant chemorad 11/19
4 rounds FOLFOX July-August 2020
ncCR 10/20; biopsies neg
TAE 11/20, tumor cells removed
Chest CT 3/30/21 growth in 2 nodules (3 and 5mm)
VATS 12/8/21 sub-pleural met 7mm.
SBRT nodule 1/22
6/20/22 TAE rectal polyp benign)
NED from 3/22 - 3/23
4 cycles FOLFIRI
LUL VATS lobectomy for radio resistant met 7/7/23

DCook54
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2020 10:12 pm

Re: Scan Anxiety- Update

Postby DCook54 » Tue Jul 20, 2021 5:01 pm

Roadrunner...Thank you for your insight on this. I would like to read the article you mentioned if you will please share the link! Thanks again!
54 yo f
Stage IV colon- mets to lungs
KRAS G12V
Dec 2019- partial colect adenocarcinoma
0/31 LN
Jan 2020-PET NED
Jan 2020- Staged at I
July 2020-Ct-nodules both lungs
July 2020-VATS both lungs pos crc mets Stage IV
Aug 2020 began 1/6 cycles Folfox
Nov 20 Comp 6 Folfox
Dec 20 Colonoscopy/CTs clean
Dec 20 NED
April 21 Stable scans. 4 mm lung nodule to watch
Aug 21 VATS 2 nodules cancer
Sept 21-present Xeloda Main.
Nov 22 clear scans = 15 months NED
Dec 22 pleural effusion neg for cancer

roadrunner
Posts: 460
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 8:46 pm

Re: Scan Anxiety- Update

Postby roadrunner » Tue Jul 20, 2021 5:19 pm

Here you go. I haven’t read enough in this area to evaluate this much, and just looked at it quickly, but it seems on topic.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5484968/
7/19: RC: Staged IIIA, T2N1M0
approx 4.25 cm, low/mid rectum, mod. well diff.; lung micronodule
8/19-10/19 4 rds.FOLFOX neoadjuvant, 3 w/Oxiplatin (reduced 70-75%)
neoadjuvant chemorad 11/19
4 rounds FOLFOX July-August 2020
ncCR 10/20; biopsies neg
TAE 11/20, tumor cells removed
Chest CT 3/30/21 growth in 2 nodules (3 and 5mm)
VATS 12/8/21 sub-pleural met 7mm.
SBRT nodule 1/22
6/20/22 TAE rectal polyp benign)
NED from 3/22 - 3/23
4 cycles FOLFIRI
LUL VATS lobectomy for radio resistant met 7/7/23

DCook54
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2020 10:12 pm

Re: Scan Anxiety- Update

Postby DCook54 » Tue Jul 20, 2021 5:47 pm

Thanks!
54 yo f
Stage IV colon- mets to lungs
KRAS G12V
Dec 2019- partial colect adenocarcinoma
0/31 LN
Jan 2020-PET NED
Jan 2020- Staged at I
July 2020-Ct-nodules both lungs
July 2020-VATS both lungs pos crc mets Stage IV
Aug 2020 began 1/6 cycles Folfox
Nov 20 Comp 6 Folfox
Dec 20 Colonoscopy/CTs clean
Dec 20 NED
April 21 Stable scans. 4 mm lung nodule to watch
Aug 21 VATS 2 nodules cancer
Sept 21-present Xeloda Main.
Nov 22 clear scans = 15 months NED
Dec 22 pleural effusion neg for cancer

DCook54
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2020 10:12 pm

Re: Scan Anxiety- Update

Postby DCook54 » Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:04 pm

My scans showed growth from 4 mm to 6mm in 3 months. I will be having surgery to remove the nodule on August 5. After talking with my oncologist, I will likely go on maintenance chemo once I'm healed from the surgery, and of course, pending confirmation that the nodule is a met.
54 yo f
Stage IV colon- mets to lungs
KRAS G12V
Dec 2019- partial colect adenocarcinoma
0/31 LN
Jan 2020-PET NED
Jan 2020- Staged at I
July 2020-Ct-nodules both lungs
July 2020-VATS both lungs pos crc mets Stage IV
Aug 2020 began 1/6 cycles Folfox
Nov 20 Comp 6 Folfox
Dec 20 Colonoscopy/CTs clean
Dec 20 NED
April 21 Stable scans. 4 mm lung nodule to watch
Aug 21 VATS 2 nodules cancer
Sept 21-present Xeloda Main.
Nov 22 clear scans = 15 months NED
Dec 22 pleural effusion neg for cancer

DCook54
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2020 10:12 pm

Re: Scan Anxiety- Update

Postby DCook54 » Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:11 pm

Prayingforccr...I don't know. That was not discussed.
54 yo f
Stage IV colon- mets to lungs
KRAS G12V
Dec 2019- partial colect adenocarcinoma
0/31 LN
Jan 2020-PET NED
Jan 2020- Staged at I
July 2020-Ct-nodules both lungs
July 2020-VATS both lungs pos crc mets Stage IV
Aug 2020 began 1/6 cycles Folfox
Nov 20 Comp 6 Folfox
Dec 20 Colonoscopy/CTs clean
Dec 20 NED
April 21 Stable scans. 4 mm lung nodule to watch
Aug 21 VATS 2 nodules cancer
Sept 21-present Xeloda Main.
Nov 22 clear scans = 15 months NED
Dec 22 pleural effusion neg for cancer

DCook54
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2020 10:12 pm

Re: Scan Anxiety- Update

Postby DCook54 » Fri Aug 06, 2021 4:54 am

Yesterday, I had my VATS surgery to remove the 6mm nodule from my lung. While probing my lung, my surgeon also found a 2 mm nodule that did not show up on CT. He removed both, and they were both Mets from my colon. As soon as I heal some, I will be meeting with my oncologist to determined what chemo regimen I will begin. I hope you all have a blessed day :)
54 yo f
Stage IV colon- mets to lungs
KRAS G12V
Dec 2019- partial colect adenocarcinoma
0/31 LN
Jan 2020-PET NED
Jan 2020- Staged at I
July 2020-Ct-nodules both lungs
July 2020-VATS both lungs pos crc mets Stage IV
Aug 2020 began 1/6 cycles Folfox
Nov 20 Comp 6 Folfox
Dec 20 Colonoscopy/CTs clean
Dec 20 NED
April 21 Stable scans. 4 mm lung nodule to watch
Aug 21 VATS 2 nodules cancer
Sept 21-present Xeloda Main.
Nov 22 clear scans = 15 months NED
Dec 22 pleural effusion neg for cancer

NoVA21
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2021 7:15 pm

Re: Scan Anxiety- Update

Postby NoVA21 » Sat Aug 07, 2021 11:31 pm

I too had 2 lung mets.
They never scanned my abdomen and lungs. They stopped up to the bottom of my lungs. The 2 mets were at the top, one on each. My CEA was slightly elevated to 4.0. That was what triggered the scan that went all the way to the neck.

I did surgery on both lungs at once. I did not get any post surgery chemo. They thought the 2 mets had most likely been there from the beginning but never got caught. You might want to discuss that with your doc. My surgeon thought I would do chemo after but my onco advised against it.

Lung surgery is no joke. I ended up texting my wife a lot who was in the hospital room with me just so that I didn’t have to talk. I would be out of breath after just few words.

God bless.
Dx Jan 2015
Colon Resection Feb 2015 stage 3B
Folfox started Mar 2015
Could only finish 11 out of 12 rounds
Mar 2016 dx mets on both lungs - officially stage 4
Apr 2016 double lung resection
By the grace of God, am still clear today.


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



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 117 guests