Comparing Lung X-Rays
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Comparing Lung X-Rays

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Comparing Lung X-Rays

  • Post
    • September 9, 2018 at 9:13 pm
    L-R-M-S
    Participant

    After having melanoma in ankle, then multiple metastatic melanomas in lymph nodes excised, then an excision of a whole cluster of nodes excised with radiotherapy, I later had a metastatic melanoma in my T6 vertebra, treated with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Declared clear three years later.

    Now, I've had a lung x-Ray reveal a "shadow". After taking a wash sample from the site, I've been told it is not lung cancer (I'm a smoker – yeah, Stoopid, right?).

    My query is: would a smoker's lung cancer appear differently from a metastatic melanoma? Could the shadow in my lung be a metastatic melanoma, not the lung cancer they suspected? 

    Thank you.

    (If answering, please declare whether you're a patient, survivor, or in a medical role.)

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  • Replies
      • September 11, 2018 at 10:43 pm
      cancersnewnormal
      Participant

      I'm a patient… had melanoma mets in the lung. My dad passed from lung cancer. His lesions looked more "cloudy"… almost misty with fuzzy edges. My lung lesions were pretty clearly delineated "globs". That said, I'm not sure how different lung cancer types might appear on xray or CT imaging. On a more positive note, a friend who recently underwent a biopsy for a 4 cm lung lesion she feared might be metastatic breast cancer, learned that what she's growing is a lung fungus, and not a cancer at all! Not that we all wish for lung fungus… but when one can be treated with antifungal pills, rather than potentially suffering from cancer… it's time to cheer. I'm not sure you docs would be able to tell simply by viewing xray or CT imaging. I would think a biopsy is needed. But again… I'm a patient… not a doc or radiologist… soooooo. Are they aware of your melanoma history? 

      • September 12, 2018 at 1:17 am
      MelanomaMike
      Participant
      I learned from the surgeon that “would have” been my lung surgeon (surgery canceled due to desease progression) he reassured me even before my lung biopsy (wich confirmed melanoma) that my CT scan report showed him “melanoma” as dark, defined “ball” like tumors & he said NSCLC type lung cancers is more globby & shadowy on ct scans..
        • September 12, 2018 at 1:31 pm
        cancersnewnormal
        Participant

        Yeah… my dad had a blend of NSCLC and mesothelioma (too many years of smoking and working in the asbestos industry). His imaging definitely had a more "blurry" appearance than my mela-lesions.

      • September 12, 2018 at 5:06 pm
      ed williams
      Participant

      Only one way to find out, stick a needle in there and take out a sample. I must say it is not one of my most favourite things to do. I go to a teaching hospital and listening to the expert doc explain to the student about to do the procedure " why that angle won't work, you need to go at it from this angle" kind of makes for a sport experience!!!

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