Atelectasis?

[heartcat]

I had a biopsy Thursday for red velvety patches inside the bladder. That is my first one since they were discovered by cystoscopy at the beginning of January. No cancer diagnosis yet. I had a CT urogram done on January 20th.

Yesterday, the nurse at my family doctor’s office called and told me that the urologist had referred me back to them because the scan had showed atelectasis, small collapsed lung sacs in the lower part of the lungs (only lower part of lungs included in the scan). I can’t recall exactly now whether it was one or both sides of the lungs involved.

They want me to go for a chest x-ray to enable further evaluation. I do not think I am having any breathing symptoms, though I have been experiencing fatigue for several months and general body ache that has worsened in the last month Occasional pressure or pain in the chest, but that could easily be muscle related as my job is often quite physical. It seems like it is probably a mild case of atelectasis though.

Has anyone experienced atelectasis? If so, do you know what caused it? How was it treated, if at all? Is there any relationship between bladder cancer and atelectasis?

Thanks in advance.

[marysue]

Hi heartcat:

I haven’t had any experience with this but did look it up on the Internet and it seems like you are possibly dealing with some form of lung collapse. Whether it is related to the bladder cancer you may have or is a totally separate problem, only a doctor could tell you for sure after you have all the necessary tests. All the best for a positive outcome that it is something that is easily treated. Let us know when you do. Your information will be very valuable to everyone even if no one else here has had that experience. Take care. ((((((HUGS)))))

[heartcat]

Thank you, very much, marysue. I had the chest-x-ray and today the nurse from my family doctor’s office called. She said that the chest x-ray showed a 12mm nodule in the left lung. She said that it was not uncommon, but that they would do a follow up chest x-ray in 3 to 4 months. I asked her whether, if the biopsy came back to confirm bladder cancer, that might change the course of action. She said that once the biopsy results are back, if it was cancer, they would re-evaluate.

I was caught off guard and didn’t even ask whether it was related to the atelectasis.

Sigh….it just always seems to be more and more questions, and no answers. Hopefully I will have the biopsy results by next week some time.

[marysue]

Hi heartcat:

Not being a doctor I obviously can’t say whether the nodule in the lung is related to atelectasis. Atelectasis is a collapse or partial collapse of the lung which could explain your fatigue. You may not be getting sufficient oxygen throughout your body. I’m not sure how that would be treated. That is something that you need to ask your doctor.

However, I do suggest contacting your uro’s office if you don’t hear from them in another couple of days. If it turns out that you do have bladder cancer, I suggest that you make sure that your uro is aware of your lung situation and that you press for follow up on that sooner than 3-4 months. It may be necessary to have the nodule biopsied to see whether it is potential trouble or not. Hopefully it is a benign something or other that doesn’t need treatment.

If it turns out that the nodule is suspicious then the docs will need to determine whether you have two separate issues – possibly two separate cancers or are the two trouble spots related. There are tests they can do to determine that and those results may or may not determine how any treatment path goes.

Waiting for test results is the hardest part of any medical journey, especially cancer. All I can say at this point is keep the faith, keep busy to try and distract yourself. Take some time to do some things that you enjoy. Easier said than done, I know. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Please keep in touch and let us know how it goes. (((((HUGS)))))

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