Mold in lungs

Did you inquire about a robotic bronchoscopy?

No. Don't know what that is. Wasn't offered.

Hi skm101, Is this Dr. your PCP that is telling you this or are you seeing a team of doctors? Are you near a Mayo Clinic or Cancer center? The mold sounds rather concerning to me too, even though I’m not a Dr. Most of us have been told that living in mold causes health issues. Are they saying you have cancer or is it thar they want to cut it out first and find out if its cancer afterward? Did they tell you how much the CT lit? Like my nodule lit too a 2.

My doctor read the bronchology results briefly saying the lung wash showed mold. Really no more about it. The bronchology also didn't pick up any malignancy but the PET lit up with SUVs of 4 to 6. He considers it inconclusive bc something is lighting it up and perhaps the needle biopsy missed it on all 4 lymph nodes and the wash. I thought that it was less possible to be cancer bc all 5 areas were nonmalignent but he said no. I know fungus can lit up on a PET but they tested for those types of fungus and I don't have those kinds. He said that doing a bigger biopsy of the module/mass that they couldn't get to with the bronchology could still come back inconclusive and the only way to know if it is cancer is a wedge resection- removal of the nodule/mass. I am so confused and need to know but i feel the wheels turn so slowly. I have sent my records to Mayo and hope to get their help or advise.

My PCP is watching things but the bronchology dr is the one who has given me statements of my choices now. Removal, bigger biopsy of nodule or wait and hope.

Thank you for replying to me. I don't feel so alone when I have contact with others. Please keep me updated on your tests etc as I will be thinking of you.

Well, I am a true believer in the Dr.’s at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix! I live here in AZ so I feel so lucky they are here! We have been treated there several times and always the intended outcome. I pray that they will look at your case and be able to get an answer for you. I am not comfortable with “cut now and find out the answer afterward”. Even a wedge resection is a major surgery. However, if that is what Mayo says is the thing to do, then I would do it. 🙏🙏🙏🙏 Let us know?
You are NOT alone!!! I know there is always someone on here. At least to say “we hear you”, even if we don't know the answers. I pray that God comforts you, and an answer comes soon. Cindy

Hi @skm101, I'm sorry that you are still dealing with more questions. Our lungs are sensitive, but also amazing in the work they do to keep us healthy. I have lung cancer, but also have one of the common fungal growths. This fungus showed on my November CT and a follow up PET scan. At first, my oncologist was convinced that it was a cancer recurrence. After two separate biopsies, we were confident that it wasn't cancer.
It's difficult to know what to do when we don't have all of our questions answered. Having a lobectomy is a scary proposition, you're right to want some of your questions answered. Have you made a decision on the next steps? Or are you able to get some more answers before making the decision?

Please keep us posted on what you find out. I am in a similar situation. I had a bronchoscopy that was inconclusive and an EBUS that was inconclusive. My mass in the endobronchial tube is 3 cm. PET scan lit up at 13. I was due to have a VATS procedure and the CT scan prior to this showed that the mass had shrunk slightly so the surgeon determined that it was not cancer and they are just keeping an eye on it. However, I am not very comfortable with that.

Call your doctors nurse and tell her what the question is. The nurse should get an answer for you and call you back. Another alternative is to ask the question through the patient portal.

I do know that mold is a type of fungus but there are more than 140,000 types and they only test for the most common. If the mold caused you to cough in the days before the biopsy that could cause the nodules to to become irritated and register higher values on the SUV.

Unfortunately, biopsies are not always conclusive, neither are they always completely accurate. Sometimes they do not get the actual nodule. If doing a needle biopsy they are going through layers of skin, muscle, tendons, nerves, and the pleura all while aiming at a small spot. Sometimes a nodule or a mass can have more than one type of cancer within it. The biopsy may only get cells from one part and not be aware the other type is within it. Sometimes they may just get a few cells from both types but not enough to get a good read on either one.

@jsingels65, Inconclusive is hard to hear after going through a biopsy procedure, or two. I wish you had received a definitive answer. Decisions are difficult to make when we don’t have all the relevant info. Are you experiencing any side effects? Any swollen lymph nodes? Have you considered a second opinion if that is possible for you?

When I was first diagnosed, I was a mess. On oxygen 24 hours a day and fevers and felt terrible. Now, I am doing much better. I see my thoracic surgeon on April 3 and was going to ask him about going to Jewish Hospital for a second opinion. They are located in Denver and I am in Colorado Springs so they are not too far.