Is it lung Cancer?

I am going through a similar situation. Pet scan this week. In sheer panic mode. Trying to help myself not go to that bad place by doing short meditation sessions that I found on the internet.💕💕

Hi @darlenecaywood164, First, take a deep breath. The PET scan will be helpful to get some answers, but at this point we don’t know for sure what it is. Depending on the results, there may be more and even more tests. The process can be daunting and a whirlwind all at the same time. It’s good news that you didn’t mention other symptoms that took you into the doctor; cough, chest pressure, etc.
Hoping for an infection!, but if it is worse news there is much hope it today’s lung cancer world.
When is your PET scheduled?
Are you experiencing other symptoms?

Pet is scheduled for Wednesday. I have the tail end of a cough which I caught from family a few weeks ago. No other symptoms to speak of. Except for my anxious thoughts which I can barely shake. 💕

It means you have a dark patch on your CT scan. I'm curious as to why no contrast. My first CT scan was with and without for comparison. Nodules by themselves don't mean anything. My youngest brother had a sizable one that he had to have checked annually. After 6 years, they got tired of checking.

Something is going on in your body, and it sounds like your doctor is working to find out what it is. In answer to your question, absolutely. I was diagnosed in 2018. I did take some time off after they removed my upper right lobe, but I never missed a day through chemo and radiation.

I had bad luck and my lung cancer returned to my brain, so I missed 2 months after that surgery. Then I went back to work! I have the greatest job in the world, so I'm still working full-time. They tell me I currently have stage 4 metastatic lung cancer, but if we met on the street and started talking, you'd never know it.

I found, and find, that taking notes between doctor visits is a great idea. You never remember everything when you're talking with them. At least I don't. And don't be afraid to ask questions. Oncologists are used to lots of questions and will answer them all. Best of luck to you!

Hi @phylrose1taubezin, I just wanted to check in and see how you are doing? Did you receive any news after the PET scan?

I am having a PET/CT with my primary doctor in 2 weeks since a recent non contrast X-ray shows a 1 ½ by ¾ spiculated mass or nodule in my upper left lung that grew in the last three months from a low dose -ray I had last February. I'm not optimistic that is is benign. I am a 2-time breast cancer survivor but smoked also, so I would like to know, please, will a PET/CT be able to tell me if it is breast cancer spread or from smoking? Will there likely be other kinds of tests I will need for that, such as what? My first breast cancer was a lumpectomy with no positive nodes and radiation only. The second time, 12 years later, a mastectomy with one positive node. My last MRI of the breast recently was totally okay. I am anxious because I also don't know what kind of doctor to go to for answers. M.D. Anderson Cancer lung people here tells me they only receive patients with a positive cancer biopsy, so that's out. Do I go back to the surgical oncologist who did my mastectomy, or maybe my breast oncologist? My primary first said I need a pulmonologist. I'm anxious. and I would feel more at ease if I understood what the next steps are supposed to be and what doctor would be the fastest route to diagnosis and treatment since there are two possibilities as to what the source of this mass might be. Alls my primary did was sent me my results on a patient portal stating the lung mass is suspicious--no call, no specific dr. recommendation, so I was disappointed. I had to tell her get me the PET/CT that the radiology report recommended as the next step. Thank you.

First, you need to get a lung doctor. I'm guessing by "1 1/2" you mean inches? Because results are usually in mm or cm's. Nodules can be infection or inflammation. While a PET scan doesn't diagnose cancer 100% it helps the doctor determine next steps. First, make an appointment with a lung doctor. He can discuss the scans and determine a plan for you. Let us know what he/she says.

@burdyblue, not knowing is the hardest part of being a cancer survivor. Try not to let your imagination run away with you. After 7 years, my policy is that if my doctors do not definitively tell me that I have cancer, then I'm still cancer-free. I've had 2 times where my doctor saw something suspicious that turned out to be benign.

The only thing a PET scan will tell you is if the area is absorbing sugar. The body absorbs sugar locally for only three reasons: inflammation, infection, and metastasis. Except for the brain, which is using sugar all the time, which is why they don't bother doing a PET scan of the brain. So, in answer to your first question, no, a PET scan will not tell you what type of cancer. But it WILL tell you whether the nodule warrants further investigation. If they see a "lot" of sugar being absorbed, they'll investigate further, which could be a biopsy.

Your primary doctor is right. Your next step is to talk to a pulmonologist. If your primary did not give you a referral, ask her to. Try to hold on to the fact that, at the moment, you don't have cancer!

Full disclosure: I am a doctor, but not a medical doctor. I can only share my and others' experiences, what my doctors have told me in my last 7 years of having lung cancer, and what I'm learning as a patient research advocate.

Good luck, and let us know what you learn.

I agree with @jonijean, you need to see a Pulmonologist, and be sure it is one with focus on lung cancer...because Specialists have subspecialties...one needs the professional with real knowledge.
Your situation illustrates the importance of following one's test results and advocating for ones 'self. Medicine is a broad subject, no doctor has knowledge of it all, it is up to the patient to be sure that there is follow-up in the right directions.

Welcome to Mayo Connect @burdyblue. As others here have mentioned, your primary doctor is recommending a pulmonologist because they may be able to perform a biopsy. Those results should tell you if you are dealing with a benign nodule (quite common), lung cancer, or breast cancer that has spread to the lung. All of those three would be treated differently.
A PET scan will show the level of activity within the nodule, which is also helpful in determining the next steps.
Try to focus on what you know to be true, and not letting your mind wander.
Has a PET scan been ordered and scheduled?