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MAC or cancer?

MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Sep 23 10:38am | Replies (4)

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@pweg

I had something similar, but different history. I had an incidental finding of lung nodules that were thought to be benign. After 2 years of CT’s every 6 months to monitor, one doubled and spiculated. Went for PET and oncologist said likely cancer (90+% confidence). I opted for lung resection with biopsy in the OR rather than biopsy first. That is when I learned I had MAI (no bronchiectasis). It was a “mimic” granuloma of MAI infection. Now I do saline & airway clearance and so far so good. I was told that MAC/MAI can mimic cancer on scans. Hope that is your outcome as well.

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Replies to "I had something similar, but different history. I had an incidental finding of lung nodules that..."

Thank you for responding. I did know that my MAC could sometimes change to cancer and that MAC can sometimes be mistaken for cancer. My concerns are that mycobacteria is slow growing. I had this happen in 2018 when I was originally diagnosed with MAC and bronchiectasis. Took same path as you. Had been sick with no diagnosis for 4 years. A thoracic surgeon saw my CT and recommended resection and was diagnosed. Many docs since then have said that was a drastic solution. I disagree as I was getting sicker and sicker. I believe without that resection I never would have been diagnosed and possibly died, as a friend who lived 1 mile from me did (after she was finally diagnosed with same condition but too late to save her).

My concerns regarding cancer come from the rapid growth in 6 months, along with the 5.7 cm size. This one has grown 4 cm in 6 months. The last one in 2018 had only grown 1 cm to a size of 3.4cm when they did the resection. Mycobacteria being slow growing seems it would not have grown 4cm if it was mycobacteria. Maybe I am wrong about that, I don’t know. But I have been sitting here for almost a week with this result with neither my pulmonary, nor primary doc calling me or returning any response to my messages. To just leave me with no input on this result seems almost cruel. This is a new pulmonary doctor (I moved) and I uncertain of his expertise in MAC at this point.

Your response helps with some of the worry. Thanks you.