1.7 mass on right lung: Any advice as I wait for a biopsy?

Please know this is not the death sentence it once was. There are, quite literally, hundreds of things that can cause a nodule that size that are not cancer. Only a biopsy can determine if it is a malignancy. A biopsy sample would will be sent for biomarker testing to determine where the DNA broker down that caused the cancer. Some biomarkers respond to targeted medications that the patient can take a pill for.

My stage 4 lung adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in 2010, so 14+ years ago. There are new treatment modes that give patients longer progression free and overall survival. IF this is cancer, it's possible that this is still a lower stage cancer, you won't know until all testing is done.

To move things along, call your primary care doctor, ask them to expedite an appointment with a pulmonologist if an appointment hasn't already been made for you. The pulmonologist will guide the diagnosis process, including scheduling a CT and a biopsy. If that is positive, they will schedule a PET scan and an MRI to look for any metastases.

In the meantime, you might consider taking up some form of meditation. It can be something as simple as breathing exercises. It can help keep the scary "what ifs?" away and keep you focused on the present. There are free apps you can pick up for your phone or computer.

Please let us know what you learn. There are many here who have been where you are now and will have experience to share that can help you.

Sending hope for the best possible outcome.

Welcome to Mayo Connect @charlene9 . This is understandably one of the most stressful times you may face. Try to remember that most lung nodules are not cancerous, and many people are faced with this process. Take a deep breath and try to focus on what you know.
- Your body told you that something wasn't right. You took action, so that's great.
- You know that there is something in the lung that requires more investigation.
- You know that your doctors are taking the next steps to get some answers.
That's all we know for now. We don't know all of those other 'what-ifs' that are running around in your head. Do what you can to focus on the facts.
How long do you have to wait for the biopsy? The results of that should be very helpful.

Thank you for all that advice. I think I was very lucky that they found it. 1.7 cm

I have 7 lung nodules, in different lobes, the largest of which is 13mm - slightly smaller than yours. But the quality and shape of the nodules is important in determining treatment. They were detected 9 years ago, doubled in size since then. But because they are all pure ground glass and have not entered membranes, we wait. I get CT scans every 6 months, in the past year there has been absolutely No change in size or quality. If there is we will do robot-assisted targeted radiation. I am in the hands of a radiation oncologist who I trust,, this makes a big difference.
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I was there with you with great anxiety every day at the start of my husband’s lung cancer journey. It’s now 1 year - Lobectomy, chemo, metastasis to adrenal, now immunotherapy, . I see that there is much that can be done with your treatment if/as needed. I now follow my father’s advice: don’t worry in advance. I know that’s very difficult especially at the initial finding.

There’s lots of good advice and support here, pls keep us posted on your situation.

It’s hard to be patient, but wait and go through the process of evaluation. 1.7 cm is small. It could be infection. Could be scar tissue. Does the report say that it’s “spiculated”?

Yes

My 2.5 cm nodule was discovered coincidentally when I underwent a PSME scan for my prostate cancer. I had no symptoms whatsoever and ended up having my right lower lobe removed. There was no spread and I was a staged at 1a. That was April of 2023 and (so far) no recurrence with no chemo nor immunotherapy

I have a 1.3 cm. Nodule in my left lung close t blood vessels er do I the don't want to biopsy. It is spiculated. What does that en? I get a CT every 6 months. The same radiation ooogist who told me if I had radiation and it wasn't cancer it would scr my lungs, actually said to have it 6 months ago. I have another CT in just. Since it had not grown, I didn't have radiation, so we will see. I also have a few small ground glass nodules to small to biopsy. What are they? And what is spiculated?

Spiculated means the nodules is not smooth and round. Kind of irregular shaped or shows like strands coming off the nodule on the CT scan images. Those are more concerning to be Cancer.