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1.7 mass on right lung: Any advice as I wait for a biopsy?
Went to the ER with chest discomfort. They ran all kind of test x ray CT scan. No heart issues but they did find a 1.7 cm mass on my right lung came I am now waiting for a biopsy. I have anxiety on a normal day but now it is off the charts. My mind will not stop going to the bad places. I am not sleeping. I need some advice on what to do.
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@charlene9, any update? When is the biopsy?
Had the biopsy last Wednesday. Still waiting. And that is really hard
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3 ReactionsI have been there. Terrible anxiety awaiting results. Some have been good, dime have been bad. But what I have learned is that if a bad result, it will be dealt with. Cancer is tricky , often getting a good or puzzling result when a bad is expected, and vice versa. So I tell myself my father’s advice, “don’t worth in advance” bc it is nonproductive and exhausting both mentally and physically.
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1 Reaction@etb2 , it sounds like your doctor is monitoring the size of your nodules, which is good. The radiologists watch for growth or changes over time, but pathology is needed to confirm what type of cells make up the nodules. As you've heard, radiation does come with side effects, and lung scaring can be common from radiation. Our lungs are made of sensitive tissue.
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/understanding-lung-nodules
They didn’t do a FDG Pet Scan before the biopsy? I have a 1.4 cm x 1.1 cm smooth nodule. They think it may be a Carcinoid/Neuroendocrine. It was caught on a Calcium Heart Scan which shows partial lungs. I had no symptoms. I did a regular Full Chest CT and that is the only new one besides an old 4 mm nodule that has been there since 2017.
Going for an FDG PET Scan Tuesday to see if anything lights up. Now if surgery is going to happen whether that Lower Right Lung nodule lights up or not, then they can skip the biopsy until they do the VAT’s surgery and take biopsies then. I am doing the less invasive surgery rather than a Lobectomy because of it’s location and size.
I am 77yr old female and had a preventive ct scan of my lungs. They found a 5cm mass. I am scheduled for a pet scan and a lung biopsy. I have no symptoms. Should I worry about it being cancer.
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1 ReactionMy pulmonary surgeon relies more on CAT scans than PET scans to determine if it is cancerous or not. It depends on what the CAT scan says. I recommend you ask for a referral to a respiratory surgeon or at and minimal a respirologist. If it is your family Dr getting these tests done ask him/her to send a referral now, even before other tests are completed. Best of luck with this.
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1 Reaction@catdoris
Apologize, this was an older comment and I can't figure out how to delete it. Did not notice the 2024 date.
For me, it was difficult not to worry if it was cancer or not. I feel this "waiting" part of cancer process was the hardest thing for me. I'm also a female who is 71 yrs old and the 3.3 cm mass was found incidentally. I didn't even have any symptoms except that I had lost a lot of weight. I'm glad you have found this forum bc there are a lot of people who have real personal knowledge they are able to share that I have found extremely helpful. There are folks who find these are benign masses and unfortunately some discover that they do have cancer. Having a biopsy and PET scan is the best way to figure it all out. Even after your biopsy, and it does show malignancy, you will have to wait until those results are examined to determine exactly what the mutation is. It's only then they will know what the better options are for any treatment if required. My mom always taught me "to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst". Please keep us posted how you manage. Lot's of people here care.
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5 Reactionsno worries
@catdoris -- Although it's not productive to worry, it's human nature when it comes to our health. == After being sick off/on for 12+ months I ended up with Pneumonia. It was the follow up chest x-ray taken to assure that the Pneumonia was gone, that found a 4 cm x 4 cm mass in my upper right lobe as well as Pulmonary Emboli! Although difficult, I was GRATEFUL for the Pneumonia, or it may never been detected, until too late. (I too had no symptoms.) Yes, CT scans quickly followed and finally a PET scan, it will provide the info necessary to determine what the 5 cm mass is as well as any other areas that may be affected, in your body, except your Brain, or maybe NO OTHER AREAS IN YOUR BODY!. == Should the outcome indicate cancer, be certain to have a Brain scan as well. Be GRATEFUL for the scan technology available. The waiting will be difficult, but unavoidable. Wishing you the BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME FROM YOUR PET SCAN!