Sub-solid nodule grew from 3.5 to 8 in a year: Wait for scan?

@dalelieberman3 , I'm sure it helps to know the next step, but it comes with a new set of questions too. I've added a Mayo Clinic link regarding bronchoscopies:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bronchoscopy/about/pac-20384746
The procedure is generally well tolerated. I'm losing track, but I think I've had 4 bronchoscopies over the past five years. None were close to my heart, so I didn't have that added risk.
Is the procedure doctor that you'll be meeting with a pulmonologist?

Dale,

"Hope" is the byword of all cancer survivors. I was diagnosed with Stage 2b in June 2018 and it became Stage 4 when it metastasized to my brain in 2020. I've had a node grow by 50% in 3 months. 3 months after that, it had shrunk to even smaller than it's originally detected size. Why did it grow that much that fast? No one knows. But it happens. We've continued to watch that node, and a few others, and they consistently do nothing.

From my perspective, if I haven't had a definitive diagnosis of cancer, then I don't have it. I've been cancer-free for most of my last 7 years. I'm still working full-time as a rocket engineer at NASA and judging BBQ on the side. Try to follow Henry David Thoreau's advice when he said, "I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life." I wish you all the best!

Dale,

"Hope" is the byword of all cancer survivors. I was diagnosed with Stage 2b in June 2018 and it became Stage 4 when it metastasized to my brain in 2020. I've had a node grow by 50% in 3 months. 3 months after that, it had shrunk to even smaller than it's originally detected size. Why did it grow that much that fast? No one knows. But it happens. We've continued to watch that node, and a few others, and they consistently do nothing.

From my perspective, if I haven't had a definitive diagnosis of cancer, then I don't have it. I've been cancer-free for most of my last 7 years. I'm still working full-time as a rocket engineer at NASA and judging BBQ on the side. Try to follow Henry David Thoreau's advice when he said, "I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life." I wish you all the best!

I love your attitude. I’m struggling with mine. I’m 38 year old female. I had surgery Oct 24, LLL. Mine was multi focal (all primaries). Largest was 2.3cm, the other 2 were < 0.8cm minimally invasive. Not considered intrapulmonary Mets. Tumors are well-circumscribed, no lymph node or lymphovascular invasion, but I did have slight visceral pleural invasion not involving pleural surface. I am EGFR 19, inherited. I’m on Tagrisso. I’m scared all the time. Hard to move forward.

I love your attitude. I’m struggling with mine. I’m 38 year old female. I had surgery Oct 24, LLL. Mine was multi focal (all primaries). Largest was 2.3cm, the other 2 were < 0.8cm minimally invasive. Not considered intrapulmonary Mets. Tumors are well-circumscribed, no lymph node or lymphovascular invasion, but I did have slight visceral pleural invasion not involving pleural surface. I am EGFR 19, inherited. I’m on Tagrisso. I’m scared all the time. Hard to move forward.

@hnreinhart12 and @daleliebermand3, "Mostly" cancer free for the last 7 years doesn't mean completely cancer free. My cancer metastasized to my brain after 2 years. I had brain surgery and 4 rounds of radiation and started Tagrisso then - about four and a half years ago. Last year, I had a localized recurrence in the area of resection. One more round of radiation and I'm cancer free again!

Unfortunately, that was one more round than my brain could tolerate. I started having trouble with my right foot about 6 months later. (The brain cyst was above the left parietal lobe which controls muscles on the right side and coordination between the two sides.) My next brain MRI showed brain necrosis: tissue death. I had 6 infusions of Avastin over 12 weeks and the brain MRI now looks great! But I have drop foot and chronic pain on the right side of my back.

I also have 2 other unrelated conditions going on. My GI doctor and I suspect gastroparesis, where the stomach doesn't move food along. Side effects include bloating, nausea, constipation, and unplanned weight loss. My body also has a ridiculous need for sleep - up to 11 or 12 hours a day without an alarm. It's REALLY hard to arrange a sleep study in my part of the world (Huntsville, AL area.) Through all of this, I'm still working full-time. I'm also working with a personal trainer to strengthen my body and work to recover my normal work.

My usual positive, optimistic attitude is being strongly tested. And that's where the psychotherapist comes in. Fortunately, one of my fellow high school graduates is a psychiatrist who will give me personal advice, but he won't take me as a patient. I'm still trying to arrange meetings with a local therapist. I've had great success with therapists a couple of times in my past, so I expect a good result this time as well.

My advice when there is something wrong with the body or the mind, find a healer and work with them, whether they are an oncologist or a therapist. I with you both, and everyone else, all the best and a life of much eeeeease.

So my pulmonologist called me. The consensus of the tumor board is to biopsy now. Even though it’s a tricky area to get to( near aorta) because of my history better to biopsy now.
Waiting to get next appointment with interventive pulmonologist.

Update, I met with the interventional pulmonologist from the tumor board. He’s recommending I wait 3 months for another scan due to the location & size. He doesn’t feel confident that he can get it.
Very confusing because I was told the consensus of the tumor board was to biopsy now & not wait.
He said he’ll do it if I want to, but if he’s not confident why would I be.
So I have reached out to a Dr at upenn( I live near there) for second opinion. He has 89% success rate of getting to hard to reach nodules. Can take a couple weeks to get appt.
So, to be continued.

@dalelieberman3 , Thanks for sharing this update. Sometimes holding and waiting is the best option, even if the holding and waiting is hard on us psychologically. I had a recurrence scare where I had a biopsy completed that came back inconclusive. It's not fun to go through the whole procedure and the stress of a biopsy, just to come out with no real results. You want your doc to be confident that they'll get what they need.
A second opinion at a center like UPenn is a good idea too. I'll be interested to see what they have for you in a few weeks. Ask if they are doing robotic bronchoscopy procedures, and report back.
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/robotic-assisted-bronchoscopy-faq

Thank you!
It will be robotic broncoscopy.
I will report back!
Prayers for all.