12 mm Spiculated Nodule upper right lobe

Posted by joannamountain24 @joannamountain24, Feb 19, 2024

May 2022- they found an incidental nodule in my right upper lobe. The CT impression said 8 mm ground-glass could be a low-grade malignancy. A month later, I had another CT which said that there was no significant interval change 6 mm upper lobe pulmonary nodule.
July 2023-I had a follow up CT scan. Impression 12x7 mm slightly spiculated. Malignancy cannot be excluded. I was referred to a thoracic surgeon who also couldn’t rule out cancer and said that it would be very difficult to get a biopsy because of the location. The test could come back negative, but they wouldn’t be sure that they really got it from the right area. He recommended removing it and biopsy it. Probably a partial lobectomy but he wouldn’t know for sure till he got in there. He could end up removing the entire upper lobe. Does anyone have experience with this? I decided to wait.
February 2024--I just had another CT scan about 2 weeks ago. 1.2 x 0.7 x 0.8 cm spiculated nodule in the right upper lobe not significantly changed since July 2023 but has increased in size since May 2022. This nodule remains suspicious, and PET/CT may be considered for further evaluation.
I’m having a PET/CT scan done next week. I’m so scared about everything. Most people say, just have it removed. Is this really the best option? What will the PET/CT scan show. How long does it take to get back to “normal” after having a surgery like this? It would be a minimally invasive procedure.
Also, I’m reading that there is a much higher chance of it being malignant when it’s found in the upper lobe?

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Profile picture for Lisa, Volunteer Mentor @lls8000

@breakingbadmom , a re-scan in September sounds like a good plan. Wishing you the best.
You may find the Autoimmune Diseases Support Group helpful too:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/autoimmune-diseases/

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@lls8000
Thanks so very much!!!

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Profile picture for joannamountain24 @joannamountain24

Thank you so much for all the information. I have been in denial about the whole thing for awhile, thinking that it was just going to disappear again. The doctor did say that if anything it would probably be stage 1 and he didn't think that I would be needing chemo/radiation afterwards. He also mentioned that he didn't think my PET/CT would show much more than the CT did. Regardless, having the PET/CT done next week. I know that many of you are going through far worse and I should consider myself very lucky that it's caught early, but I'm still very scared.

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I had a speculated nodule in my middle right lobe biopsied and confirmed as malignant. I chose to have a robotic lobectomy. The whole procedure was manageable and I was scanned every six months for 3 years and graduated to an annual scan. Four years later a malignant nodule was found in my upper right lobe. Because I have severe emphysema I had 3 radiation treatments which destroyed the nodule. I feel good. I'm having another scan in 3 months to make certain everything is clear. So far, I'm pleased as punch with my choices and outcome from treatments. Be proactive! I'm alive because of it.

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I had breast cancer with a double mastectomy just before Covid. My surgeon blew out her knee about 2 weeks after my surgery. I will leave comments about my reconstruction doctor unsaid except that he completely disappeared during Covid. I was introduced to an oncologist at that time but I chose then not to do chemo or radiation. I am now seeing her.
I have a granddaughter who is a hospice nurse and she can get me signed up at any time. Thank you for checking.
My prayers are with you and all if those who fall victim to any type of cancer.

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Profile picture for sandyk8 @sandyk8

I don't know if this is the right group for me. My story is different than any of the ones that I've read about so far.
But here goes. I am a great grandmother, soon to be a great great. Yes, I am old. So please don't judge me for my decision. A CT scan showed two speculated nodules in my right lung,the larger one over 2 cm. A follow up PET scan verified cancer had gone to a lymph node. I am not doing any chemo or radiation. Is that enough to get me kicked off this group? Death does not scare me. At this age there are more funerals than weddings. My family is very supportive of my decision, but this is a journey that all travel alone. There are questions and feelings of what I am going through that it would be nice to have the support of people who have gone through similar experiences. I have never smoked

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@sandyk8
You without a doubt have my support and respect.

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Profile picture for sandyk8 @sandyk8

I had breast cancer with a double mastectomy just before Covid. My surgeon blew out her knee about 2 weeks after my surgery. I will leave comments about my reconstruction doctor unsaid except that he completely disappeared during Covid. I was introduced to an oncologist at that time but I chose then not to do chemo or radiation. I am now seeing her.
I have a granddaughter who is a hospice nurse and she can get me signed up at any time. Thank you for checking.
My prayers are with you and all if those who fall victim to any type of cancer.

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@sandyk8 you have been through a lot - hugs! I'm glad you have the support of an oncologist and your granddaughter. do you know if the lung nodules are lung cancer or a breast cancer recurrence?

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Thanks for your support to all who have responded.
No I do not. The only way to find out is a biopsy. This time around I am choosing to not do anything intrusive. The biopsy on the breast cancer caused the tumors to grow. This time around I am going to enjoy the time left to me as much as possible.

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Profile picture for sandyk8 @sandyk8

Thanks for your support to all who have responded.
No I do not. The only way to find out is a biopsy. This time around I am choosing to not do anything intrusive. The biopsy on the breast cancer caused the tumors to grow. This time around I am going to enjoy the time left to me as much as possible.

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@sandyk8 you could ask if they could do a "liquid biopsy". I've had it done and it's just a blood test, but it can detect different cancer genes. they don't always suggest it because it's an expensive test. two of these kinds of tests are called Guardiant and Signatera.

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