@friend777, Hi friend, I know just how frightened you’re feeling and it’s really tough to get through this, I’ve been down this road too and it feels like you’re all alone but believe me when I say that you have many friends here that have also experienced this start with their journey. I read that your nodules are quite small, I realize it’s not perfect but it does help when you’re dealing with early detection, they’re located in the upper lobe and I remember reading the same thing about the risk being higher as well being an ex smoker. There’s no mention of definitely having cancer at this point in time, when you see the pulmonologist in November everything will be explained to you in detail and this will help you feel much better once you’re more informed. When I started my journey they found a nodule 8 mm in my upper left lobe, no one called it cancer but suggested follow up ct scan to see how it goes, it took 3 years for me to get a cancer diagnosis, I too was an ex smoker, it was considered early stage and I was given a upper left lobectomy, nothing else afterwards. I am a six year survivor now even though I had another nodule removed two years later, it will help you a lot to read the different stories of other people’s experiences and outcomes, it can be very inspiring for you to learn more about what is happening and also how many options there are today for a successful survival best wishes.

@friend777 it's tough to have to wait to speak with a doctor after getting your imaging results. I agree with @frouke that you'll feel better after your Nov. appointment. I understand why you feel the nodules are malignant, but the only way to know for sure is with a biopsy. and it's hard(er) to biopsy nodules that are under 1 cm. so unless there are other concerning factors they see on imaging, they usually put you on a "watch and wait" rescanning schedule. the radiologist recommended rechecking in a year, but this is something you could discuss with your pulmonologist.

Hi @friend777, welcome to Mayo Connect. It's understandable to feel the way you do. The unknown isn't something that sits well with any of us. You are scared and concerned but know that the process of determining what these nodules are may take a while. That's because these nodules are small right now and hopefully aren't that fast growing. Also, know that IF this is cancer, the screening process worked, in identifying these nodules at a very early state. That's great! Early-stage lung cancer is treatable. Screening programs are saving lives.
As questions come into your mind, write them down. This works for me, as when it gets on paper, it stops some of that swirling in my mind.
Have you started a list of questions for the pulmonology appointment on the 13th?

Hello @friend777,
Welcome to Mayo connect, where I’m certain you’ll connect with friends. The people here are knowledgeable, kind and truly understand. You are not alone.
I’m sorry you are going through this intense fear. Finding out you have lung nodules is frightening.
It’s as well hard to wait to see the doctor when all you want right now is to know what is going on. I waited a long bit as well, what helped me was not to read as much frightening information. Only the positive stuff.
I had a mass, found early and incidentally during a separate test.
I was very frightened.
I had my right middle lobe with the mass removed.
No additional treatment was needed, I’m grateful.
I’m also grateful my cancer was found early.
Another coping tool I use is when I catch myself having a “what if” thought… I answer it, “I’ll cross that bridge when and only if I have to.”
Deep slow breathing after, the anxiety and fear will pass.
Positive thoughts are being sent your way.
Hugs 🤗 Daisy

First, I wish you the best with whatever treatments you may get….docs look for changes in repeated CTs…..many people have nodules, often due to past bronchial infections and the like…also, into case of cancer patients mets, tests like ctDNA and Signatera can indicate cancer shedding in the bloodstream, if any…reading radiology reports really best done with the doc to interpret them for you…you can ask your doc to review the images him or herself. Good luck !

Good Morning! I wouldn’t worry toi much just yet. Your CT report states that your nodules are solid. Not the spiculated nodule or ground glass nodule with a solid center. Mine was found ant 8mm, ground glass, spiculated (tentacles) with a tiny solid center. That was the cancer. BUT…. I also have 2 small solid nodules that haven’t grown or changed since 2014. 3mm and 4mm. They believe them to be benign(not cancerous). Yours are small, so as others have said, wait to see your pulmonologist and see what they say. I know it’s not easy but try not to worry until you have to. God Bless you and I will pray for Good results for you!🙏❤️

By the way, don’t use sites that end in .com! Use mayoclinic.ORG, or Clevland clinic.ORG. Those are peer reviewed, .com’s are not and can contain just opinions and horror stories that are not valid.

I wish they would explain these scans in detail. What to expect and what the results mean before you ever have one.

The large NELSON study on lung cancer screening is the foundation for the Lung-RADS system. It grades lesions based on their probability of being malignant. Anything less than 6 mm is considered benign with a 0.5% chance of being cancer. To put that into perspective, you have a higher lifetime chance of dying crossing the street at 0.7%.

While it is not something to just ignore, it is not something you should spend any real amount of time worrying about. Just like looking both ways when crossing the street.

They are probably going to tell you to get another scan in a year. I do not even know how you got this one at 44, but because you have the lesions, they will want to follow them. They cannot even biopsy them until they are at least 8 mm, and many doctors will not try until 10 mm.

Finding lesions in lungs is common in healthy individuals. Finding them in a smoker is extremely common, and most smokers never develop lung cancer. We get sick all the time. Our lungs are subject to so much abuse beyond our control, and these are most likely artifacts from past illnesses or transient exposure.
Can't post a link but here's the studies full name .
NELSON lung cancer screening study

@friend777 Sounds like good news! Nodules appear benign. I would quit smoking, though, to save whatever lung capacity you still have. The nicotine patches and gum work well. See if your ordering physician wants to do a biopsy on the nodules. Other than that, it seems like good news.