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Noticed 3 nodules on my right lung (scared to death)
Hi everyone! First and foremost, thank you all for your support! I recently had a low dose CT scan of the chest and found 3 nodules on my right lung. I have about 19 years of smoking. I am extremely terrified with the findings and after reading several medical journals, I am convinced that I have lung cancer. Right now, my nodules are less then 6 mm. What is freaking me out more is that on the report it says benign but just today, I got a referral to the Oncology department at the City of Hope. I have been crying my eyes out to be honest. My family has turned their backs on me and dont want to help. Please, help me. Im so paralyzed with fear about having cancer and have no one to talk to. I attached my CT findings down below. Please, please help and any advice would be grateful and having a freind(s) would be awesome. Thank you all.
EXAM: CT LUNG SCREENING
HISTORY: Patient is 44 years old with long-term history of smoking
FINDINGS:
PULMONARY NODULES: 5 mm solid posterior right upper lobe nodule (3/78), 4 mm solid subpleural inferior right upper lobe nodule (3/111), and 2 mm solid subpleural anterior right middle lobe nodule (3/125).
LUNGS/AIRWAYS/PLEURA: There is no focal consolidation. Mild paraseptal emphysema. The trachea and main segmental bronchi are patent without endobronchial filling defects. Bronchial wall thickening, suggestive of chronic airway disease. There is no pleural effusion.
LOWER NECK/CHEST WALL/AXILLA: The visualized lower neck and chest wall appear grossly unremarkable. There is no axillary lymphadenopathy.
MEDIASTINUM/HILA: No pathologically enlarged mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes are seen.
CARDIOVASCULAR: There is no pericardial effusion. Mild coronary artery calcification. The thoracic aorta is within normal limits of caliber. The pulmonary trunk and arteries are within normal limits of caliber.
UPPER ABDOMEN: Given the low dose technique, images of the upper abdomen are extremely limited for diagnostic purposes, however appear grossly unremarkable.
OSSEOUS STRUCTURES: There are no acute osseous abnormalities.
IMPRESSION:
1. Pulmonary nodules measuring less than 6 mm
2. Mild coronary artery calcification.
LUNG-RADS Category 2: Benign.
MANAGEMENT: Recommend screening low-dose chest CT in 12 months.
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@friend777, There is certainly hope in the world of lung cancer, now more than ever! There are different types of lung cancer, and different drivers of the cancer. So, they will act and grow at different rates too. The statistics that you are seeing on-line are outdated. Many of the people included in those studies were diagnosed before today's treatments were available. So, don't put too much stock in those numbers. There are many of us here on Mayo Connect that have proven the statistics wrong too.
I have a mutation based lung cancer that is treated with a targeted therapy (pills). I've stayed on it longer than expected, 6 1/2 years. I did have a cough when I was diagnosed.
I also have a lung nodule that is not cancer! Yes, even lung cancer patients can have benign nodules. You may too. My point is that worrying about what 'might be' is normal, but it's not helpful.
Try to focus on what you know, and what you can do about it today.
We know there is something in that lung. It needs more investigation. You have an appointment with a medical center that is a National Cancer Institute designated cancer center. That's great! There is not more to act on at this point, except to continuing to compile that list of questions for the pulmonologist, and to take a deep breath. Try to do something that's gotten you through hard times before. The waiting is never easy, but it's a part of this process.
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8 ReactionsHello @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
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9 Reactions@friend777 is @joe88 also your username? I remembered the details from your previous post. you had an appointment scheduled for last friday - how did that go? as @lls8000 mentioned, City of Hope is an NIH designated cancer center. You most certainly will be in good hands. but if you don't click with the doctor, see another one. it's important for them to have expertise and experience, but also be good communicators. I have fired a pulmonologist before!
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2 ReactionsFirst, 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 !
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4 Reactions@mamajite Hi Mamajite. Yes, I forgot my username and password for the joe one 😆. Good memory mamajite. You wont believe it. I am about a hour and half away from city of hope to where I reside and when I got there, they said the dr was not in and that I had to reschedule. Wow. They could of told me this the day before but I got nothing of the sort. I didnt see the doctor at all and now I have to wait to see the pulmonologist on nov13th. I was very disappointed to say the least. I was looking forward to seeing the doctor. Thank you for the advice mamajite. From the reviews, it seems like he is a great doctor so I am optimistic about that for sure. Thank you for your reassurance that city of hope is good hospital. Mamajite, there is a youtube channel, called a patients story and many are about lung cancer and many the accounts dont seem so promising about lung cancer and it is causing me severe anxiety.
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2 Reactions@nycmusic Hi NYC music. Thank you so much for your input. I appreciate any new education on this as I am oblivious to this all. How long have you been battling cancer? I am glad that you are still with us, fighting. Thank you for being a friend and keep you updated on the situation. Thank you so much.
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!🙏❤️
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7 ReactionsBy 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.
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10 Reactions@friend777 I agree that it would be better if they did but I don’t think that it’s very likely for many reasons. I also read an article years ago that said if you ever smoked or still do it would be a good idea to get a ct scan. I was an ex smoker and this article made sense to me, however my doctor at the time didn’t agree with me and said that ct scans were not used in this manner, I went to see one of his colleagues to see what they felt and I was pleased to hear her say that she agreed so I received the ct scan. As I previously mentioned they found a 8-9 mm nodule that may have had some early characteristics but nothing definitive, as mamajite mentioned earlier, they don’t biopsy nodules under 1 cm, so it became a “wait and watch “ situation, thankfully it was a very slow growing nodule and after 3 years of ct scans it was definitively diagnosed as NSCLC, they also found a new nodule 5 mm right beside it which was later determined to be a different type of cancer. All this occurred at the start of the pandemic but I was blessed to get into the OR weeks later and had the lobe removed, so it just goes to show that you can’t beat early detection, you are definitely on the right track!
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4 Reactions@friend777 cancer CRC diagnosis late summer 2024…immunotherapy and surgery both worked….have been cancer free for about 18 months now….all along, there is surveillance every 3 months, including chest CTs…they always describe my nodules, but then note that there are no changes from the beginning diagnostic CTs…between the CTs and blood tests, especially Signatera, they get a good picture of my health—so far, so good…with cancer, it’s never ‘’over’’, as it can recur, therefore regular testing, especially if the places CRC tends to go. Fortunately I am back to my life, arranging music, etc.—except for back issues, currently under the care of osteopathy. My prayers are with you…if you wish, keep posting your questions and this community will do our best to support and help. Good luck !
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