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Noticed 3 nodules on my right lung (scared to death)

Posted by joe88 @joe88, Sep 12 3:04pm

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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for friend777
friend777 | @friend777 | Sep 24 8:28am
In reply to @lls8000 "@friend777, There is certainly hope in the world of lung cancer, now more than ever! There..." + (show)
Profile picture for Lisa, Volunteer Mentor @lls8000

@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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@lls8000 Hi Ms. Lisa! Thank you so much for your response! You are so correct. I have read and noticed that there are treatments now that there wasn't even 10 years ago. Seems there has been a dramatic interest in lung cancer as a whole, not just non small but small cell too. You are absolutely right about cancer having so many faces the way it grows, drivers, mutations and such. It is such a scary condition that even baffles scientists to treat it. Like any other cancer. I am so happy for you that your targeted pills are continuing to work and keep you in remission. Big hugs to you my friend. You are correct, like others have said of being patient and wait to talk to the provider, just the anxiety is so devastating. I definitely have questions for the pulmonologist, that is for certain. Thank you Ms Lisa for being a friend. Big hugs. Thank you again. Keep fighting and hope you will be that 20 plus survivor!

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edivebuddy | @edivebuddy | Sep 24 8:55am

Malignant pleural mesothelioma looks vastly different from primary lung cancer on imaging.

On a CT scan, mesothelioma characteristically appears as thickened, irregular, or nodular pleural tissue that forms a continuous rind or shell wrapping around the outside of the lung.

Mesothelioma is not in the lung tissue itself. Just like the other organs where it occurs, it develops in the lining, which in this case is the pleura.

U.S. Coast Guard ships built since 1991 do not have asbestos, but older vessels had plenty of it, just like the rest of the country at that time.

Beyond the ship history, a spot inside the lung tissue is not mesothelioma because mesothelioma is a disease of the outer lining. You can keep it on your radar if you want, but today, this scan absolutely doesn't show it.

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monette | @monette | Sep 24 7:10pm

Ask your team why not give you Signature tests by Natura for lung cancer screening.

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edivebuddy | @edivebuddy | Sep 24 7:47pm
In reply to @monette "Ask your team why not give you Signature tests by Natura for lung cancer screening." + (show)
Profile picture for monette @monette

Ask your team why not give you Signature tests by Natura for lung cancer screening.

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@monette

In order to use the Signatera test by Natera for lung cancer, you must already have a confirmed cancer diagnosis. They sequence your specific tumor tissue to identify 16 unique genetic mutations and create a test tailored exclusively to your tumor. Blood draws then look for those specific mutations in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to track treatment response and monitor for cancer recurrence.

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friend777 | @friend777 | Sep 25 9:37am
In reply to @edivebuddy "@monette In order to use the Signatera test by Natera for lung cancer, you must already..." + (show)
Profile picture for edivebuddy @edivebuddy

@monette

In order to use the Signatera test by Natera for lung cancer, you must already have a confirmed cancer diagnosis. They sequence your specific tumor tissue to identify 16 unique genetic mutations and create a test tailored exclusively to your tumor. Blood draws then look for those specific mutations in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to track treatment response and monitor for cancer recurrence.

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@edivebuddy Hi Edivebuddy! Wow! You are a vast of knowledge! Thank you so much for your information on mesothelioma and telling me it is not the case from this recent scan. I appreciate you more than you know. All of you, I appreciate you greatly. Yesterday, I had a symptom day, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath. Called city of hope and was able to have my appointment moved up closer to Oct 9th, from nov 13th. A interm provider called me to ask about my symptoms and we discussed my situation. He was telling me from his experience in dealing with lung cancer for many years, overseeing my radiology report/scans, symptoms, location of leisons, he is 98 percent sure it will be a diagnosis of lung cancer. I was in complete shock to be honest buddy. Still hitting me like a ton of bricks. I didnt sleep a wink. He brought the possibility of a cancer called multifocal adenocarcinoma but said that my leisons are solid. Most of the time with multifocal adenocarcinoma, the leisons start off as GGO ground glass oppacities, not as solid. My mind is still in a blur. How are you doing my friend? I am definitely worried about seeing the pulmonologist on the 9th and hear what he has to say. He also said, should get another scan in 3 months to see if new leisons formed, changes in leisons and such. Hope you have a great day and thank you for being such a wonderful ambassador and a friend. Big hugs to you my friend. Talk to you soon.

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friend777 | @friend777 | Sep 25 9:42am
In reply to @edivebuddy "Malignant pleural mesothelioma looks vastly different from primary lung cancer on imaging. On a CT scan,..." + (show)
Profile picture for edivebuddy @edivebuddy

Malignant pleural mesothelioma looks vastly different from primary lung cancer on imaging.

On a CT scan, mesothelioma characteristically appears as thickened, irregular, or nodular pleural tissue that forms a continuous rind or shell wrapping around the outside of the lung.

Mesothelioma is not in the lung tissue itself. Just like the other organs where it occurs, it develops in the lining, which in this case is the pleura.

U.S. Coast Guard ships built since 1991 do not have asbestos, but older vessels had plenty of it, just like the rest of the country at that time.

Beyond the ship history, a spot inside the lung tissue is not mesothelioma because mesothelioma is a disease of the outer lining. You can keep it on your radar if you want, but today, this scan absolutely doesn't show it.

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@edivebuddy. Wow! Thank you so much buddy for your information and response on mesothelioma. My friend, I am going to you instead of seeing the pulmonologist. You know everything. I will be in great hands when it comes to you. Thank you so much!

REPLY
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friend777 | @friend777 | Sep 25 9:48am
In reply to @cmcguire10 "@friend777 -Thank you for your kind wishes! I am doing well! So far I am 3..." + (show)
Profile picture for cmcguire10 @cmcguire10

@friend777 -Thank you for your kind wishes! I am doing well! So far I am 3 years cancer free. I am an ex smoker as well. 30+ years a pack a day. Was actually 52 When my cancer was first found by CT from a car accident, but the hospital neglected to tell me or my doctor. 8mm ground glass spiculated nodule at that time with a tiny 2mm solid center. Found again in January of 2023. 9 years later at 22mm ground glass spiculated nodule solid center at 8mm. Luckily it was a slow growing adenocarcinoma. Had segmentectomy March of 2023. No lymph node involvement and not spread anywhere else. All my scans have noted the “tiny 3mm and 4mm solid nodules” and that they have been unchanged for many years. I have many nodules in my lungs because I had Valley Fever sometime in my life. (I never knew I had it). Many things cause nodules such as infections, pollution, etc. They are calcified which means my lungs/immune system fought whatever caused them. So that is why I say don’t worry until you HAVE to. You DON’T have cancer until they say you do!

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@cmcguire10 Hi cmc! Called city of hope and was able to have my appointment moved up closer to Oct 9th, from nov 13th. A interm provider called me to ask about my symptoms and we discussed my situation. He was telling me from his experience in dealing with lung cancer for many years, overseeing my radiology report/scans, symptoms, location of leisons, he is 98 percent sure it will be a diagnosis of lung cancer. I was in complete shock to be honest. Still hitting me like a ton of bricks. I didnt sleep a wink. He brought the possibility of a cancer called multifocal adenocarcinoma but said that my leisons are solid. Most of the time with multifocal adenocarcinoma, the leisons start off as GGO ground glass oppacities, not as solid. My mind is still in a blur. How are you doing my friend? I am definitely worried about seeing the pulmonologist on the 9th and hear what he has to say. He also said, should get another scan in 3 months to see if new leisons formed, changes in leisons and such. Wanted to keep you and others informed

REPLY
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friend777 | @friend777 | Sep 25 9:51am
In reply to @mamajite "@friend777 how frustrating to have made that long drive just to be rescheduled. I'm sorry that..." + (show)
Profile picture for mamajite @mamajite

@friend777 how frustrating to have made that long drive just to be rescheduled. I'm sorry that happened. hang in there - the right doctor is worth the wait. watch out for YT - once you watch a certain kind of video, it will keep suggesting similar ones, whether they are accurate or not. there are some helpful channels provided by NIH cancer centers and a few lung cancer orgs like Go2 for lung cancer.
https://www.youtube.com/@GO2forLungCancer
but honestly - if something is giving you severe anxiety, just step away from it. focus on today and things you can control. take a walk, cook something - anything that helps you feel more grounded. I like listening to audio books because sometimes I feel anxious when I'm trying to get to sleep and they help me think about the story instead of my worries.

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@mamajite Good morning mamajite! I called city of hope and was able to have my appointment bumped up closer, Oct 9th, from nov 13th. A interm provider called me to ask about my symptoms and we discussed my situation. He was telling me from his experience in dealing with lung cancer for many years, overseeing my radiology report/scans, symptoms, location of leisons, he is 98 percent sure it will be a diagnosis of lung cancer. I was in complete shock to be honest. Still hitting me like a ton of bricks. I didnt sleep a wink. He brought the possibility of a cancer called multifocal adenocarcinoma but said that my leisons are solid. Most of the time with multifocal adenocarcinoma, the leisons start off as GGO ground glass oppacities, not as solid. My mind is still in a blur. How are you doing my friend? I am definitely worried about seeing the pulmonologist on the 9th and hear what he has to say. He also said, should get another scan in 3 months to see if new leisons formed, changes in leisons and such. Hope you are doing well. Ill keep you updated and others. Thank you so much

REPLY
1 reply
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friend777 | @friend777 | Sep 25 9:56am
In reply to @lls8000 "@friend777, There is certainly hope in the world of lung cancer, now more than ever! There..." + (show)
Profile picture for Lisa, Volunteer Mentor @lls8000

@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.

Jump to this post

@lls8000 Good morning Ms. Lisa. I talked to city of hope and was able to have my appointment moved up closer to Oct 9th, from nov 13th. A interm medical provider called me to ask about my symptoms and we discussed my case. He was telling me from his experience in dealing with lung cancer for many years, overseeing my radiology report/scans, symptoms, location of leisons, he is 98 percent sure it will be a diagnosis of lung cancer. I was in complete shock to be honest. Still hitting me like a ton of bricks. I didnt sleep a wink. He brought the possibility of a cancer called multifocal adenocarcinoma but said that my leisons are solid. Most of the time with multifocal adenocarcinoma, the leisons start off as GGO ground glass oppacities, not as solid. My mind is still in a blur. How are you doing my Ms. Lisa? I am definitely worried about seeing the pulmonologist on the 9th and hear what he has to say. He also said, should get another scan in 3 months to see if new leisons formed, changes in leisons and such. Thank you so much

REPLY
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friend777 | @friend777 | Sep 25 9:59am
In reply to @daisydays "Hello @friend777, Welcome to Mayo connect, where I’m certain you’ll connect with friends. The people here..." + (show)
Profile picture for daisydays @daisydays

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

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@daisydays Good morning Ms. Daisy. How are you? I hope you are doing well. I was able to call city of hope and was able to have my appointment moved up closer to Oct 9th, from nov 13th. A interm medical provider called me to ask about my symptoms and we discussed my case. He was telling me from his experience in dealing with lung cancer for many years, overseeing my radiology report/scans, symptoms, location of leisons, he is 98 percent sure it will be a diagnosis of lung cancer. I was in complete shock to be honest. Still hitting me like a ton of bricks. I didnt sleep a wink. He brought the possibility of a cancer called multifocal adenocarcinoma but said that my leisons are solid. Most of the time with multifocal adenocarcinoma, the leisons start off as GGO ground glass oppacities, not as solid. My mind is still in a blur. How are you doing my friend? I am definitely worried about seeing the pulmonologist on the 9th and hear what he has to say. He also said, should get another scan in 3 months to see if new leisons formed, changes in leisons and such.

REPLY
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