Multiple lung nodules: Might they be noncancerous? What next?

As a former smoker,10 yrs ago, what are % for cancer of a 9mm nod

John- I have no idea how to measure this. You can google risk assessment but that won't give you a number based on your history.

Good morning John. Although I am not a lung cancer patient I have experience with lung nodules, scans and biopsies. Breast Cancer was my primary diagnosis in April 2019. They did ALL the scans, body, MRI, CT before they needed a PET Scan to focus in on possible lung cancer due to "extensive nodules" (too many to county). I am a smoker. They decided on a needle biopsy (light sedation with the CT scanner guiding them to a larger nodule (23mm x 15). A tiny needle inserted between ribs and somehow they get a sample). It was painless and took only 1 hour from prep with a nurse to coming out of sedation. I forgot to mention, prior to biopsy I was told they'd try to get me 2 1/2 - 3 years (to live). I still have extensive nodules of unknown cause and don't know if they are cancerous (too small to biopsy). The larger one was an off-shoot of breast cancer. I am here 2 years and 8 months later, not really any worse off than 2019 (actually less nodules but I have cancer in my femurs from 2019 also that cause me to ache from time to time.) Don't google stuff. So much out-dated garbage on-line. I hope if you are biopsied it comes out benign, as many lung nodules I've been told are. I wish you a much better New Year.
Peggie

So nice of you. I only have 1 9mm nodule, but I smoked 10 yrs ago. What are my chances that its cancer?

John- Check this chart out it might help you find a preliminary answer. There is a lung cancer meme that says that if you have a lung, you can get lung cancer. If you smoke you have a better chance. But not everyone gets cancer.

For how long did you smoke? Did you quit 10 years ago?

Nobody can tell you what your chances are. What I can tell you is that literature I was given by the doctor when they first spotted something going on in my lungs stated that most often these nodules were benign. Mine wasn't but it was from breast cancer, not my smoking. I'd like to say your chances are pretty good with 1- 9mm nodule that even if it were it should be highly treatable, but I'm not a doctor. I had a co-worker who passed in her early 30's from lung cancer and didn't smoke a day in her life, nor did her husband. Sometimes things just happen, and sometimes they don't. I wish you well and try to relax. At least you are looking into it. I wasted months of worry when I should have been getting checked out.

From my experience with multiple nodules I understand they look at size and appearance to determine if they wait or act.
While you may likely hear the same thing from another medical professional, a second opinion never hurts.
The way my oncologist explained my nodules is more like a marathon than a sprint. I’ve been able to accept this knowing they are watching closely and when one of my nodules did change, they acted very quickly to educate me of all options for treatment.
Best wishes for no changes in those nodules.

In November a chest x-ray showed "ground glass" and indeterminate. I went to a Pulmonologist to order CT and PET scan and I had those scans sent to Mayo. They called immediately, and I decided to do bronchoscopy + VATs with wedge resection surgery at same time. It was a 3.1cm cancer stage 1b. That means negative lymph nodes. I had the option to wait, but I am not getting any younger, and there was a very high probability that it was cancer. Better to do the surgery when I will tolerate it well...which I did. Now I too must watch and wait as I still have a 7mm pleural based nodule and ground glass.

I quit smoking 20 years ago, and just had a lung cancer removed, fortunately identified early. I started smoking late in life, smoked 10-15 a day for about 34 years

Hello Vic and welcome to the lung cancer group. We seem to have similar backgrounds. I also had a blockage, caught early but I was able to get a link. Congratulations on getting rid of your cancer! I smoked a lot and quit 24+ years ago, a week before my first cancer.

When was your surgery? What kind of cancer was it?