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Multiple lung nodules: Might they be noncancerous? What next?
Lung Cancer | Last Active: Sep 12, 2023 | Replies (174)Comment receiving replies
Hello All, I haven't been on for a while, playing the waiting game but finally went to a UCLA pulmonologist for a second opinion of my 12mm ground glass nodule and should be hearing back soon. Have two other nodules 4mm and 6mm, UCLA thinks the 4mm is calcifying so probably scar tissue and the 6mm may a limp node. Next Thursday they are going to present my case to their bi-weekly nodule group of doctors and decide if a needle biopsy should be done. The radiologist at UCLA seems to think it may have grown slightly vs my previous radiologist that says it hasn't. I've been told the needle biopsies carry a significant amount of risk (collapsed lung) but the nodule is in the very outer edge of the lower left lung so pulmonologist said shouldn't be too hard to get to. Anyone want to share needle biopsy experience? Very best to all of you!
Replies to "Hello All, I haven't been on for a while, playing the waiting game but finally went..."
I had a needle biopsy, mid upper left lung. The procedure was by my pulmonologist, which surprised the thoracic surgeon. I had an extreme amount of anxiety leading up to it. I have had many surgeries in my life, but not many on a vital organ. After some light sedation med to relax, the procedure was done laying on my side on a CT table. They numbed the area and began with a few scans, next began inserting the needle/tube a little bit at a time going back and forth for scans making sure the needle was headed to the nodule. At a couple intervals in the back and forth she added more local numbing meds as insertion continued. Once she was in the nodule a tool was inserted into the tube to the nodule to bite out a few chucks. They got some from the middle and edges. Within a day, I knew the results.
When I had the wedge resection surgery to remove two of the nodules, because they were small and ground glass, they had to insert a tracer into them before the surgery. Same type of procedure, but putting in instead of taking out. That one they did numb up the area a few times, but did not give me any relaxing medicine first. Super freaky, but I managed by thinking about about a really great memory from a couple days prior. I decided then, from now on if I have something major coming up, make sure to have some great fresh memories to recall and help carry me through. And also reminding myself, the Lord didn’t make it possible to find these nodules early only to drop me during a procedure.
This 50 year old grandma will continue to fight. Best wishes to you on your journey. I hope if you have to biopsy they find out it is nothing.
I had one and there weren't any problems. It was my first time with a major organ and I felt frantic. I was also introduced to versed. I was awake, on a gurney, partway into a CT scanner and as high as a kite. I had a great time. Oh, it was also in a hallway!
Please know that I'm not trying to make light of biopsies. They can be risky, but so much depends on the health of the person's lung, the position of the cancer nodule, and the technicians doing the procedure. I feel that I am so lucky to live in a time where such procedures are not only possible but are done as a matter of routine.
I wish you the best of luck. But most of all, how are you feeling about the risks?
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You may not want to hear this...I have had a few and all but one no problem. I did have a collapsed lung for one and it was caught immediately and I was returned to the room where the biopsy had been done and had tube put into my lung. Spent the night in the hospital and was discharged next day after the doctor took the tubing out. That is a second of unpleasantness but to me that second was the worst of it all.....have been tubed since and just start to sing and do deep breathing as I knew it was coming....