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

Posted by felix536 @felix536, Aug 17, 2021

I have 3 lung nodules measuring 4mm, 6mm and 14 mm in three different lobes. Have had ct scans showing no change in 6 months and have another scan scheduled in three months per my pulmonologist. Should I get a second opinion from an Oncologist or wait it out? What are the chances of this being noncancerous?

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 15, 2022
In reply to @dedehans "I will let you know more about this next week after my CT scan....I had bronchoscopies..." + (show)
@dedehans

I will let you know more about this next week after my CT scan....I had bronchoscopies and biopsies when first diagnosed and I am not sure why I had so many different diagnostic procedures (3 growths back then...) but I think one of the nodules then (as now) was somewhere on my right lung. It was not cancer then. I hope you are working with a cancer facility like Mayo, Moffitt (me), MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering. Good luck to us both.

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I'm at the best on the east coast. Thanks! Enjoy your weekend!

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vic83 | @vic83 | Jan 15, 2022
In reply to @merpreb "Hello Vic and welcome to the lung cancer group. We seem to have similar backgrounds. I..." + (show)
@merpreb

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?

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Thanks for welcome. The most concerning mass was removed 12/29/21. Pathology report says Moderately differentiated invasive adenocarcinoma, 3.1 cm mass., Visceral pleural invasion absent, surgical margin is negative, lymph nodes negative. A PET scan from 4 weeks before surgery showed no indication of cancer throughout body. So defined as a stage 1b because of size (less than 3cm to be state 1a). But I have other things to watch in lungs. I read all the reports and google all the medical terms. I would just like to have an idea of how things will play out, how often the scans, potential for new developments and potential treatment. I need to plan for the future. I would like to also plan for some vacation. Unfortunately, I also discovered in December that I have a single 70% cardiac artery blockage. So management is critical. With stents, one is on medication that prohibits surgery for significant time. Something one does not want to do with lung cancer!!!
I am on medication for blockage now because had they put in the stent I would not have been able to remove the cancer, and stent would not have been much useful then! Turns out that a study came out that shows people on medication do as well as people with stent. So I want a clear understanding of what my risks and options are.

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1 reply
vic83 | @vic83 | Jan 15, 2022
In reply to @merpreb "Hello Vic and welcome to the lung cancer group. We seem to have similar backgrounds. I..." + (show)
@merpreb

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?

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What is a "link". My first cancer (stage 1b) removed in Dec 2021 is 20 years after I quit. I guess I did well to quit then

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dedehans | @dedehans | Jan 15, 2022
In reply to @vic83 "Thanks for welcome. The most concerning mass was removed 12/29/21. Pathology report says Moderately differentiated invasive..." + (show)
@vic83

Thanks for welcome. The most concerning mass was removed 12/29/21. Pathology report says Moderately differentiated invasive adenocarcinoma, 3.1 cm mass., Visceral pleural invasion absent, surgical margin is negative, lymph nodes negative. A PET scan from 4 weeks before surgery showed no indication of cancer throughout body. So defined as a stage 1b because of size (less than 3cm to be state 1a). But I have other things to watch in lungs. I read all the reports and google all the medical terms. I would just like to have an idea of how things will play out, how often the scans, potential for new developments and potential treatment. I need to plan for the future. I would like to also plan for some vacation. Unfortunately, I also discovered in December that I have a single 70% cardiac artery blockage. So management is critical. With stents, one is on medication that prohibits surgery for significant time. Something one does not want to do with lung cancer!!!
I am on medication for blockage now because had they put in the stent I would not have been able to remove the cancer, and stent would not have been much useful then! Turns out that a study came out that shows people on medication do as well as people with stent. So I want a clear understanding of what my risks and options are.

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Vic..if you are on an anticoagulant for blockage it would have to be stopped before any surgery....Is the stent working well enough for you to go off the med for surgery??? I have heart issues too (15 years ago major heart attack) and it complicates everything but I went off the blood thinners a few weeks before I had the LLL surgery.

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1 reply
stellerjohn | @stellerjohn | Jan 16, 2022
In reply to @merpreb "John- It makes me happy to hear that you will be seeing another doctor. Dede shared..." + (show)
@merpreb

John- It makes me happy to hear that you will be seeing another doctor. Dede shared a site that you should look at about PET scans. The difference between a PET scan and CT is its purpose.

A CT scan can be used to visualize nearly all parts of the body and is used to diagnose disease or injury as well as to plan medical, surgical, or radiation treatment.

A PET scan can help reveal the metabolic or biochemical function of your tissues and organs. The PET scan uses a radioactive drug (tracer) to show both normal and abnormal metabolic activity. Cancer throws off energy and the radioactive injection will light up on the scan indicating that something is injured or needs further attention, like cancer.

I will be very interested to hear what your new doctor has to say. Your appointment is this Monday, right?

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Yes. I'll let you know. Thanks.

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vic83 | @vic83 | Jan 16, 2022
In reply to @stellerjohn "More questions; If my 8mm nodule grows ,3 months from now in a Ct & PET..." + (show)
@stellerjohn

More questions;
If my 8mm nodule grows ,3 months from now in a Ct & PET scan , how do they biopsy it ,being so dangerous. My regular doctor said " at 83 you probably cant take surgery ,too risky, so we have to get a specialist in for reccomendations"
How do they radiate a small nodule..in right upper lobe..

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I am 80 and I just did VAT Surgery on lung. I am doing well. Look for someone who does Video Assisted Thoracic surgery where they make just 3 incisions

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1 reply
stellerjohn | @stellerjohn | Jan 16, 2022
In reply to @vic83 "I am 80 and I just did VAT Surgery on lung. I am doing well. Look..." + (show)
@vic83

I am 80 and I just did VAT Surgery on lung. I am doing well. Look for someone who does Video Assisted Thoracic surgery where they make just 3 incisions

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Please be more specific..is this a special surgery that does not go into the lung specifically to the nodule? I dont understand

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2 replies
vic83 | @vic83 | Jan 16, 2022
In reply to @dedehans "Vic..if you are on an anticoagulant for blockage it would have to be stopped before any..." + (show)
@dedehans

Vic..if you are on an anticoagulant for blockage it would have to be stopped before any surgery....Is the stent working well enough for you to go off the med for surgery??? I have heart issues too (15 years ago major heart attack) and it complicates everything but I went off the blood thinners a few weeks before I had the LLL surgery.

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I did not do stent because I was in middle of workup for lung mass. Cardiologist said it was OK to put me on medication to treat blockage while I determine what is lung problem. That is not the same medication one has with stent placement. Antiplatelet therapy is required for 6 or more months and cannot be interrupted. For lung surgery they only had me stop low dose aspirin and Lozol for one day. I kept taking the IMDUR and TOPROL XL and Atorvastatin.

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 16, 2022
In reply to @felix536 "Hello All, I haven't been on for a while, playing the waiting game but finally went..." + (show)
@felix536

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!

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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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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 16, 2022
In reply to @stellerjohn "Please be more specific..is this a special surgery that does not go into the lung specifically..." + (show)
@stellerjohn

Please be more specific..is this a special surgery that does not go into the lung specifically to the nodule? I dont understand

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John- There are all sorts of different types of surgeries that can be performed on the chest. VATS is one way to access cancer that does not involve opening up the chest and spreading ribs.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/video-assisted-thoracic-surgery/about/pac-20384922
Can I help you do some research? Do you have specific questions or do you not know what to ask? (like I was, and still sometimes don't!)
Merry

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