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Small lung nodules: How often should they be monitored?
Lung Health | Last Active: Jun 16, 2023 | Replies (67)Comment receiving replies
I cannot address lung cancer, but I can tell you that ground glass is a term used to describe the appearance of abnormal findings in lung images. This can be from many causes, only one of which is cancer. The term has come to be ominous these past two years, as in early days of Covid it was used to describe the lung abnormalities from Covid pneumonia. Those of us with other chronic lung infections sometimes see the description in our xray results when the infection is active, and it recedes after treatment.
I know lung nodules and other findings are scary, but you need not be overly anxious about the ground glass description.
I always like to encourage people who are awaiting a visit for a new medical issue to avoid using Google to guess their diagnosis. It is just too scary.
Do you have a trusted family member, friend or clergy person who you can talk to about your worries?
Sue
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I am afraid I must disagree on your point "telling people to avoid using Google to guess their diagnosis. It is just too scary". The googled information I found before my local pulmonologist visit definitely saved me from more painful surgical procedures and gave me a much better prognosis. Because I knew what was in the scan reports, I realized the local Pulmonologist was wasting time with unlikely diagnoses and tests and lacked expertise in lung cancer. I should have been referred to someone else because my scan reports talked cancer! Fortunately, my expensive Medigap insurance allows me to self-refer and I went to Mayo. When I worked in Corporate America we always said "knowledge is power". AND people should research their doctors to be sure they are board certified and qualified!!!! My local Pulmonologist's major interest was Asma!!! Of course, it takes work to build up the knowledge, and learning what a serious source is. But it is only scary when one does not know, and one cannot decide.