Mass on lung and lymph nodes

Posted by detroitmom23 @detroitmom23, Jan 4, 2023

I had a routine Cat Scan about a month ago and found large mass in lung and probability of surrounding lymph nodes. I have consultation this week to discuss best approach to biopsy and also setting up Pet scan. I’m beyond devastated and scared. I heard the needle biopsy is miserable. I feel certain I’m facing death and perhaps worse thing is telling my two adult daughters who already lost their dad when they were kids.

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@mddan216

Please don't waste time or energy on feeling guilty because you smoke/smoked. Use that energy to fight and stay positive. I had a small nodule in my right lung since2014 and it was followed with frequent CT scans and had remained stable for years. After retirement in 2014, we moved to a small, rural, mountain town in southwest North Carolina. In 2019 I started coughing a lot and was told by my PCP, urgent care and a physician's assistant who ran the ENT office I was going to for allergy shots, that my cough was due to post nasal drip caused by my allergies. In December 2019, the PA at the ENT sent me for a chest xray that showed the nodule was unchanged, however, it showed I had plural effusion and she failed to connect the dots and dropped the ball. In early 2020 I saw a pulmonologist in Atlanta who scheduled me for a PET scan to see what was happening with that nodule but then the pandemic happened and things were cancelled. I continued coughing, continued seeing doctors in the town we lived, and continued getting the same story - post nasal drip. In August 2021 I felt like I was going to die, the coughing was worse, I had a lot of phlegm and no energy. I saw the PA at the ENT and she asked me if I felt like I was drowning, told her yes, she sent me to the hospital right away for an x-ray and they said it was pneumonia. Did antibiotics and felt no better. Went to see another PA somewhere else in town, she was smart and sent me for a CT scan and that's when we found out it was not post nasal drip. Had a PET scan that showed innumerable nodules in both lungs and a large mass in the right lower lobe. God has helped me forgive all those who failed me over and over by misdiagnosing me. So now I advocate for myself and encourage others to do the same. You got this - stay strong and fight.

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Sounds very similar to my situation. Very fatigued for 6-8 months. Also pain in shoulder going up neck to ear. Came down with what I thought was bronchitis in sept. Primary dr and urgent care both prescribed antibiotics and steroids. Helped for a short time. But pain in neck sent me back to primary. Ordered Cat scan for neck and convinced me to do a lung scan while I was at it. Large mass in upper line and assorted modules in other areas with high likelihood of lymph node involvement. Next steps are PET scan and biopsy. Devastated and scared but trying to remain strong. What treatments have you undergone?

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@mddan216

I'll be 74 in two months, diagnosed with NSCLC stage 4 in September 2021. I had a bronchoscopy to determine if I had a mutation and sure enough, it came back as EGFR 19 deletion which enabled me to start targeted therapy (pill) in December 2021. I just had quarterly CT scan yesterday and all that remains is a 4mm nodule in the lower right lobe - where it all started - and a few scattered sub-4mm nodules in both lungs. Lymph nodes that were affected are now normal, one metastases to brain was handled by one session of radiosurgery, and lesions to left iliac bone and T9 vertebrae were taken care of by the targeted therapy I take. I know it's scary and very overwhelming but take a deep breath, write down any and all questions that you have and advocate for yourself every step of the way. Try hard to remain positive because positivity really impacts your health in a good way. Gld bless you.

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I just re read your post about your treatments. God bless you as well ❤️

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@mddan216

Please don't waste time or energy on feeling guilty because you smoke/smoked. Use that energy to fight and stay positive. I had a small nodule in my right lung since2014 and it was followed with frequent CT scans and had remained stable for years. After retirement in 2014, we moved to a small, rural, mountain town in southwest North Carolina. In 2019 I started coughing a lot and was told by my PCP, urgent care and a physician's assistant who ran the ENT office I was going to for allergy shots, that my cough was due to post nasal drip caused by my allergies. In December 2019, the PA at the ENT sent me for a chest xray that showed the nodule was unchanged, however, it showed I had plural effusion and she failed to connect the dots and dropped the ball. In early 2020 I saw a pulmonologist in Atlanta who scheduled me for a PET scan to see what was happening with that nodule but then the pandemic happened and things were cancelled. I continued coughing, continued seeing doctors in the town we lived, and continued getting the same story - post nasal drip. In August 2021 I felt like I was going to die, the coughing was worse, I had a lot of phlegm and no energy. I saw the PA at the ENT and she asked me if I felt like I was drowning, told her yes, she sent me to the hospital right away for an x-ray and they said it was pneumonia. Did antibiotics and felt no better. Went to see another PA somewhere else in town, she was smart and sent me for a CT scan and that's when we found out it was not post nasal drip. Had a PET scan that showed innumerable nodules in both lungs and a large mass in the right lower lobe. God has helped me forgive all those who failed me over and over by misdiagnosing me. So now I advocate for myself and encourage others to do the same. You got this - stay strong and fight.

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I went through the same. Primary clinic thought I had bronchitis, did not treat me for cough, had eye inflammation for two months, was treated for pneumonia three times, eventually different physician ordered a ct scan and found nsc lung cancer. I am 70 and am in clinical trial with Mayo.

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@dianemb

I went through the same. Primary clinic thought I had bronchitis, did not treat me for cough, had eye inflammation for two months, was treated for pneumonia three times, eventually different physician ordered a ct scan and found nsc lung cancer. I am 70 and am in clinical trial with Mayo.

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I am being seen at University of Michigan a research hospital near me. On my way for my first appointment to find out how they are going to do the biopsy

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@detroitmom23

Sounds very similar to my situation. Very fatigued for 6-8 months. Also pain in shoulder going up neck to ear. Came down with what I thought was bronchitis in sept. Primary dr and urgent care both prescribed antibiotics and steroids. Helped for a short time. But pain in neck sent me back to primary. Ordered Cat scan for neck and convinced me to do a lung scan while I was at it. Large mass in upper line and assorted modules in other areas with high likelihood of lymph node involvement. Next steps are PET scan and biopsy. Devastated and scared but trying to remain strong. What treatments have you undergone?

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I started wheezing the other night and hacked up bright red blood. Went to the ER and they did a CT scan, found a 5.7cm mass on right lung. Saw the Pulmonary doctor today and he said he wants me to get a PET scan, also said the surrounding lymph nodes all looked normal, and generally cancer is more dense: the mass in my lung is not that dense. He ran a procalcitonin test to check for an infection, but those results are normal. I'm terrifed that this is cancer! I'm 52, and have had no other symptoms except the blood. Not tired, no weight loss, nothing but if it's not an infection, it's something?! I am so scared!!! I feel so bad for everyone on this board. Can they do alot for lung cancers now a days?

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@dianemb

I went through the same. Primary clinic thought I had bronchitis, did not treat me for cough, had eye inflammation for two months, was treated for pneumonia three times, eventually different physician ordered a ct scan and found nsc lung cancer. I am 70 and am in clinical trial with Mayo.

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I hope you'll be ok! I'm 52 and they found a mass on my lung after I went to the ER with blood I was spittijng up. I have no other symptoms at all!! The pulmonary doctor said that cancer is usually more dense than the mass on my lung, however he did a procalcitonin test to check for a infection and there isn't one so I am terrified that this will be cancer. The doctor also said the surrounding lymph nodes were not being affected yet. I hope that is a good sign. This is a nightmare to go through!

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I also found out I have a mass on my lung. I am scared beyond anything imaginable!! I have no symptoms at all besides the fact that I started spitting up blood the other night. I went to the ER, they did a CT and found the mass. Saw the pumologist today and he told me that the lymph nodes by the mass are all normal, also stated that cancer is usually more dense than this mass is, but couldn't say it wasn't cancer. I had a pocalcitonin test done to check for an infection, that was normal, so it leads me to believe it will not be good. I have a PET scan in 2 weeks. I am so upset. I hope you'll be ok!! I really do!

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If anyone can help me because I am so scared! Went to the ER the other night because I was spitting up blood, they did a CT and found a 5.7 cm mass on lung. Saw a doctor in pumology today and he told me that the mas was not very dense, and said generally cancer is more dense but said that didn't mean it wasn't. Also no surrounding lymph nodes were swollen, which I hope is good? He did a procalcitonin test for infections, there is no infection so leads me to think it's C?! I have a PET scan in 2 weeks. I should ad that I see a oncologist regularly yearly and just saw him in November with all blood work normal, less than 2 months later and blood work is INSANE! Shouldn't something have shown up if this was cancer? I get these blood panels done yearly. I am really frightened, any info is greatly appreciated.

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@bellsina71

I also found out I have a mass on my lung. I am scared beyond anything imaginable!! I have no symptoms at all besides the fact that I started spitting up blood the other night. I went to the ER, they did a CT and found the mass. Saw the pumologist today and he told me that the lymph nodes by the mass are all normal, also stated that cancer is usually more dense than this mass is, but couldn't say it wasn't cancer. I had a pocalcitonin test done to check for an infection, that was normal, so it leads me to believe it will not be good. I have a PET scan in 2 weeks. I am so upset. I hope you'll be ok!! I really do!

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Your pulmonary dr telling you that usually cancer masses are more dense than yours is a hopeful sign. I know how scared you are trust me. I wasn’t expecting this at 59 years old. I had MRI done on brain this morning because of ear and neck pain. Pet scan and biopsy next week. I’m an emotional wreck. My mass is 7 mm. Surreal to be going through this.

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@detroitmom23

Your pulmonary dr telling you that usually cancer masses are more dense than yours is a hopeful sign. I know how scared you are trust me. I wasn’t expecting this at 59 years old. I had MRI done on brain this morning because of ear and neck pain. Pet scan and biopsy next week. I’m an emotional wreck. My mass is 7 mm. Surreal to be going through this.

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Do you have access to a good hospital in your area?

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