Hi @kristin3, I have over 50 typical carcinoid tumors/DIPNECH across both lungs. Because I have so many, they did not consider a lobectomy, but they did want to get rid of the largest tumor 2.6 cm to reduce risk of metastasis. They sent me to an interventional radiologist at UCLA who used microwave tumor ablation to destroy the largest tumor 2 years ago. It worked. He told me we will do it again on any tumors that reach 2 cm. Most are about 1 cm right now. He doesn't feel we need to remove all of them and told me he and I will be partners for a long time as these are slow growing -- more of a chronic condition. You might ask your doctors about microwave ablation if they suggest removing additional tumors.

MICROWAVE ABLATION: Invasive with needles like a biospy, but non-surgical. It took 2 hours while I was awake and didn't really hurt. Just hard to lie face down without moving for 2 hours on CT table because they had to send me in and out of the CT scanner 25 times to check the location of the ablation needles. Had to be sure they were properly placed before frying that tumor.

Like Lisa mentioned above, I also read my radiology reports through the patient portal prior to appointments and have my questions ready especially about incidental findings. I love to ask my interventional radiologist when we talk after periodic scans because he has the expertise to look at the image right in front of him, see if he agrees with the radiologist who wrote the report, and even compare what he sees to my previous scans to see if it was something there all along and just never mentioned before. He's so patient and nice. His NP told me people come from all over the country to see him. If your doctors want to talk to him about microwave ablation, his name is Scott Genshaft MD, Interventional Radiologist, UCLA. I hope this helps.

Do you know what type of carcinoid you had removed? Typical or atypical?