Lung nodule found was not there a year ago

@deborah67 Hmm, I think that could be worrisome to me too. Lets' go back and get a little information.
What symptoms have led you to having such comprehensive CT scans just one year apart? What specific health issues are they concerned about?
And your health history - are you, or were you a smoker or vaper? Do you have asthma or another lung condition?
Finally, what did the doctor say about the reported nodule? 4mm is very small, so unless there is some concerning history or current symptoms, watch and wait is quite probably a typical approach.
Did you ask the doctor about the report?
Sue

The Ct scan last year was just a check, because i smoke. The CT scans this spring was because I had swollen lymph nodes under my right arm and was very tired for quite a while. Also had extensive bruising on both of my sides also. I had a small cough at the time so she decided to also do the chest CT. I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 21 am now 56. No I did not ask about the report.

Ironically I was diagnosed with asthma at 56 after a horrible case of what was likely long-Covid. My pulmo team ordered a CT to rule out other issues and because I was a light former smoker for 15 years (who had quit over 20 years ago). The CT revealed 3 “micro nodules” all between 1-2 mm. (Everything else was fine.) Neither my pulmo or the radiologist were concerned … telling me that micro nodules are exceptionally common. They put my stats into some computer program (age, smoking status, BMI, other general stuff) and told the these little nodules had less that a 1 in 10,000 chance of ever becoming cancerous and they saw no reason for follow-up. 3 years later I’m still here and feeling great. 4 mm is also very small … a follow-up CT seems reasonable.

@deborah67, It’s always scary when there’s a new finding. I agree with the others, that 4mm is small, and a wait and see approach appears to be appropriate. Many people find lung nodules on CT screenings that are non-cancerous. You are correct that some lung cancers are aggressive and can grow very quickly, but there will be other signs if that is happening. Be sure to reach out to your doctor if you have any chest related symptoms; other lymph node swelling (lumps near your collar bone), a cough that won’t go away, any feelings of throat or chest heaviness or spasms, difficulty swallowing or wheezing when you breathe. Hopefully the nodule is nothing to be concerned about. I’m encouraged that it was identified at this small size, and can be monitored now.

Thank you for responding. You are right it is small, and if it is cancer it will be caught early.

Journal of Thoracic Oncology on follow-up of small (4mm or less) detected on CT: https://www.jto.org/article/S1556-0864(15)31868-2/fulltext

There’s some difference between medical care in Canada, I too live in Canada.. I have also gone through the same as you, they found a nodule in my upper left lobe and I was going for ct scans every six months…I think it’s a process we all go through. I know the angst you’re feeling because I felt the same way, I would research information and then it would scare me because they always tell you the worst things possible..what did help me the most to cope with this is to tell myself that they found the nodule early and that puts you in a very favourable place, early detection is often hard to do but when it happens you will get some comfort from this, all the best wishes for good results.

I had a small lung nodule (found on chest X Ray for regular check up) and within 10 days in Newfoundland, Canada I had a cat scan, pulmonary function test, pet scan and biopsy. Nodule turned out to be Non Small Cell Carcinoma in the Lower Left Lung. Just got all my staples out today after my lobectomy. Appointment with my surgeon tomorrow, hoping that all margins are clear and I won’t need to have radiation or chemo therapy! Fingers crossed!

Thank you. that is what I am saying to myself also.

Yes, I am also very glad they found it when it is small. I am trying not to think about it, by keeping busy.