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12 mm Spiculated Nodule upper right lobe

Posted by joannamountain24 @joannamountain24, Feb 19 8:38am

May 2022- they found an incidental nodule in my right upper lobe. The CT impression said 8 mm ground-glass could be a low-grade malignancy. A month later, I had another CT which said that there was no significant interval change 6 mm upper lobe pulmonary nodule.
July 2023-I had a follow up CT scan. Impression 12x7 mm slightly spiculated. Malignancy cannot be excluded. I was referred to a thoracic surgeon who also couldn’t rule out cancer and said that it would be very difficult to get a biopsy because of the location. The test could come back negative, but they wouldn’t be sure that they really got it from the right area. He recommended removing it and biopsy it. Probably a partial lobectomy but he wouldn’t know for sure till he got in there. He could end up removing the entire upper lobe. Does anyone have experience with this? I decided to wait.
February 2024--I just had another CT scan about 2 weeks ago. 1.2 x 0.7 x 0.8 cm spiculated nodule in the right upper lobe not significantly changed since July 2023 but has increased in size since May 2022. This nodule remains suspicious, and PET/CT may be considered for further evaluation.
I’m having a PET/CT scan done next week. I’m so scared about everything. Most people say, just have it removed. Is this really the best option? What will the PET/CT scan show. How long does it take to get back to “normal” after having a surgery like this? It would be a minimally invasive procedure.
Also, I’m reading that there is a much higher chance of it being malignant when it’s found in the upper lobe?

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pb50 | @pb50 | Apr 13 12:17pm
In reply to @joannamountain24 "Hello again all you wonderful people. Just a little update from my end. I did the..." + (show)
@joannamountain24

Hello again all you wonderful people.
Just a little update from my end. I did the PET/CT at the end of February and there wasn't must uptake at all: FDG uptake with SUV max of 0.94 --One of you in here had mentioned that you didn't think there was going to be and that I needed to pay attention to the size (12 mm), the spiculated part and the fact that it grew twice in size over a year.

I paid attention, thanks to this group, and went ahead with the VATS Wedge Resection last Thursday--2 days in the hospital (nodule/mass was deep in my upper right lung). Yes, it was cancer 1a2, all margins clear and all 5 lymph nodes are negative for metastasis.

If it wasn't for this group, I don't believe that I would have gathered the courage to go forward with the surgery.
I was in denial thinking: I don't feel anything, I have no symptoms, I don't see it, so it must not be there.
Thank you for all your support! I'm so thankful that it was caught this early and removed.

This nodule was an accidental finding in May 22 when I had x-ray of my heart. I'm 57 years old, a former smoker, but haven't smoked for 35 years and therefor, probably would never have qualified for the screening either.

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Good for you!! As I think I told you, mine was at 6mm when we discovered it, and my doc and I watched it grow 1 mm a year - until 2023 when it grew 5mm. So out it came. S1N0.
I’m thrilled for you!!

REPLY
sg | @sglaza | Apr 13 11:27am
In reply to @joaniepnw "Thank you, you eased my mind. Yes it is going to be a Vats surgery. What..." + (show)
@joaniepnw

Thank you, you eased my mind. Yes it is going to be a Vats surgery. What has concerned me are some comments I've read how some have seemed to have had such trouble with prolonged nerved pain after their surgery. I'm assuming that is pain in the chest/rib area. Is this so even with Vats surgery that you know of?
Thank you,
Joanie

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Hello Joaniepnw,
Having a nerve block for your VAT lung surgery is the way to go in my opinion……..it numbs the pain on the side they will do the surgery on. Make sure to ask your surgeon about it. Your recovery from the surgery should go smooth…..just a couple of days in the hospital.

Good luck!

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 12 7:16pm
In reply to @joaniepnw "Thank you, you eased my mind. Yes it is going to be a Vats surgery. What..." + (show)
@joaniepnw

Thank you, you eased my mind. Yes it is going to be a Vats surgery. What has concerned me are some comments I've read how some have seemed to have had such trouble with prolonged nerved pain after their surgery. I'm assuming that is pain in the chest/rib area. Is this so even with Vats surgery that you know of?
Thank you,
Joanie

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@joaniepnw, you may appreciate these related discussions:
- Upper left robotic/VAT lobectomy
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/upper-left-roboticvat-lobectomy/
- My husband had lobectomy surgery: Mayo was wonderful!
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-was-wonderful/
- Lung cancer surgery: How much time until I heal?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lung-cancer-surgery/
- Lobectomy scheduled—What kind of home help will I need?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lobectomy-scheduled-what-kind-of-home-help-will-i-need/

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joannamountain24 | @joannamountain24 | Apr 12 6:44pm
In reply to @joaniepnw "Thank you, you eased my mind. Yes it is going to be a Vats surgery. What..." + (show)
@joaniepnw

Thank you, you eased my mind. Yes it is going to be a Vats surgery. What has concerned me are some comments I've read how some have seemed to have had such trouble with prolonged nerved pain after their surgery. I'm assuming that is pain in the chest/rib area. Is this so even with Vats surgery that you know of?
Thank you,
Joanie

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I’m only a week out from surgery, so I’m not sure if it gets worse. So far so good, feeling a little
nerve tweaking here and there but I guess that’s what to expected. No big deal yet. They did give me a nerve block before the surgery. Gabapentin is supposed to help with that too. That medication wasn’t for me though. I didn’t like it and only had it twice during my hospital stay.

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joaniepnw | @joaniepnw | Apr 12 6:35pm
In reply to @joannamountain24 "Hugs to you too! I know this is not an easy time for you, there is..." + (show)
@joannamountain24

Hugs to you too! I know this is not an easy time for you, there is nothing easy about any of this. Just know, that there are so many great people in here who has been a tremendous support.
Do you know if you are having VATS? That's what mine was and recovery time is about 2-4 weeks before I can go back to work. However, it all depends on what kind of work you do. You can usually drive after 1 week as long as you are of the pain medication. I was able to make/cook meals right away after getting home from hospital, it took a lot of effort though. I recommend having some easy meals ready in the freezer ahead of time. Make some big batches of soup and freeze if you can. Best of wishes for a speedy recovery ❤️

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Thank you, you eased my mind. Yes it is going to be a Vats surgery. What has concerned me are some comments I've read how some have seemed to have had such trouble with prolonged nerved pain after their surgery. I'm assuming that is pain in the chest/rib area. Is this so even with Vats surgery that you know of?
Thank you,
Joanie

REPLY
3 replies
joannamountain24 | @joannamountain24 | Apr 12 4:53pm
In reply to @joaniepnw "Hugs to all, I was in a car accident on 1-2-24 and after complaining about some..." + (show)
@joaniepnw

Hugs to all,
I was in a car accident on 1-2-24 and after complaining about some mid-back pain to my pain doctor in February, he ordered a CT scan and a 26 x 11 mm very suspicious nodule for lung cancer was found in the LLL. My surgery is on 4-17-24. When I met with the surgeon I forgot to ask a lot of questions, I was nervous. Like how long is the recovery time? How long until I can make/cook dinner? Usually how long until I can drive? I would appreciate any tips you can offer to a newbie.
Thanks, Joanie

Jump to this post

Hugs to you too! I know this is not an easy time for you, there is nothing easy about any of this. Just know, that there are so many great people in here who has been a tremendous support.
Do you know if you are having VATS? That's what mine was and recovery time is about 2-4 weeks before I can go back to work. However, it all depends on what kind of work you do. You can usually drive after 1 week as long as you are of the pain medication. I was able to make/cook meals right away after getting home from hospital, it took a lot of effort though. I recommend having some easy meals ready in the freezer ahead of time. Make some big batches of soup and freeze if you can. Best of wishes for a speedy recovery ❤️

REPLY
1 reply
babs1956 | @babs1956 | Apr 12 4:48pm
In reply to @joaniepnw "Hugs to all, I was in a car accident on 1-2-24 and after complaining about some..." + (show)
@joaniepnw

Hugs to all,
I was in a car accident on 1-2-24 and after complaining about some mid-back pain to my pain doctor in February, he ordered a CT scan and a 26 x 11 mm very suspicious nodule for lung cancer was found in the LLL. My surgery is on 4-17-24. When I met with the surgeon I forgot to ask a lot of questions, I was nervous. Like how long is the recovery time? How long until I can make/cook dinner? Usually how long until I can drive? I would appreciate any tips you can offer to a newbie.
Thanks, Joanie

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I had my upper left lobe taken out seven years ago in one month I was back in the gym. In three weeks, I was driving. Don’t worry, you’re You’re going to Do great. Are you getting robotic surgery? That’s what I had.

REPLY
joaniepnw | @joaniepnw | Apr 12 4:37pm

Hugs to all,
I was in a car accident on 1-2-24 and after complaining about some mid-back pain to my pain doctor in February, he ordered a CT scan and a 26 x 11 mm very suspicious nodule for lung cancer was found in the LLL. My surgery is on 4-17-24. When I met with the surgeon I forgot to ask a lot of questions, I was nervous. Like how long is the recovery time? How long until I can make/cook dinner? Usually how long until I can drive? I would appreciate any tips you can offer to a newbie.
Thanks, Joanie

REPLY
2 replies
babs1956 | @babs1956 | Apr 12 1:04pm

It was a regular screening. I don’t smoke. I don’t know why these nodules are growing. I have two nodules. One is 7mm & the other one is 8mm. I’m not worried I really don’t think it’s cancer

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Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Apr 12 12:24pm
In reply to @babs1956 "I had my upper left lobe removed 7 years ago, just had a CT scan done..." + (show)
@babs1956

I had my upper left lobe removed 7 years ago, just had a CT scan done and they found two nodules one 8mm and one 7mm going for a pet scan next friday. I've been juicing a lot of carrots, celery & ginger & lemon, I hope they don't find it to be malignant. Don't be afraid it could all be benign

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@babs1956, Sorry to hear that you are dealing with this so many years after your lung surgery. Was the CT a regularly scheduled screening check, or was it related to another condition?

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