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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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skm101 | @skm101 | Apr 11 8:04am

So glad to hear! I have similar circumstances. Meeting with a surgeon today. Wish me luck!

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joannamountain24 | @joannamountain24 | Apr 10 12:50pm

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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3 replies
jannam | @jannam | Feb 25 10:47am
In reply to @jannam "Are you having any pain now with the nerves surrounding the tumor that was removed?" + (show)
@jannam

Are you having any pain now with the nerves surrounding the tumor that was removed?

Jump to this post

I am on a combination of gabapentin and Cymbalta, which manages the pain very well! I had a VATs surgery done in 2020 on each lung

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vic83 | @vic83 | Feb 23 8:39pm
In reply to @jannam "Are you having any pain now with the nerves surrounding the tumor that was removed?" + (show)
@jannam

Are you having any pain now with the nerves surrounding the tumor that was removed?

Jump to this post

Regarding nerve pain...the first VAT on RUL had numbness beneath breasts - like wearing a tight bra or belt. That went away after 4 months. The second VAT in May 2023 also had nerve numbness and considerable pain. There was a complication with a cracked rib. I went on Gabapentin for awhile, and that helped. Today after 9 months I still have numbness on left side/breast, sometimes a little nerve jab. But nerve pain can last up to a year...and sometimes it is permanent. What I have now is sore lungs and chest and a stiffness when I take a deep breath for both sides. That really started to develop four months ago....I had SBRT on RUL in August and developed pneumonitis. I can't say exactly what is responsible for deep breath soreness. I also have other lung issues which can cause some of those symptoms. Fortunately, soreness etc. is not unbearable.

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jannam | @jannam | Feb 23 7:42pm
In reply to @vic83 "I had a similar situation in November 2021. I had an abnormal chest x-ray followed by..." + (show)
@vic83

I had a similar situation in November 2021. I had an abnormal chest x-ray followed by a CT scan that indicated ground glass part solid nodule in the right upper lobe which was "concerning for scarring, cancer or both". I did a PET scan one week later which indicated two nodules (different lungs) with significant uptick . The PET scan also indicated that there was no evidence of any other cancer in my body so no metastasis. CT scan and PET scan provide different information.
My local Pulmonologist wanted to do a needle biopsy, but their radiologist said he was not comfortable doing it-too risky. I sent my scans to Mayo and was called by the Mayo Pulmonologist. Mayo knew what I had and proposed VAT surgery. The Mayo surgeon said 80% chance it was cancer. Mayo was implementing a program to do bronchoscopy biopsy and surgical removal in one sitting. I did that and in fact it was cancer (stage 1b). I had a wedge resection of right upper lobe. They told me one night in the hospital so I figured it could not be too bad. I stayed two nights - I was 80 and weak from lack of food. Otherwise, it was easy surgery, and I was driving my car one week later. I stopped all pain medication within four days of surgery.

Jump to this post

Are you having any pain now with the nerves surrounding the tumor that was removed?

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2 replies
jannam | @jannam | Feb 23 7:39pm
In reply to @vic83 "I forgot to add that the other nodule that lighted up on PET scan was in..." + (show)
@vic83

I forgot to add that the other nodule that lighted up on PET scan was in the left upper load and I had it removed in May 2023 with VAT surgery wedge resection - 16 months later. No biopsy necessary and it was cancer. I have multifocal lung cancer with other nodules that they watch.

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Doctors are watching me too!

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vic83 | @vic83 | Feb 21 11:07am
In reply to @joannamountain24 "Thank you for sharing. It makes me feel more at ease. My PET is next week...." + (show)
@joannamountain24

Thank you for sharing. It makes me feel more at ease. My PET is next week. 57 years old.

Jump to this post

I forgot to add that the other nodule that lighted up on PET scan was in the left upper load and I had it removed in May 2023 with VAT surgery wedge resection - 16 months later. No biopsy necessary and it was cancer. I have multifocal lung cancer with other nodules that they watch.

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1 reply
joannamountain24 | @joannamountain24 | Feb 21 10:05am
In reply to @whahoo "“Spiculated” is the key. Do the PET scan with the red dye stuff. That will tell..." + (show)
@whahoo

“Spiculated” is the key. Do the PET scan with the red dye stuff. That will tell if the spot is taking up glucose. Best of luck to you.

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Thank you 🙏

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whahoo | @whahoo | Feb 21 9:40am

“Spiculated” is the key. Do the PET scan with the red dye stuff. That will tell if the spot is taking up glucose. Best of luck to you.

REPLY
1 reply
joannamountain24 | @joannamountain24 | Feb 20 5:40pm
In reply to @vic83 "I had a similar situation in November 2021. I had an abnormal chest x-ray followed by..." + (show)
@vic83

I had a similar situation in November 2021. I had an abnormal chest x-ray followed by a CT scan that indicated ground glass part solid nodule in the right upper lobe which was "concerning for scarring, cancer or both". I did a PET scan one week later which indicated two nodules (different lungs) with significant uptick . The PET scan also indicated that there was no evidence of any other cancer in my body so no metastasis. CT scan and PET scan provide different information.
My local Pulmonologist wanted to do a needle biopsy, but their radiologist said he was not comfortable doing it-too risky. I sent my scans to Mayo and was called by the Mayo Pulmonologist. Mayo knew what I had and proposed VAT surgery. The Mayo surgeon said 80% chance it was cancer. Mayo was implementing a program to do bronchoscopy biopsy and surgical removal in one sitting. I did that and in fact it was cancer (stage 1b). I had a wedge resection of right upper lobe. They told me one night in the hospital so I figured it could not be too bad. I stayed two nights - I was 80 and weak from lack of food. Otherwise, it was easy surgery, and I was driving my car one week later. I stopped all pain medication within four days of surgery.

Jump to this post

Thank you for sharing. It makes me feel more at ease. My PET is next week. 57 years old.

REPLY
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