8 mm lung nodule possible malignancy: What should I do?

Posted by js @jstarkman, Jan 18, 2024

I had a CT scan and they found a nodule which has grown to 8 mm from 6 mm 12 months ago. The report says "slowly growing malignancy cannot be excluded". My doctor (GP) recommends another CT in 3 months but I am concerned that this approach is not aggressive enough. It has clearly changed from 6 mm to 8 mm.
What do I do?
Should I be seeing an oncologist now?
Should something more aggressive me done?

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pb50 | @pb50 | Jan 18, 2024

I watched a nodule increase over 4 years from 6mm to 14mm and only then had surgery to remove it - Losing a lobe of my lung in the process. So based only on my experience, I would suggest you ask for an oncologist consult now. It may be that the insurance company has guidelines re how big it has to be before they will pay for intervention. It’s too small to biopsy now in all likelihood. But I would be asking whether it can be eradicated now - perhaps via radiation ablation - and if not why not.
I have RA and watched mine grow for 4 years thinking it was nothing to worry about - an RA nodule everyone thought. It moved at a snail’s pace of 1mm a year until the last year when it jumped 5mm. I suggest you don’t do that. Now I’m looking over my shoulder to see if it spread without detection - yet.

Good luck!!