Lung nodule being treated as Lung cancer due to medical history

@tova, I'm sorry that your experience with this quick decision has upset you so much. Some doctors don't explain enough for us to understand what things mean. I don't blame you for being this upset. Can you have him explain things to you? Will he be open to this?

PET's are part of the diagnostic process. If the CT scan (I'm assuming that you have had one) is very clear in picking up obvious cancerous traits in its imaging then you probably don't need one. The less testing to get to the same place as a lot of it could be excessive and unnecessary. With your history of smoking and familial history and you're having a stroke along with what they saw in the CT scan they probably know that it's cancer.

Another thing is that biopsies aren't done as easily and quickly as they used to. This is because they can be dangerous and cause bad infections. And may not be in the right position to do one. Maybe your heart lesion is too close? Has it been biopsied? Do you know if it's cancerous?

If you are so unhappy and believe that things aren't right with decisions that are being made without explaining everything to you, then I would get a second opinion. What do you think?

Thank you for your reply. I really don’t have the opportunity for a second opinion as I live in a small rural town where the oncologist comes once a month from a bigger city. My tests (PET ) will be done in the city. I guess I’m
Just nervous because he says it’s near my heart. What are the risks of removing a small module only .9 cm big. I can’t have it removed if it is cancer until late October. Will it grow considerably until then ?

Processing the finding of a lung nodule is never easy. It’s not easy news to hear. You need to get your questions answered. Take some time to note them down, and if possible, take someone with you to appointments and let them know that they are there to help ask the questions that you’re not thinking of asking. You didn’t mention what type of doctor this is or what country you are in, but if you’re not comfortable in the approach of this doctor, find another doctor for a second opinion, preferably a thoracic oncologist.
Depending on the location of the nodule, getting a biopsy can be difficult. If any lymph nodes seem enlarged, biopsy of that fluid may be easier.
My experience says a PET is a good idea. Personally, I would not have surgery without one. IF it is cancer, I would want to know if the cancer has spread to any other area. The PET would confirm that, and allow for the doctor to assign a stage to the cancer, which can help to drive treatment options and decisions.
Best of luck to you, hoping that you get the answers that you need, keep us posted, Lisa

I had an abnormal chest x-ray which recommended a CT scan which recommended a PET scan. I agree with lls2000 that PET scan very important. In my case it determined that there was no other evidence of cancer in my body except in lung, so this defined the mass as a potential primary lung cancer and not secondary (spread to lungs from somewhere else). I had surgery one month after PET scan. They have a good idea by characteristics if it is cancer or not and, in my case, it was so I was happy I had it removed so quickly.

"tova's" experience is very familiar. They found a nodule in my right lung by accident - doing a PET scan for a new hem/onc doctor (blood cancer for 10yrs).
I found out via the hospital's myChart portal - nothing from doctor for 2 wks. Just the PET radiology report.
I educated myself pretty fast.
Soon, I wound up getting a 2nd opinion, had the recommended Robotic VATS surgery, and it turned out to be cancer.
Very traumatic.

Hello Tova- I am sorry that I am replying to your post so late. I am so happy that others in this vast group are comfortable and knowledgeable to help too.

Has your dr. mentioned what type of cancer he thinks that you have. A .9cm is about 3" and it will depend on how close to your heart your lesion is and what kind it is if it can be biopsied.

Also, as far as lesion growth, it will depend on what your lesion actually is. Some lung cancers are extremely fast growing and very dangerous and others are extremely slow growing and not as dangerous. But, as you probably know, cancer has its own mind and can do what it wants when it wants.

You seem to have restrictions if you do have cancer. Is this due to other family health issues or work-related?

I can only imagine how traumatic this was, @delir. When doctors are so busy or if there are not enough doctors we are left in the dust. I am glad that you had the presence to educate yourself as much as you could in a short amount of time.

How did your VATS go? What kind of lung cancer did you have?

Right, very traumatic especially at 1st - less so as I learned more.
VATS outcome seemingly good. Had a Right Upper Lobectomy. The report says Stage 1B (don't fully understand the "B") and my surgeon says he's pretty sure they got it all with no evidence of spreading, "a typical Lung Cancer, adenocarcinoma".
Much later, I found on their portal the genomic studies done to guide treatment in case that's needed later. Pretty sophisticated.
Another followup in Oct.
Thanks for your comment.

I don’t know yet what type of cancer it is. But I am a heavy smoker, I have the braca gene, my grandmother, mother, sister all had breast cancer and my 90 year old dad died last year from esophageal cancer. So it’s not work related. The dr is treating it as if it is cancer til the PET scan proves differently. But he highly suspects it’s cancer. He said no biopsies just complete removal if malignant. But it’s near my heart and I’m scared !

I had VAT surgery wedge resection upper right lobe in December. I also was a stage 1B. I recall the B was for 3 cm or greater size