NSCLC Lung Cancer: Ground glass on 1 year scan, should I be concerned?

Welcome, @wlgiles. Seeing something out of the ordinary can be quite disconcerting. I'm sure you are concerned. You might be interested in reading this related discussion where @lls8000 @merpreb help explain ground glass:
- What is ground glass on a lung CT scan? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-is-ground-glass-on-a-ct-lung-scan/

It sounds like your team wants to keep an eye on this, hence the next CT scan in a month. Keep in mind that ground glass can indicate a number of things that are not cancer, like an infection. Have you had an infection lately? Did you review the CT scan results with your doctor already?

I haven’t had any infections. The Dr. said it could be nothing or it could be something. Instead of 6 month ct will do 3months to see if there is any change. Then we will go from there.

@wlgiles- Good morning. Sometimes ground glass that has a part of it that is solid is a cause for cautious following. Just 6 months ago I had 2 lesions but one was still pure gg (ground glass) and the other had changed and had become part solid. Recently a PET scan showed that the second one also had changed. These changes might not seem like much but with lung cancer the sooner a mass is treated the less lung tissue is damaged or loss.

I am glad that your doctor is being conservative and reduced the amount of time in between scans. It will benefit you the most.

Your lesion is only a .05" so it's small and this usually means that it's in its infancy, early. Do you have a list going of further questions to ask your doctor?

Begs the question..."When should we be concerned and when should be just not worry about it and move on?"
My wife has been a NSCLC patient since 2015 and has recently decided to discontinue her chemo. Both her Mayo oncologogist and her local oncologist concur that the chemo has done its job and she should now enjoy life for however long she has on this earth.
Now her sister has had a scan indicating several small nodules in her lungs, and her pulmonologist says "lets scan again in a year and see"....she is rightfully concerned and is asking what the correct stratedgy be?
He nodules are miniscule at 1 and 2 mm as I recall....don't know if they can even be treated at that size.
When should she go see an oncologist? She has a history of breast cancer.

That's a good question, Burrkay. I think the answer is that your sister-in-law needs to ask more questions. Waiting for a year might be the exact right thing to do, but getting answers about why would help give her confidence in the decision.

Lung nodules can be cancerous, but most are not. Read more here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lung-cancer/expert-answers/lung-nodules/faq-20058445

But she is rightly concerned, especially given her sister's experience. I would ask things like:
- Are the lung nodules considered small?
- Are they slow growing?
- Should I be scanned sooner than 1 year?
- What are the pros and cons of getting scanned more frequently?
- Am I at high or higher risk for lung cancer? (due personal and family history of cancer)
- Should I see an oncologist?
- Might this be metastasis?

In 2016 Mayo Clinic found several small nodules in my lungs, the largest 5mm. I have had followup and there is a GGN partially solid at 4.5 mm that has grown from 2mm in my last scan 3 years ago. Doctor has scheduled me for another CT scan in 3 months. I am a former heavy smoker and concerned that this may be cancer. Should I get a second opinion? What about the sputum test? will that reveal anything?

I don’t remember the size but on a routine screening in November 2021, a CT scan revealed a GGN in my left upper lobe. I had a repeat at 3 months and another at 6 months. The latest scan showed that it had increased slightly and had grown more solid. I had a needle biopsy under CT guidance and it revealed a non small cell lung cancer. Despite years of heavy smoking, after being quit for 12 years, my pulmonary function tests were basically normal. PET scan revealed no areas of metastasis and I have a left upper lobectomy 3 weeks ago. All lymph nodes were negative so I do not need additional treatment.
In my experience, a repeat CT scan in 3 months is reasonable. If it is cancer, it’s likely slow growing. A sputum test wouldn’t show a thing. I assume a pulmonologist is involved. If not, I recommend that you consult with one. Wish you well.