Multiple lung nodules: Might they be noncancerous? What next?

Good morning Dede- Change is always good, except when it isn't. This is the case with cancer nodules for sure. I'm not sure if you saw my post but I also had a "Change". The lesion in my upper right lung grew. I think that over a certain size any change is considered trouble. My teleconference with my surgeon and oncologist is next Tuesday so I will know more then.

I'm renovating my upstairs so I have so much to do right now I'm not dwelling on it as much as I would be. Plus as a mentor for Connect, my focus isn't as much on myself. It certainly is nice to have company here. Have you all seen met the members of the multifocal adenocarcinoma group? @sakota9 (Joan); @linda10; @stanleykent; @jamineibs

My history, which I really should update started back 24 years ago. I had a very fast-growing adenocarcinoma. That was removed and then 10 years later my first three multifocal journeys began. I've had many come and go, some scared me, others were just blips. But I guess this one means business.

I've known my team of doctors for a very long time and we have a very open and honest rapport. My oncologist called dealing with these pesky things a "whack a mole."

What kind of relationship do you have with your team of doctors?

Good morning John- I'm wondering how you are and if you have found out more information about your lesion?

Prayers for outcome: stable or gone

I have CT scan follow up next Tuesday for some brand new nodules found early December. they were very small (0.4x0.4cm and 0.4 x 03) so the big word is not size, it is change. Tis size is too small to biopsy so if you are in a similar boat Vic83 I am sure you know the word is "wait"......We shall hold one another's hand over the monitor for good followups..Best , Dede

Hello Vic and welcome to the lung cancer group. We seem to have similar backgrounds. I also had a blockage, caught early but I was able to get a link. Congratulations on getting rid of your cancer! I smoked a lot and quit 24+ years ago, a week before my first cancer.

When was your surgery? What kind of cancer was it?

I quit smoking 20 years ago, and just had a lung cancer removed, fortunately identified early. I started smoking late in life, smoked 10-15 a day for about 34 years

In November a chest x-ray showed "ground glass" and indeterminate. I went to a Pulmonologist to order CT and PET scan and I had those scans sent to Mayo. They called immediately, and I decided to do bronchoscopy + VATs with wedge resection surgery at same time. It was a 3.1cm cancer stage 1b. That means negative lymph nodes. I had the option to wait, but I am not getting any younger, and there was a very high probability that it was cancer. Better to do the surgery when I will tolerate it well...which I did. Now I too must watch and wait as I still have a 7mm pleural based nodule and ground glass.

From my experience with multiple nodules I understand they look at size and appearance to determine if they wait or act.
While you may likely hear the same thing from another medical professional, a second opinion never hurts.
The way my oncologist explained my nodules is more like a marathon than a sprint. I’ve been able to accept this knowing they are watching closely and when one of my nodules did change, they acted very quickly to educate me of all options for treatment.
Best wishes for no changes in those nodules.

Nobody can tell you what your chances are. What I can tell you is that literature I was given by the doctor when they first spotted something going on in my lungs stated that most often these nodules were benign. Mine wasn't but it was from breast cancer, not my smoking. I'd like to say your chances are pretty good with 1- 9mm nodule that even if it were it should be highly treatable, but I'm not a doctor. I had a co-worker who passed in her early 30's from lung cancer and didn't smoke a day in her life, nor did her husband. Sometimes things just happen, and sometimes they don't. I wish you well and try to relax. At least you are looking into it. I wasted months of worry when I should have been getting checked out.

John- Check this chart out it might help you find a preliminary answer. There is a lung cancer meme that says that if you have a lung, you can get lung cancer. If you smoke you have a better chance. But not everyone gets cancer.
https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/incidental-pulmonary-nodules-a-summary-of-the-2017-fleischner-society-guidelines/
For how long did you smoke? Did you quit 10 years ago?