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

@felix536- Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Good morning, it's nice to meet you. I am the Mentor for the Lung Cancer group for Mayo Connect. As members, we can only share our own health experiences, and are we not able to provide a medical diagnosis.

I'm wondering what brought you to the doctor. Were you coughing, spitting up blood, trouble breathing?

I have what is called multifocal adenocarcinoma of the lung. Simply put, this is when several ground glass lesions show up in one or both lungs. Mine started out with 3 lesions in my left upper lung. Then 3 years later a single one along the surgical line of that surgery. I also have a lower left lesion that is being watched with very little change in over 5 years.

I want to state that I do not know enough about all lung cancers to say that only multi-focal adenocarcinomas present this way.

What kind of doctor are you seeing for this? Has anyone considered doing a biopsy?

@dongshiming, you ask "Can I request a particular provider?" I can answer how it works at Mayo Clinic.
Appointment specialists are specially trained to match you with the provider or group that's the best fit for your diagnosis and medical history. But you may wonder if you can request a specialist that you've read about or who's been recommended by a friend or colleague. Mayo Clinic can't honor all requests, but we try to when possible.

You can read more on this page of Frequently Asked Questions https://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments/faq

I will; it is a journey. They said it looks extremely slow growing.

I have a ground glass lesion, and the Oncology Dr (specializes in Nodules!!) said biopsy is impossible as they are lacey along the edges and hard to get tissue from. They are watching it; I return in June. The followup PET scan showed an axillary lymph node issue, though, and not the lesion. I had the lymph node "punch" biopsied a couple months ago but now the Dr wants an excision biopsy where they remove it. I have to arrange with the GP. Having another followup thyroid CT.

I have a ground glass lesion, and the Oncology Dr (specializes in Nodules!!) said biopsy is impossible as they are lacey along the edges and hard to get tissue from. They are watching it; I return in June. The followup PET scan showed an axillary lymph node issue, though, and not the lesion. I had the lymph node "punch" biopsied a couple months ago but now the Dr wants an excision biopsy where they remove it. I have to arrange with the GP. Having another followup thyroid CT.

@felix536- You are getting very sophisticated testing already. Multiple lung lesions are all primary nodules that seem to begin as ground glass. What I would love is a test that would tell if the nodules are cancerous and should be treated, so others can be left alone! I have had a slew of nodules that have come and gone, and many little thingies hanging around, just taking up space.

Will you please join us in the Multifocal group?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/multifocal-adenocarcinoma-of-the-lung-continual-recurrences/

When you go to Mayo or MD Anderson for the 2nd opinion, do you just randomly pick an oncologist? or do you specifically find the doctor with best review or something like that?

When you go to Mayo or MD Anderson for the 2nd opinion, do you just randomly pick an oncologist? or do you specifically find the doctor with best review or something like that?

jamineibs Was really nice to hear your concerns and explanations. Am actually scheduled for wedge resection surgery tomorrow with the same surgeon. The testing and biopsies and were not fun, but felt the knowledge they provided was worth the discomfort. I've been following the Multiple lung nodule postings because this is the second nodule to be removed. This all started for me in 2019. Routine blood tests resulted in an Oncology referral and was a few weeks wait for the appointment locally. I called Rochester Mayo on a Monday, and was seen by a hematologist that Friday afternoon and completed a bone marrow biopsy and blood tests the same afternoon. The following Wednesday had an early morning CT and afternoon appointment with another Hematologist and was informed of my lymphoma diagnosis. The CT also found a lung nodule which resulted in a followup and biopsy showed adenocarcinoma Also started seeing an Oncologist, which resulted in a lobectomy procedure in Oct 2019.
But through all this, I sure have been very pleased with all the staff and Doctors at Mayo.