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

Posted by felix536 @felix536, Aug 17, 2021

I have 3 lung nodules measuring 4mm, 6mm and 14 mm in three different lobes. Have had ct scans showing no change in 6 months and have another scan scheduled in three months per my pulmonologist. Should I get a second opinion from an Oncologist or wait it out? What are the chances of this being noncancerous?

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dedehans | @dedehans | Jan 22, 2022
In reply to @dedehans "Yes. The test is way beyond a typical biopsy. Foundation Medicine is (I think) a branch..." + (show)
@dedehans

Yes. The test is way beyond a typical biopsy. Foundation Medicine is (I think) a branch of Mass General Hospital....

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I think one must be stage IV to qualify for this test. Not sure.

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dedehans | @dedehans | Jan 22, 2022
In reply to @merpreb "I'm not questioning where you had yours done. But perhaps her doctor's practice used another. There..." + (show)
@merpreb

I'm not questioning where you had yours done. But perhaps her doctor's practice used another. There are many and the main point is to get it tested! Right?

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Yes. The test is way beyond a typical biopsy. Foundation Medicine is (I think) a branch of Mass General Hospital....

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1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 22, 2022
In reply to @dedehans "I am no expert but Foundation One Medicine is the place I had mine done.....One in..." + (show)
@dedehans

I am no expert but Foundation One Medicine is the place I had mine done.....One in MA, one in WA or OR I think....They overnight the tissue from the biopsy or surgery. It's a unique test that isn't done everywhere. https://www.foundationmedicine.com/search?q=lung+cancer

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I'm not questioning where you had yours done. But perhaps her doctor's practice used another. There are many and the main point is to get it tested! Right?

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1 reply
dedehans | @dedehans | Jan 22, 2022
In reply to @merpreb "@dedehans- Wouldn't the doctor send her samples for testing to a place of his choosing, or..." + (show)
@merpreb

@dedehans- Wouldn't the doctor send her samples for testing to a place of his choosing, or his hospital's choice?

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I am no expert but Foundation One Medicine is the place I had mine done.....One in MA, one in WA or OR I think....They overnight the tissue from the biopsy or surgery. It's a unique test that isn't done everywhere. https://www.foundationmedicine.com/search?q=lung+cancer

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1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 22, 2022
In reply to @dedehans "I too am curious as to why the needle biopsy vs wedge. Whichever you decide be..." + (show)
@dedehans

I too am curious as to why the needle biopsy vs wedge. Whichever you decide be sure to have tissue sent to Foundation One medicine pathology for biomarker testing to determine your further course of treatment....

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@dedehans- Wouldn't the doctor send her samples for testing to a place of his choosing, or his hospital's choice?

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1 reply
dedehans | @dedehans | Jan 22, 2022
In reply to @felix536 "I got a second opinion at UCLA for my 12mm nodule, lower left lung and have..." + (show)
@felix536

I got a second opinion at UCLA for my 12mm nodule, lower left lung and have the option of wedge or needle biopsy and have decided on needle biopsy. There hasn't been any growth this past 11 months but there is some hardening on the outer edge and it is shaped so oddly and ground glass that they think something has to be done. I will share results with you once done. Anyone else had this done?

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I too am curious as to why the needle biopsy vs wedge. Whichever you decide be sure to have tissue sent to Foundation One medicine pathology for biomarker testing to determine your further course of treatment....

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1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 22, 2022
In reply to @felix536 "I got a second opinion at UCLA for my 12mm nodule, lower left lung and have..." + (show)
@felix536

I got a second opinion at UCLA for my 12mm nodule, lower left lung and have the option of wedge or needle biopsy and have decided on needle biopsy. There hasn't been any growth this past 11 months but there is some hardening on the outer edge and it is shaped so oddly and ground glass that they think something has to be done. I will share results with you once done. Anyone else had this done?

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Felix- Good morning. I will be interested to hear why you chose a biopsy instead of complete removal?

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tessa2 | @tessa2 | Jan 21, 2022
In reply to @merpreb "Good morning- It seems that between every 3 months and 6 months are the norms for..." + (show)
@merpreb

Good morning- It seems that between every 3 months and 6 months are the norms for following lesions depending on how new they are or if they have grown, and of course their size.

With my first cancer, I started keeping all of my tests, scans, and lab work. I began looking up all of the terms that I wasn't familiar with and wrote them down on the results so that when I ran into them again I knew what they meant. I wrote lists of questions. I asked every single question at my appointments and made sure that I understood the answers as best as I could and then googled them when I got home. There's just so much to learn and understand, it can be pretty overwhelming. Are you keeping track of your findings?

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Oh my goodness! I do the same thing. Kept all paper scan reports, blood work etc. my file is bursting! I too write down all questions for docs and if word I don’t know meaning of I google it. I have learned so much being my own advocate. I can talk the talk. I wonder what the docs think of me sometimes. Often feel that they don’t like their patients being sometimes more up to date on their illness than they are. Take care! Kathy

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felix536 | @felix536 | Jan 21, 2022

I got a second opinion at UCLA for my 12mm nodule, lower left lung and have the option of wedge or needle biopsy and have decided on needle biopsy. There hasn't been any growth this past 11 months but there is some hardening on the outer edge and it is shaped so oddly and ground glass that they think something has to be done. I will share results with you once done. Anyone else had this done?

REPLY
3 replies
dedehans | @dedehans | Jan 21, 2022
In reply to @marye2 "My petscan showed a hot, right axillary lymph node. Needle biopsy failed. It is a small..." + (show)
@marye2

My petscan showed a hot, right axillary lymph node. Needle biopsy failed. It is a small size and the Dr wants an excisional biopsy. But the surgeon says he is unlikely to find it, since he cannot feel it and I would be looking at exploratory surgery. Getting an ultra sound of the area, but not sure he will be able to find it. Any common experience? (I have ground glass nodule in lung)

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I had similar nodule problem....there but too small and hard to reach to do anything about it yet. Had 6 week scan and it is mostly gone....if it's too small it is not wise to try and biopsy it but wait and see if and how it grows...always waiting for the other shoe to drop....March isn't too far away to get another scan....

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