New here. Guess i have lung cancer looking at my PET

Have they scheduled a biopsy yet? When they do they will send a piece of it for biomarker testing. This will tell them where the cell broke down that allowed a cancer to grow unchecked. Some drugs target the specific gene in the cell that broke down inhibiting its growth. This is called targeted therapy and it is usually a pill rather than an infusion.

They will also look at the cancers PD-L1 level to see if it can be treated with an immunotherapy drug. PD-L1 is related to a protein the cancer might produce that tells the body's immune system that it is normal and just ignore it rather than destroying it like it normally would.

Please let us know what you learn.

COPY AND PASTE: Is there an SUV value which means cancer?
SUV values greater then 2.5 raise concern for cancer although inflamed or infected tissues can also be above 2.5. Cancerous tissues can also have SUVs less then 2.5. A higher SUV is more concerning for cancer. But it’s important to remember that a high SUV value does not give us a diagnosis of cancer or anything else by itself.
High SUV simply alerts us to a potential abnormality. The radiologist interpreting the scan will use all available information to arrive at the correct diagnosis. SUVs are also used to monitor cancer and how it is responding to treatment. We use SUVs to monitor for cancer recurrence. The higher the SUV, the more suspicious the abnormality for cancer recurrence.

@julie67, Julie, I'm sorry that you're having to face this, and so soon after losing your mother. Ugh, that's tough. This disease doesn't play fair and is often difficult to understand. I'm glad you found Mayo Connect, welcome. Now it's time to take a deep breath and focus on what's in front of you. You recognize that this report is concerning but try to stay hopeful. Treatments today are much better than they were even five years ago. There is much more hope!
Has a biopsy been scheduled? When is your next appointment with oncology?

Good Morning! I see you said they could not do a biopsy because it was too risky. I had my surgery Left upper lobe nodule that had grown. I had it a year ago at Mayo. I had a Segmentectomy. They only took a segment of my lobe, not the entire lobe. They did not do a biopsy on me either until after it was out. It all seemed horrible at first and scared me so bad! But here I am a year later, 2 scans-1 every 6 months- and I am GOOD. I’m pretty much back to where I was before. I have no breathing issues, I work as a Stocker at a big chain store, 8 hours a day, no issues. I feel GOOD because they took it out! These doctors see enough scans to know when its more than likely cancer. Take a deep breath, listen to them and don't use Dr Google! If you’re not sure, get a second opinion. You are lucky it’s been caught. I am sorry for your loss of your mother! Lot of stuff happening to you at once but you will be okay❤️ Stay on this site. You will find a lot of caring and helpful people! God Bless you and Best Wishes to and for you! Cindy

I see my pulmonologist on May 29 to discuss the scan. I have no idea what he plans next. Terrified. thank you

Thats 11 days you have to sit on the edge of your seat. Personally, and I am not known for patience, I would lean on them to work you in sooner or go ahead and refer to surgeon or oncologist.

That said, i will tell you that your tumor is the same size mine was a year ago. We had watched it grow slowly for four years. Mine was left lower lobe and the thoracic surgeon did a lobectomy. i get repeat CTs every 6 mos, so far so good.

This could be better than you fear. Id focus on getting answers sooner.
Is there family who can help with your Mom’s belongings so you can focus on yourself?

Lung cancer is scary, Please keep posting here and let us know how you are. I find it very helpful to share with others also struggling and caring

Thank you. No, I am all alone. I didn't even have a car. Driving my mom's small 2 door car. Spent 6 weeks trying to haul her stuff here, sell it, whatever. I finally just had to turn the apartment over with everything left in it--clothes, furniture, most all. They just backed a dumptrump up and threw perfectly good stuff into the landfill. That hurt me.
Now my house I was trying to declutter with all my crap is dangerous to walk through and I needed back surgery so now I am stuck with all this chaos that causes chaos in my head. A huge yard I can't take care of now due to the back. No money to hire people. A house mom left me--well, she had no will, so I spent wks studying probate law to try to do it myself. The house is not in my name yet, I don't have the bank accts she left. Taxes are unpaid because I can't get to her accts yet. Being tagged by the city for high grass. Just a grand finale it seems of a miserable life. Have no idea what to do with all this stuff of hers and now dealing with this health of mine. Just unbelievable. I do not have money for any of this. Just deflated and hopless.

Good to know you had a good outcome with the size of yours. I am reading all these ppl who have smaller ones than us with so many problems. It is just overwhelming. I have been in shock now for 2 months I think between mom's death, what she did by leaving no will and now this.

thanks for sharing that with me. Julie

Sorry about your mother. That is always something hard.
I had similar biopsy issue 2.5 years ago. Locally the Radiologist was not comfortable doing a needle biopsy because too dangerous and wouldn't get enough sample. That was a good thing. I ran to Mayo and they took it out - they told me before that 80% cancer. They have new process where they do biopsy and intervention all in one sitting. Very convenient. I had video assisted surgery with wedge resection and was driving my car a week later.

What city are you in Julie?