Pearl Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Ok I had a Ct in 2015 2016 and now in 2017 the 1st two years there was nothing now this year I have a 1 cm noble and am waiting to get tested for lung cancer what are the chances that it is cancer Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Galli Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Pearl, Wow, that is a tough question. 1 cm is a very small nodule; in inches it would measure a little less than 1/2 an inch. First, understand what a lung nodule is and what causes them. Here is a Cleveland Clinic description I refer to often. You can see there are many things that cause lung nodules. So given your past test history with no finds and now this very small nodule, I'd say you have a decent chance. The only way to know for certain is to have a biopsy and the most common procedure is a needle biopsy. A pathologist will view the biopsy sample and determine if it is lung cancer and if it is, what type of lung cancer. So at this juncture, I'd try and relax until a biopsy is ordered. There is a very real possibility that your doctors may want to postpone the biopsy. The very small nodule is a hard to hit target and doctors may suggest waiting several months and repeating the scan so see if the nodule displays changes. This type of delay for very small nodules is not uncommon, so prepare for that eventuality. If your mind is not at ease about waiting, you might ask your doctors to run a PET scan. PET scans can display metastatic activity in areas of the body where there is cancer and if the PET shows no metastatic activity, you'll likely wait perhaps 6 months for a further scan. Stay the course. Tom Mally and BridgetO 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgetO Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Hi Pearl and welcome! I had a small nodule also. I was advised to wait 3 months and have another CT, which I did. It had grown slightly. I was having regular CTs for surveillance of another cancer, to be sure there weren't metastases. When the pulmonologist looked back at prior CTs she could see where it was starting up, but so small and indistinct it couldn't be recognized until you knew where to look. Because of where my nodule was, a needle biopsy or biopsy through the bronchial tubes were both impossible. The thing didn't light up at all on the PET scan. I ended up having my lower right lobe removed by VATS (video assisted thoracic surgery). This was last November.. It was a Stage 1a adenocarcinoma. The surgery was fairly easy. I had much less pain than I expected. I recovered fairly fast. I was actually glad it was a lung cancer (if you can believe that!), It would have been a much worse prognosis if it had been a metastasis from my other cancer. I truly hope that your nodule is something other than cancer. But if it is a slow-growing cancer and is really small, the time to have it out is now and the outlook is really good. Hang in there and good luck! Bridget Tom Galli 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexieCat Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Hi, Pearl! I love that name--my mom was Pearl. I'm sort of in a similar boat, though it looks a little more certain that mine will turn out to be cancer--slight growth since last year in a nodule they've been monitoring, and PET scan had that nodule "light up." I'm scheduled for surgery in a week. Were you in a screening program with your annual CT's? That's how mine was picked up. I have a few other very small nodules elsewhere in my lungs, which have remained stable and didn't light up on the PET scan. I was told there would be no point to a biopsy, because given what has been observed, the recommendation would be to remove it anyway. I'm having the upper left lobe removed, assuming they determine during surgery that it is cancer. I'm trying to look at it as something to be grateful for that it is small, evidently isolated at this point, and hopefully completely treatable with this surgery. I know I will remain nervous about recurrences, but that's really something I have no control over other than to be diligent in keeping an eye on things. Certainly I would be happier if I weren't dealing with any of this, but I'm trying to hit that sweet spot between appropriately educating myself and freaking myself out. So far no freakout, but that could be subject to change in the future. Teri Tom Galli and Fred G 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearl Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 No they have taken the Ct watching for blood clots because I have a history of them I'm told that because it wasn't there the first two years it almost sure it's gonna be cancer 95% but they won't say 100% until they do the test my mom and dad both had lung cancer so that doesn't help matters it just puts me at a higher risk for having it I'm scared yet try to be strong Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Fred G 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexieCat Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Sure, I'd be scared, too (and am, to some extent), but this is a very small spot right now--as far as you know the treatment might be very simple. From what I understand the deal with most lung cancers is that they aren't discovered till after they have caused symptoms--which doesn't happen until it's pretty far advanced. I'm not suggesting for a second that you have nothing to worry about, but try to maintain perspective. Until you know more, the extra worrying won't help. This is the SAME advice I'm giving myself. Has anyone told you what they plan to do to "test"? Tom Galli 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearl Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 They are gonna look to see if it close enough to the edge to do a needle biopsy if not they are gonna do the pet ctSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexieCat Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Oh, and incidentally, my pulmonologist has said there's maybe a 1-2% chance mine isn't cancer. My surgeon, OTOH, has said he wouldn't put the probability that low--he said it's impossible to quantify. I asked if it wasn't MORE likely to be cancer given the PET scan results, and even with that, he hedged. He said it's "SOMEWHAT more suspicious" after the scan, but reiterated that nothing will be known for sure until surgery. Yeah, waiting to find out what you're dealing with sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexieCat Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Do you have a date for a consult to find out next steps (biopsy/PET scan)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearl Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 Not yet I go back to lung doctor July 28 however it has been pushed out that far because doctor had a family emergency with her day however if she gets back sooner they will pull me in soonerSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearl Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 The waiting to know 100% is stressing me outSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexieCat Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 That seems to me like an awfully long wait, especially since you don't know at what point during the previous year it appeared, so it's hard to know how fast it's growing. In my case, it grew 2-3 mm between the scan a year ago and now. So there was likely not to be a great deal of urgency--it's not as if it had increased dramatically in size. I think I'd be trying to find a doc willing to do the followup sooner rather than waiting till the end of July. Is this doctor a pulmonologist, or is she your PCP? Will your insurance allow you to go directly to a specialist who can order the testing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearl Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 She is pulmonologist that specializes in cancerSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearl Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 And critical careSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexieCat Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 I'd see if there isn't somebody she uses as backup coverage when she is not available. Have you checked with her office? Fred G 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearl Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 Yeah they say I can see the nurse practitioner and I'd rather see a doctor Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearl Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 And besides her the closest doctor would be 2 hours awaySent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexieCat Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Well, if the NP can order the testing, it might be worth it to get the ball rolling. I should just reiterate that I'm new, myself, so I'm really just suggesting what I would want to do, if I were you. Not that it's critical that you do that, but geeze--a month seems like a very long wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexieCat Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 I'd travel the two hours, personally, but that's me. I wouldn't be able to stand waiting till the end of July for testing even to be ordered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearl Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 Yeah it's a long time but she maybe back sooner her dad was put in critical care so she went to him and will be back when she canSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearl Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 I just found out Tuesday about all this so I guess I'm still trying to get a grip on it all Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexieCat Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 OK, I just totally relate to your anxiety to find out what's going on. If you haven't, already, I'd let her office know that this is stressing you out and you'd appreciate her getting you scheduled for testing as SOON as she gets back. And, as I said, if it were I, I'd be finding someone else to do it. That way the two of you would have the info all ready to go when she comes back. I'm just thinking of reducing the lead time for any necessary procedures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexieCat Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Maybe one of the "old hands" here can weigh in about this projected wait time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearl Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 Idk I just know I am scared confused and nervous all wrapped up in oneSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexieCat Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 I know--sending a hug. Those are therapeutic, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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