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Hey all, just wanted to follow up. Had surgery Monday. As diagnosed it was adenocarcinoma. Dr removed a wedge of my lobe and said cleared margins. He also removed lymph nodes. Feeling lucky for the incidental find and choosing the surgical biopsy . Waiting on lymph node results. I have a Follow up may 9th. Thanks for the support.

Good to hear. Early diagnosis is a real benefit to success. Lou

I've been away from the discussion and this may have resolved itself, but, frankly, I think your situation is completely unacceptable. I would strongly suggest you get yourself to a facility specializing in lung cancer. I see you're in Maryland-- you have to be near a reputable cancer center specializing in lung cancer. Yes, I'm emphasizing a place with a specialty in lung cancer. That's because our cancer field is exploding with new research and a generalist cannot stay on top of the new developments. All you need is a starting place. It's kind of like being a detective and may take a little effort on your part. I don't have any comments pro or con the following places, but they may be good first steps. Potential resources: two NCI-designated cancer centers in MD. You can find them here:https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find I also found a lung nodule clinic affiliated with U of MD, which may be worth checking out. https://www.umms.org/uch/health-services/cancer/cancer-services-and-treatment/lung Keep at this. Keep us posted!

Bob, Sorry to hear about the recurrence but glad you found us. Nodules that grow are definitely worth getting a biopsy and I understand that they want more mass so they can do a better job of getting the sample they need to test properly. The waiting is terrible and I remember feeling great anxiety during my initial diagnosis and especially when I was told to "wait 3 months" before the next scan. Needless to say I was not a happy camper. I'm so glad that you gave up the smoking. Regardless of the COPD I'm sure that your breathing is most likely better now than when you were active in the habit. That will be a help through this. Please keep us updated and feel free to ask any questions you want. We have a pretty large base of survivors on this site with a great variety of diagnosis and treatments so there is a lot of experience to share. You won't need to go through this alone. Lou

https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/10/24/chris-mortensen-throat-cancer-recovery Mort passed not long ago.Worth the read. NFL draft tonight reminded me when they payed tribute. Cancer cares not if you are rich and famous or poor and lost. A vicious disease. Peace Tom

So true Tom. But isn't that the case with all hardship? Nobody escapes them. Thanks for sharing. Lou

What a crappy situation! I am really surprised no one has suggested a PET scan now, rather than wait. You might suggest that to your pulm doc. Especially since you had existing nodules. Best wishes Tom

I understand your frustration with the not hearing and the waiting. Yours led to even more delays when you know biopsy is warranted now, let along next steps....About 7 weeks went by before I heard from my pulm after my December 2023 scan! I met with local onc in mid Feb who told me she believed I had a slow growing lung cancer. Heard from pulm by portal that evening (mid Feb-first time since Dec 2023 scan) - assuming onc contacted pulm? though could've been coincidence.... I already decided to wait for a 6 month scan so and pulm was ok with that.... Wishing you the best waiting for that appointment - surprised they wouldn't have just set that appointment AND also either referred you for biopsy or meeting with that expert (unless that is the May 29 appointment) or PET/CT if that's the route they end up going. LIkely what you all will talk about in May. Keep in mind calling for a cancelation prior to 5/29.... Hang in there.

Welcome, Bob! I'm new here too and awaiting my 3rd scan in July so we're in somewhat similar "waiting patterns." I can't imagine how you're feeling today with your scan Monday. I find I'm wound tighter the week or so before a scan and then until I have results then it's a deep exhale. Wishing you the best with the scan Monday! Hope you get results, a call from your provider and then direction timely - that waiting is a different kind of hard.

Not a doctor but before you worry needlessly, over 80% of solid pulmanary lesions are benign. But just in case You should ask for a PET/ CT scan as recommended by the NCCN guidelines for solid lesions >8mm. You need to register to see anything but it's free. https://www.nccn.org This is the RADS that will tell what's suspicious. https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Reporting-and-Data-Systems/Lung-Rads While a PET is not perfect it's way safer and less painful than a biopsy. If nothing glows you can probably skip the biopsied If the PET comes back not suspicious then LDCT in 3 months if no charge 6 months then yearly LDCTs until you're longer a candidate for definitive treatment Don't settle for less than the guidelines.

i love pet scans i had a ct scan - it had a note from the radiologist that recommended a pet scan - my gp did not order the test - when i kept getting worse, my gp reluctantly granted my request to see an ent - he ordered the pet scan i think the reluctance is the cost and if your insurance will cover it (without a cancer diagnosis) - my insurer did approve it and the images showed all the lymph nodes in my chest were involved a ct has its place and you can look at the images and understand them - a pet scan makes no sense unless you know how to set all the contrast settings in the pacs system - then you see the cancer in color - amazing technology (and the test itself is easier than mris) they test your glucose level, shoot you up with a mildly radioactive glucose solution, recline you with a warm blanket for about a half hour - then put you on the scanner with a wonderful pillow under your knees - 20 minutes later you are done my second favorite (and underrated test) is the cea blood test radiologists prefer that tests are performed on the same scanner interestingly (for a nerd like me), a pet scaner can do ct scans also

It may not be so uncommon that separate scans produce some differing images. It’s good to hear that the nodules are not growing or presently considered malignant. Having said that there may be other tests they can run. For example, a PET Scan could show up malignancy in cells within the nodules or not show anything (good news). But at the end of the day a biopsy is considered the gold standard for determining the malignancy or non-malignancy of a growth. Sixty percent of nodules are benign but as a former cancer patient (like me; colon 2010, lung 2019) I would always error on the side of more data and confirmed testing. Lou

I would ask for a biopsy. I also had breast cancer many years ago and then was diagnosed with lung last year. A biopsy will tell whether it is from the breast or a new cancer. That’s very important to treatment decisions and outcomes. Sound like you’re in a better location for good treatment. Good luck

Hi all, just checking how your all doing, sincerely hope your all ok, things still very raw here , my daughter in law and 4 four grandchildren have fallen out with me and Micky (Jus’s sister) and her two children, it’s heartbreaking 💔We’ve been denied any of his ashes so have nothing to show he ever existed for 52 years except photos and memories , still that’s not why I’ve posted, I check up on you all regularly as Jus would have wanted me too as this place was very special to him as you all were too, I hope life’s treating you all as well as it can, I’m hoping that we will both feel better one day but I’m not holding out much hope, he was such a special person to us as we were and are a very close unit, the hole we now have in our hearts is immeasurable but the love carries on and will never die, take care of yourselves and keep those loved ones close, love and hugs to you all and keep up that wonderful strength you all have, catch up again soon Xx love Izzy xx

Hello, I have had Lung nodules going on 8 years since I had bowel surgery and when coming out of surgery had to be kept on a ventilator for 2 weeks due to raspatory failure (30 years of smoking) . I have COPD consisting of emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma. I quit smoking when in the hospital in 2016 with the above mentioned surgery. I had 2 small nodules due to scar tissue that have been stable in size and shape. in a recent CT scan (12-2023) another nodule showed and was solid and spiculated. I since have had two other CT scans and it has tripled in size in 3 months to 7.7mm. I have a 4th CT scan on the 1st of April as they want it to be 8mm before they decide to biopsy or next course of action. At this point its like a roller coaster waiting then thinking you are getting somewhere just to go up another hill and I just want to level out and get on with what needs to be done.

Thank you to all the good thoughts. i had the CT on the 1st of April and waited a week for the doctor to call. Nothing, I already saw the results on my Advanced Radiology portal. it Grew to the 8mm as they wanted so i called the doctor's office and they set an appointment for May 29th. Two months after the CT scan and then they may eithe schedule a biopsy or a PET scan. 2 months not knowing what the next action is can drive someone insane. I am looking things up and everything says to get these things as early as possible. That is hard to do with waiting 2 months for a doctor's visit.