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Hey Lisa ~ I've been away, and am coming to this discussion a little late, but I wanted to send my BEST wishes along with all the others. By now, you have had your biopsy - I do hope it was benign! Please know you have my thoughts and prayers with you. This waiting game is so difficult. Yours in HOPE!! Stacey

Hey Texaggie! And welcome to nodule watch The mental is the hardest part, with these. You have already received alot of good advice. These are way too small for anyone to do anything about, but watch 'em. At that size, even if they doubled in volume, it would be such a tiny change (3mm = change of .75mm) that it might not be noticeable on CT. It looks like you may live in TX? If you are from the Southwest, or travel there, you can get nodules from an illnes called Coccidioidomycosis, or Valley Fever, as it is commonly known. It is a fungus in the soil, and is endemic to the Desert Southwest, and parts of California, as well as South America. Other infections, fungal, and otherwise, can cause nodules, too (histoplasmosis, tuberculosis, blastomycosis, etc) Try not to worry too much in the meantime. It can take over your life if you're not careful. You are on top of it, and it sounds like you plan to make sure your docs are too. (BTW, I would be miffed if my docs omitted stuff, as well. Maybe time for a new doc???) Kasey, and others are right. You will probably simply be put on a CT schedule of 3 months, then 6 months, again at 12 months, 18 months, etc. thru a few years. If no change...COOL! And to help put your mind at ease....the new info coming out of Mayo Clinic on these nodules indicates (pre-liminary results - 3 years into the study) that as many as 98% of these tiny non-calcified nodules are turning out to be benign, in their study population!! An excellent argument for waiting and watching - as scary as that can be. So, take heart, and be hopeful! We will wait & watch with you. You'll be just fine! And feel free to PM if ya need more nodule info....I've got TONS of it saved in my 'puter...should have an honorary doctorate, by now... Yours in HOPE!!! Stacey

Ooops! I'm a little late to this here party.... But here's a little song fer ya... "Feliz Cumpleanos," that's how they say it in Spain. "Frohlicher Geburtstag," in German, it means the same. "Gratulerer med dagen", Norwegians say it, too. But, anyway you say it - It means "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU"!!! (and maaannny morrrrree......... ) KatieB, I hope your birthday was a blast!!! Gonna eat a 'tato in your honor, later! BEST Wishes! Stacey

Oh Malou, I am so sorry to read this. My heart goes out to you. May God hold you and you family in His loving arms, and help you through these difficult times. ~ Stacey

Wow, Terri! What an inspiring story! I'm with Kasey - I think a celebratory cocktail is definitely in order! Want to join us at the Pub? Hey Cindi - whadya say? Four of those Miracle Margarita's, please? Congrats, and cheers to you, and your Mom! May the miracles continue! Clink, clink, clink, clink! (those are the toasting glasses...) ~Stacey

Yup..sounds like rotator cuff. Both of my shoulders are affected (the result of many moons of desert ATV racing ) The right one I eventually had to have pinned. I have four neat little nylon pins that hold that puppy in place. I'm about 7 years out of surgery, now, and the pins still hold for the most part. My left shoulder, so far, has responded pretty well to exercise. At least in the range-of-motion issues. There was a funny thread on pain, and fear of cancer in the General forum (I think....- see "Does anyone else think every pain is cancer?) But all of that said, it couldn't hurt to run it by your doc. At the very least, it will put your mind at ease. I'll be praying your shoulder pain will soon subside! Yours in HOPE!!! Stacey

Wow, GREAT news, Alisa. GGO's, as you've seen, aren't the same as nodules. I have a bunch of stuff filed here on nodules/GGO's/other radiological abnormalities, and oddities () If you need more info, let me know - I'll send you some. In the meantime...WOOHOO! Meet ya at the Pub. I'll buy! ~ Stacey

Happy Birthday to You... Happy Birthday to You... Happy Birthday, May Babies... Happy Birthday to You! And MANY More....... ~ Stacey

Hey Eppie~ Wishing you a very Happy Birthday!! I like Kelly's image of the dancing hippos - then I imagined your trampolining elephant landing on one of them...Eeek! Hope your day was a blast!! ~ Stacey

Howdy Molly! Wow - what a medical hx. Sounds kind of like mine I've often felt, with my own history, surgeries, etc. that I should at least have a hospital wing dedicated to me, by now... I just wanted to add my welcome, and tell you how I admire your spirit! With determination, and a positive attitude such as your own, I am sure you will be gracing us with your posts for MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY, (you get the idea) MANY moons to come!!! Yours in HOPE!! Stacey

Hi Gloria ~ Great advice has already been given, (you'll find that alot around here ) and I have to agree - 50% reduction is an EXCELLENT START! Please, add my prayers, and positive thoughts for healing to those above! And welcome! ~ Stacey

Hi Anna ~ Jumping on the welcome wagon Keep the hope up, Girl! You'll beat this! As you have seen, there are TONS of HOPE here - feel free to reach in and grab a couple of handfuls whenever you need! And know that you are NOT alone. Sending prayers, and my BEST healing vibes... ~ Stacey

Hi Mel ~ Just a quick "Welcome" - and prayers for good scan results, and healing!! ~ Stacey

Hey Girl! I noticed you popped online for a few...I'm hoping that means you are back from tx, and all is well! Just want to let you know, my thoughts and prayers continue with you, and ALL your family! Ding - Ding! Round One Goes to Tracy!!! (I just KNOW IT!! ) Hugs from AZ! Stacey

CONGRATULATIONS, MARY!!! Here's to MANY more Christmases, New Year's, Valentine's, Easters, birthdays...you get the picture... And thanks for reminding all of us how sacred and precious each and everyday is. Yours in HOPE!!! Stacey

Dear Tracy ~ I am glad that you have a plan in place. I have heard such positive things about Tarceva. Just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you, tonight, and will be praying tomorrow during your treatment, for the chemo to MELT those suckers away!!! POOF!!! Wishing you a restful, peaceful evening. I think Gail's idea (Ben & Jerry's - make mine Phish Food!!) sounds good, too! HEALING HUGS (((Tracy))) for strength, and comfort! ~Stacey

WOOOHOOOO!!!! That's the BEST news I've heard all day! (and then some...) I am going to go do a serious happy dance around my pool (hopefully, without falling in ) and then I think I'll join Nik in tippin' a Bud Light in your honor. And here's hoping that 3rd nodule has, indeed, disappeared - maybe it's run off with Sam's nodule...NEVER to be seen again! Congrats to BOTH of you! ((((Kasey & Fred)))) and sending hugs for (((Tracy))) too, while I'm at it. ALL my best! Stacey

Hoping & praying, indeed! I was wondering about you two...what is it about these end of week appointments with you guys? Gotta schedule on a Monday! Seriously, I hope that by now, you have received some GOOD results! And, I believe our dear KatieB said elsewhere in a post that she had her first screening CT....? How did that come out, Katie? Praying for great results for ALL (and heading to the Pub, Cindi...gonna buy a round of celebratory drinks for all in faith that by this time next week, there will be plenty of good news to drink to! Good thing I'm only a cyber-lush.... )

Never thought I'd be congratulating someone on their UTI, but hey, this is GREAT news! I do hope they can get "Rocky" feeling back to herself again quickly! Hugs, and prayers continue!! ~ Stacey

Wow...what alot on your plate! But you will do just fine...I know it! I can't offer any better advice than has already been given - just a warm welcome! Now, go put your battle armor on - we got your back! Yours in HOPE!! Stacey

My prayers are with you both for a peaceful journey. And comfort, and strength for you. I'm so sorry. ~ Stacey

or should I be ...??? Thanks for the belly laugh!

That IS great news! On BOTH counts. Yes, there is such a high false-positive rate that careful observation is so warranted in many cases. I guess it depends on the control groups being studied, etc. but there are SO MANY factors that can alter the general 40% cancerous/ 60% benign stats people most likely are reading about on-line. Areas endemic for fungal diseases like histoplasmosis, and coccidioidomycosis, for example, have a MUCH higher prevalence of benign nodules. I didn't know 'til recently, but I guess once you get past a certain number of nodules, the management protocol changes. SPN's and "multiple" nodules are apparently handled differently, due to the greatly increased risk of metastatic disease. (Studies indicate that 80% of multiple nodules represent metastatic disease) I had posted, elsewhere, that I decided to go to Mayo, and will be seeing my new pulmonologist May 18th. He has been a "nodule specialist" since at least 1992, that I can see, and has authored a number of reports and studies conducted through both Mayo Rochester, and here in Scottsdale. (some of the reports I have are co-authored by SJ Swenson, one of the docs in Andrea's report, above) It is my hope that this Dr. (Viggianno) will be able to shed some current, and accurate light on this whole nodule subject that I will be able to share with all our fellow NW's.... Well, with Sam's Houdini nodule, and Connie's stable one, this HAS been a good week in the nodule world, huh? Let's keep it going for Narda99, and Kasey's Fred, next week!! ~Stacey

Oh, he WILL be remembered fondly, Don. Through the beautiful tribute you shared, and through the humorous words, and stories he always shared here. What a tragic loss, but a testament, as well, to brotherly love, and to the peace, and beauty that surely awaits us all in the next life... May God give you peace, and comfort - and may your memories fill your heart with joy. With sympathy, Stacey

I am so sorry, Linda. Please accept my deep sympathies. May the memories of your love sustain you and bring you peace, and comfort. And may God hold your family close during these difficult times. ~ Stacey