LJH

Hi Karen_L, Wow, was this video ever relevant and timely for me to watch. I watched it from start to finish and I feel like it confirmed a lot about what I've been learning and, of course, I gained even greater depth of knowledge on many topics such as the various types of biopsy and bronchoscopies performed. Thank you so much for sharing with me! It's reassuring to hear that you feel I am at one of the top cancer research centers in the US and having a nodule board discuss. I'm counting my blessings for this privilege.

HI BridgetO, Thank you for sharing your story with me! Yes, our situations do sound very similar. They told me that the nodule is right in the middle of my RLL next to an airway and the navigational bronchoscopy is going be very tricky (high risk) to perform and might not yield enough/any of the nodule to biopsy adequately. Hearing that is so daunting. If it comes to that, I'll likely opt for the surgery anyway as you did as the risk of leaving it there is greater than having the surgery. You definitely made the right choice but it's not an easy one to make considering it is major surgery. However, It is so inspiring to hear that you are NED after having the adenocarcinoma and Stage 3 gynecologic cancer! I'm so happy for you and the productive life you continue to live!

Hi LilyMir, Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I see you are in Vancouver. Our family are dual citizens and just moved from Victoria, BC after 7.5 idyllic years on the island! Although we didn't move too far away (now living in the Greater Seattle area), Canada will always have my heart! The radiologists on both scans described the larger node as "indeterminate part-solid" as well as a cluster of smaller nodes at the base of the same lung. I am at least going to ask about the PET scan and see what they say. I do have faith that I am at a reputable cancer care facility with great doctors although it's still very early in this whole process so not ruling out second opinions at this point. Again, thank you for chiming in with your supportive comments. I'm so sorry for what you are going through as well. We are both moms of younger kids...the mental anguish is so hard. Sending lots of warm thoughts your way too, LilyMir.

Thank you so much, Justin. That means so much!

Lou and Tom, My heartfelt thanks to you both for taking the time to read my "novel" and provide me with useful links that I will most certainly review, but also help to calm my fears a bit. As you know, a million things are racing through my head right now. Honestly, it's just good to talk to others who have been/are going through a similar experience. It's so difficult when you don't feel there is anybody to talk to about this journey. Side note to Tom - Our family has recently moved to the Greater Seattle area so I will have to look up Ivar's and Anthony's! Thanks again.

Hello Lungevity Community, I am happy to find a support site like this. I am hoping someone out there can provide me a bit of guidance. My lung nodule was found incidentally on a Calcium CT scan for my heart (I have a minor heart condition but nodules were a complete shock as a non-smoker). I have a 16 mm x 12 mm part-solid (5 mm solid center) nodule located in the RLL. Also, a cluster of tiny 5mm or under nodules at the base of the RLL. I am a 44 year old married mom of three beautiful children ages 12, 10 and 8 who are my WORLD. Once my cardiologist confirmed the findings, I sought out the pulmonary specialists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (formerly Seattle Cancer Care Alliance) through the Early Detection Lung Cancer Screening Clinic as luckily have PPO insurance and don't need my PCP to push this through. Once through the gatekeeper, I was scheduled a second CT (only three weeks before the first) and consult with the pulmonologist and ARNP. The second scan confirmed the findings and everything remained unchanged. At my appointment on Oct. 12, my pulmonologist and nurse told me a whole team of specialists looked at my scans, reviewed my health and risk history together and came to the determination that the nodule is highly suspicious for adenocarcinoma in situ. Due to the difficulty in obtaining a biopsy and my low risk profile, they determined they want to wait another 3 months to schedule another CT and see if the nodule changes. Apparently, the nodule is located right in the center of my RLL next to an airway. They told me a navigational biopsy will be the next step if the nodule is still the same size or larger at the next scan but that it will be a difficult biopsy. She also informed me they will have to take quite a bit of lung with a lobectomy if it's cancer. She said it was a pretty aggressive biopsy and surgery for someone like me so that's why they want to wait and be sure. However, when I asked pointed blank if they thought it was cancer versus something benign and she told me yes, they believe it is cancer. I am beyond anxious waiting three months for another scan when it seems they're certain it's already malignant. I asked if it could spread in that time frame but she said no, that it is likely slow growing and not to worry but I can't help but worry. I've had a chronic, mild sore throat - on my right side only - for many months now. I told them this but it was kind of glossed over. Is a sore throat never a symptom of lung cancer? Upon leaving, they told me they were sure I would have questions and to reach out with any. I haven't yet, but I do intend to. I am hoping this community can help guide me. My big question is, can I tell them I am so nervous and remind them of my right side sore throat and ask if there is anything else they can do now?? Why can't they schedule a PET scan? Wouldn't cancer definitively light up on the PET and confirm their suspicion without having to wait three more months? Or is this all standard protocol that they HAVE to go through because of the size of the nodule and my low-risk profile...and maybe it's an insurance thing? I KNOW I have to be my own advocate. I just want to make sure I ask the right questions. I am so grateful for any advice or support you all can offer!!