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!!