SharRob

Would you please give me your opinion on the CAT Scan described below? I have no one else to turn to because my father adamantly refuses a biopsy. His primary doctor told me 15 months ago, that he believed with certainty he has Stage 4 Lung Cancer. Now, the doctor has changed his opinion, he believes he has a Lung Fungus because my father shows no symptoms of lung cancer. So I requested the CAT Scan to get another opinion. CT SCAN with CONTRAST There is a 3.79 x 3.45cm mass within the posterior segment of the right upper lobe with the mass extending below the carina by approximately 1 cm. There are at least six small metastatic lung nodules noted within the posterior segment right upper lobe. There is a small metastatic lung nodule noted in the anterior segment of the left upper lobe. The rest of the visualized lung fields are essentially clear. There is no mediastinal, hilar, or axillary adenopathy noted. Thee are atherosclerotic changes of the origin of the left subclavian artery, of the thoracic aorta, LAD coronary artery, and circumflex coronary artery. History: 1. 2006 / Nov – 10mm (X-ray) 2. 2007 / Nov – Grew to 4cm (CAT scan with contrast) 3. Dad: 82-yr-old (quit smoking 30 years ago) (refuses biopsy and treatments-adamant about this) Lung Fungus?? (the 4cm mass in lungs) - Lifetime resident upstate NY - Dad had driven from Chicago to California (50 years ago) - Dad had visited Arizona and Nevada for one month (30 years ago) Questions: - From examining the CAT Scan, do you think he has Lung Cancer? - Can a person have lung cancer starting 10mm (Nov 2006) grow to 4cm (Nov 2007) – and have no symptoms as of this date Feb 2009? - If not, and you think it is a lung fungus, can lung fungus show up on a CAT Scan 30-50 years from possible exposure? - If Lung Fungus, are there any life threatening issues? Thank you for your time and I appreciate any advice/information you can give me.

Thank you all for your replies, it's been very helpful. After reading as much as I can on this horrible topic only thing I come out with is everything is just so unknown. And dad, I believe, has made the best choice for himself. It's just that it's been hard "thinking" he may have this horrible disease and we both go thru each day as if nothing is wrong. It's hard to "fake it" sometimes. (He doesn't know that I know he could have stage 4 and he doesn't know). I also read/hear conflicting things too (which makes me more confused). I told my doctor about dad and she said that it was fast growing (from 10mm to 4cm in one year). Then from what I've read it sounds like it's slow growing. The doctor also said he's doing very well and it should have been 6-8 months, so I asked her "where does the timeline start, at 10mm or 4cm?" This is what always confused me-when they give you a "time", where does the clock start ticking. And she talked in circles, never did get answer on when they actually do give you a timeframe because if it was 6-8 months back on the 10mm, well then I guess he is doing very well. And I guess not too many people choose not to have anything done-so dad is doing great (he's a tough bird anyway). Having a place like this to talk to people is really wonderful. Thank you all.

Hi SandraL Thanks for your quick response - but I didn't put the question correctly. I was told this past Nov 2007 that he had Stage Four - I should have put the question - "Can a person have Stage Four with no symptoms for 10 months?" (I believe that's when it became a Stage Four - when it grew to 4cm and had nodules-though started out 10mm a year before). So sorry for the confusion - (not enough coffee yet this am).

I was told by my dad's physician that he has stage 4 lung cancer (my dad doesn't know I know) but my dad was told (long story) that he might have cancer. In Nov 2006 he had a 10mm spot, in Nov 2007 he had a CT scan with contrast that showed it had grown to 4cm with nodules on other lung. So it appears that he has had lung cancer, now, for 22 months. He has had no treatments (also refused to have biopsy to confirm) and no symptoms (only recently has complained of sweating heavily). Can someone have stage four lung cancer for 22 months with no symptoms? With the sweating - is something going on now? He is on meds for back pain (has had this from previous surgery) and is very used to pain meds. The sweating is new. Thank you for any info. (ps - this site is the best I've found just for this very reason that I can post on site for people who opt out of treatment-I just found this site - though have been reading about lc for over 9 months now.