Mary AJ

I went to see my PCP about getting a different pulmonologist and he came me the name of someone he said was very good, especially with taking time to explain things etc....so hopefully that will work out- its so strange to me how most of the doctors all seem to blow off the CT scan findings as if its nothing to be worried about.........oh its probably just inhaled dust etc......I guess they are just trying to relieve stress for me- he increased my Buspar doseage from 10mg to 20mg per day so hopefully that will help b/c I have been a nervous wreck- on top of all this my son (15) has really been acting out - what a difficult age (teenager)- it was getting to the point I was not sleeping at night at all b/c my brain would not turn off..........I got some Tylenol PM and that seems to be helping.

My best friend just had the exact same diagnosis last year- stage 1a- (she had a 1.2 cm nodule in her left lung)......she had half her left lung removed- and during surgery the doctor removed several lymph nodes- all blood work showed no spread- and the doctor said she doesnt need chemo or radiation- just to keep going back regularly for her CT scans- she is doing great back to walking three miles per day and religious about her appointments.

I would imagine she did not like sneaking around to smoke and probably felt immense guilt about it. Maybe she feels a sense of relief that at least now its out in the open...........

That is exactly how it feels sometimes, just like an elephant is sitting on my chest. Horrible. I am not using the inhaler tonight- and will see how it goes. I have changed out my pillows- and dont use anything feather anymore b/c I believe that the feathers break down and then become infested with dust mites. I actually want to swap out my mattress all together and buy a new one but I cant afford it right now- my mother told me you can get a plastic cover to put over your mattress I was going to look into that. I did not even think of vacumming my mattress, does that work? I will have to try that. I am going to see my PCP on Monday and am hoping he will do an EKG on me. Just trying to get through the weekend without the elephant on my chest.............I wish I had some Xanax!

Thanks to everyone who responded to my post. I have thought about it quite a bit and decided to go to my PCP to get an opinion on a different Pulmonologist. I have an appt. on Monday @ 2PM (mom watching the baby)- I am going to talk to him about everything that I am feeling and show him my CT scan results. He is a very nice "old school" doctor who always takes his time with me and makes me feel better for having spoken to him. I think I will try whomever he recommends b/c the office I am going to now I feel its a treadmill...........and unfortunatley one of those offices more interested in making $$ than patient care. I actually left a message for my Pulmonologist today b/c I had a terrible night last night with what I think are skipped heart beats and feelings of numbness and tingling all down my legs to my feet- I think its the inhaler he gave me (Symbicort)- he never called me back, or at least hasnt yet and its been hours since I called- I am just not going to use it anymore until I speak to my PCP. I need to find a doctor that is a partner in my care- I feel like Im dancing alone here and its not a good feeling at all.

Thank you so much to all of you that have responded to my post. I know that I am lucky to have found it early if indeed it turns out to be malignant. I have a very close friend that had lung surgery last yearand she had a lobectomy for a 1.2cm nodule....she is 53 and doing very well now but gets very nervous when she has her scans. My Aunt died last year of lung cancer, my neighbor also and my best friends father- all were in their late 50's and early 60's and found very late stage- all of this in 2008- so I think my nerves are shot from it all - You know what I am confused about is if a nodule is so small can it give you symptoms- my doctor has given me all kinds of medications for asthma (even though my lung function test came back not showing asthma)- and for allergies (my allergy test showed allergy to dust mites only)- and with all this medication I am still coughing, while not as much as before but still coughing- and what is very troubling to me is that I have a wheeze which I can hear the most at night when lying down - my doctor can never seem to hear it. I also have a very uncomfortable rattling or vibrating feel deep in my sternum when I inhale (not all the time but periodically through the day and night it will come and go)- I never used to have that. I just wonder if I had the CT scan wouldnt that show if there was anything else wrong- I dont know why I am taking all this medication and still having these problems.........so I guess the scan results compounded by not feeling well to begin with, well its just got me wondering if you ever feel like yourself again. My family is telling me to go for a brisk walk and "get out of myself" and they really feel a lot of this is perhaps brought on by my stress and depression but I cant imagine you can give yourself symptoms. I dont know- I am very glad to have found this site b/c it makes so much difference to meet people successfully coping and living life- I would come on to this site when my friend was going through her surgery- and I would tell her about people's stories- (she also had lumpectomy for breast cancer the year prior to the lung cancer diagnosis)- now I come for myself b/c I think its comforting to be in a group where people understand how you feel. Thank you all so much.

I have never been diagnosed with lung cancer- but recent CT scan showed Single Pulmonary Nodule- Its very small (5x2mm) and in the middle right lobe - the report says "There is a tubular well-defined noncalcified nodule peripheral third lateral segment right middle lobe" - what does peripheral mean exactly? The doctor said I have to go back in three months, and then another three months possibly over two years to look for any growth or change- I dont understand why they cant check if its cancer now- maybe a PET scan to see if it lights up etc.... if its so small, cant they just take it out rather than wait for it to grow? Can you remove a small nodule like this without having to do a a wedge resection or a lobectomy etc... my doctors office is like a workshop, people in and people out, everything so rushed. They told me this and then ushered me out the door I have so many questions. Are any doctors good with this and take their time to explain things? I am reading all I can online and am very scared.

Hello I am new to this site, although I have visited many times to read other people's posts. I have not been diagnosed with lung cancer but recent CT Scan found SPN in right middle lobe -it is very small- and I have to go back in three months to have it checked for growth. Had the CT scan b/c of chronic cough, wheeze, generally feeling not myself for a while now- then had an onset of what my OBGYN said was Costrochondritis- which has not gone away though has gotten better. 2008 Four People within my friends/family were diagnosed with Lung Cancer- so as a past smoker, quit almost about two years ago when I got pregnant with my baby girl who is now 11 months old.........I am 39.5 years old. Was what I would term a social smoker/emotional smoker.........usually smoked on Friday nights after work- and out socially with my friends when I was single- but years passed and suddenly I realize I was smoking for about 17 years- many times binge smoking - which I hear is worse than a pack a day or more regular smoker.........I am under major stress/depression b/c of this recent find and am reading as much as I can about what to expect moving forward. I feel extremely guilty for bringing this on myself by smoking. I wonder if that is normal to feel so much guilt and shame for this- and also I am prone to crying a lot b/c I am stressed and worrying- and then I read through a lot of the posts in here and I feel I have no right to be feeling like this when so many people, so much braver than myself, are dealing with so much more. It gives me a lot of strength to read through people's experiences, especially those with young children. Anyway, that is my story, if anyone has any information on what is normal time frame for finding out if a SPN can be removed please let me know. I am scared about waiting- if it is so small, I dont understand why they cannot do something to find out now and then just go in and remove it- what if it starts spreading.