Lee Ann Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 Hello, Is it possible for a slow growing lung nodule to become cancer after 12 years? A 6mm lung nodule was found in my upper left lung 12 years ago. I get ct scans taken of it occasionally. It is now 1.5cm. It is lobulated, upper left lobe and non calcified. I have 3 other small lung nodules that have stayed the same. My father died of lung cancer at age 60 which I am now. I smoked for 30 years a pack a day. I quit 14 years ago. I also have moderate emphysema. Doctors don’t seem too concerned about it. One pumologist thought I was getting too many ct scans.....wasn’t concerned about the nodule. Just wondered if any of you might share your thoughts on this. Thanks so much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 The majority of lung nodules, 60%, are not cancerous. It is possible for cells to progress from being very low activity precancerous cells to them becoming more active cancer cells. How fast did it take it to grow from 6 mm to 1.5 cm? An increased rate of growth is cause for concern. Give your family history and your having smoked I would continue to keep a very close eye on it. It may be nothing, but if it is lung cancer you’ll want to get treatment as early as possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Galli Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 Lee Ann, Welcome here. Almost anything is possible, especially with lung cancer, but many there are many types non cancerous pulmonary nodules often found in the lungs. Here is a Cleveland Clinic resource I've been consulting for many years. Smoking is indeed a lung cancer risk factor so continued CT scans is a very prudent action. The scanning interval most often used for this symptom is a scan every six months. I wouldn't worry about the radiation exposure from these scans. The dose rate is very low. Moreover, there are low does CT scans available and you might ask if you are receiving this type of diagnostic. Stay the course. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Ann Posted May 26, 2019 Author Share Posted May 26, 2019 1 hour ago, Curt said: The majority of lung nodules, 60%, are not cancerous. It is possible for cells to progress from being very low activity precancerous cells to them becoming more active cancer cells. How fast did it take it to grow from 6 mm to 1.5 cm? An increased rate of growth is cause for concern. Give your family history and your having smoked I would continue to keep a very close eye on it. It may be nothing, but if it is lung cancer you’ll want to get treatment as early as possible Well, it started growing 2 years after discovery..... to 8mm. Then about 2mm every couple of years until reaching 1.5cm. So it started growing 10 years ago becoming 8mm. From what i’ve Read about lung nodules every thing I listed about myself and the nodule leans toward the nodule being a slow growing cancer. Upper lobe,increasing size, parent with lung cancer, emphysema, lobular edge, ex smoker, non calcified nodule and age. Thanks for your response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 Diagnosing Lung cancer is a really difficult thing. I hope that there will be better diagnostic tools in the future. I watched a nodule for over a year that was found by accident. It didn’t grow at all but given other factors like the shape, location and family history two doctors recommended surgery. I went in to surgery not knowing if it was cancer. I came out with a Stage 1 NSCLC Adenocarcinoma diagnosis. The doctors said that the nodule left undiscovered could have grown very slowly and undetected for a very long time. It is good that you are watching it. Tom’s advice on scans every six months is what I found to be the standard for monitoring suspicious nodules. Hope that it is nothing, but continue to pursue what it actually is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danioh Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 Humm...I have a 1cm nodule that has been "indolent" for a while. Its grown 1mm in four months. Last year I had a lung cancer that was treated so doc is suspicious that this could be cancer. Research on indolent nodules are mixed as there is concern re: over treatment and quality of life. Pulmonologists say do surgery, oncologist, wait and see, and lung oncologist said wait uo to three months and treat with radiation either now or then. I am leaning towards wait and see...for now but will consult with radiation oncologist to gather data. Was also wondering about proton therapy for it. Best wishes and continue with scans as others have suggested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Galli Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Danioh, Wait and see or precision radiation? I'd choose precision radiation. In fact, I did and it likely saved my life. One millimeter in 4 months is not a lot but I know it feels gigantic. I recall those agonizing scan consultation when we'd go over waxing and waning of my tumors. Then we had the here today, gone tomorrow consultations. Recurrences just plain suck. The only improvement in the suck is new treatment modalities that didn't exist when I was in the recurrence swamp. From my understanding, the differences between proton therapy and precision radiation are two: proton radiation kills tumors, including cells on the margin, and stops, and it costs about 10X that of precision radiation. Both fry tumors; CyberKnife or SBRT goes through the body, and proton therapy stops right after the tumor. But precision radiation works; I'm alive to testify! Stay the course. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mally Posted June 5, 2019 Share Posted June 5, 2019 Hi Lee Ann I had a dormant nodule in my lung that they noticed while doing recurrence scans for another cancer for 4 yrs and then they noticed it had grown a little so biopsy and pet scan later it was confirmed nsclc adenocarcinoma and lobectomy followed with chemo and now immunotherepy...this was first seen October 2016 but I too smoked for 30 yrs but had given up for 17 yrs and I'm 64 now so we have some similarities so it is possible to be cancer in your case so dont ignore it and hopefully can be successfully treated ...I was at stage 3a Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJM Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Responding to an old post may not be of much use but this one hits home. I will find out in a few hours if slow growth masses can be cancer. The mass in my lung was 1.2 cm in 2004. Now 4.9 cm in 2019 and 90% certain it is cancerous. Also have potential lymph node involvement. Like I said..whatever the b*stard is will be out in 8 hours and I will know. (Could add I'm not holding my breath...nah) Bottom line - this is one of very many threads that make me question the logic of calling my mass benign 12 years ago and then never being called to do a follow up - for a former heavy smoker who had a brother die from Lung cancer at a young age. Especially since there has been a big push to do CT scans as screening tests starting at 55. I'm 58 and my health care provider already KNEW I had a suspicious mass. I repeat what I have posted before...if you take the wait and see approach please remember to keep looking as your waiting. I am about to pay the price for not removing it in 2005 when I was much younger, had much better insurance and in a better position to miss significant time from work. If you are starting to get the feeling I am not happy with my healthcare provider you are correct. Time to put my focus towards the surgery. Did not sleep real well but am actually not very stressed. Another grand adventure in life begins. Thanks for all the support. Peace Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lin wilki Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Good luck! I understand your feelings about your health care provider. I put some blame on my internist for never recommending a ct scan. I had no symptoms but I complained for 2 years that I my cardio level was NOT what it had been before knee replacement surgery. I couldn’t keep up with my husband walking biking which I used to be in much better shape than him. We need to be better advocates for ourselves but furthest thing from my mind was cancer!! I guess I expect our docs to be the one to suggest further testing. So now I’m stage 4 adenocarcinoma. Damn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJM Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mally Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 On 1/28/2020 at 11:37 PM, TJM said: Responding to an old post may not be of much use but this one hits home. I will find out in a few hours if slow growth masses can be cancer. The mass in my lung was 1.2 cm in 2004. Now 4.9 cm in 2019 and 90% certain it is cancerous. Also have potential lymph node involvement. Like I said..whatever the b*stard is will be out in 8 hours and I will know. (Could add I'm not holding my breath...nah) Bottom line - this is one of very many threads that make me question the logic of calling my mass benign 12 years ago and then never being called to do a follow up - for a former heavy smoker who had a brother die from Lung cancer at a young age. Especially since there has been a big push to do CT scans as screening tests starting at 55. I'm 58 and my health care provider already KNEW I had a suspicious mass. I repeat what I have posted before...if you take the wait and see approach please remember to keep looking as your waiting. I am about to pay the price for not removing it in 2005 when I was much younger, had much better insurance and in a better position to miss significant time from work. If you are starting to get the feeling I am not happy with my healthcare provider you are correct. Time to put my focus towards the surgery. Did not sleep real well but am actually not very stressed. Another grand adventure in life begins. Thanks for all the support. Peace Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mally Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 I understand how you feel Tom as I had the same thing happen to me but looking back and getting told it's a dormant nodule made me feel relieved and the idea of getting it out didnt cross my mind then roll on a few years and it's gone and hopefully for good and I wish you all the best too ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJM Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 Thanks Mally. Not the best of nights last night but should be better tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mally Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Keep posting Tom and keep us updated.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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