Multiple lung nodules in 34 year old

[annamariehammoud]

Hello everyone. What a scary couple of days. My husband is 34 and we have 2 kids. Went for a heart CT scan a month ago which incidentally found multiple nodules in both lungs.

He had the CT scan done two days ago and I’m petrified because the report sounds very scary! 

Multiple nodules, the largest is 1.6 and  spiculated, suspected metastasis but no primary location other than the 1 spiculated. Enlarged lymph nodes were also found. 

Waiting on seeing a specialist but we presented to ED as my husband is freaking out. We saw an ED doctor who called a a lung and sleep specialist who reviewed the report and imaging and said, perhaps Sarcoidosis? But unsure until we see someone further. General bloods were all in range including inflammatory marker etc (this is what ED doc said)

He has no other symptoms.

Hoping for some reassurance and support.

Thanks so much

[Tom Galli]

Anna,

Scary indeed! Nodules are more common these days because our scanning technology has vastly improved. CT scans find everything and a speculated nodule is of concern. But, one of the best US hospitals (The Cleveland Clinic) publishes a resource that explains pulmonary nodules including reasons for formation and most thankfully are not the result of lung cancer. You can read it here.

I'm not acquainted with Australia's national health system so I'm not sure how the system will react to this find. Moreover, I am not a physician so keep that in mind as I suggest a path ahead. You state the largest is 1.6 but don't report if it is 1.6 centimeters or millimeters. In the US, a 1.6 cm nodule would be addressed by a follow-up CT scan in perhaps 3 or 4 months. Why? Your husband is young and the scan didn't find a tumor. (The difference between a nodule and a tumor is size. Here is more information about tumors from the Cleveland Clinic.) 

The follow-up CT is looking for growth. If one or more of the nodules grow to the size of a tumor, then the next step (again in the US, Australia's protocol might be different) would be to obtain a tissue biopsy. This could be done surgically, or using a bronchoscope, or a guided needle technique. The cells would be examined by a pathologist under a microscope (called a histology examination) and malignancy would be determined.

Let's hope your husband's nodules are the noncancerous type. 

Stay the course.

Tom

[Karen_L]

Anna,

The waiting time is the hardest.

It's really really important to work with a *lung* specialist on this stuff. ED docs are wonderful, but in no way do they have the specialized knowledge a lung case demands. The same is true for general practitioners.  It's really important that your husband hears this.

And, it's even more important that neither of you turn to Dr. Google for information. Unless you are knowledgeable about determining the reliability of a website, or even what you're looking for, you're more likely to make yourself feel worse. It's just not time for self-diagnosis!

I think I sound stern, but it's because I want you to know how important it is to wait, with an open mind. How do you do that? You practice deep, slow breathing. You put your attention on exactly where you are and what you are doing in the current moment. It's really, really hard. But, as I think you're seeing, it's the only way to not go completely off the rails. 

Keep reminding yourselves: there's no evidence of a tumor. I had nodules, but also a lime-sized tumor. It was hard for them to miss. Since treatment, I've had a couple of nodules. We watched them, they disappeared. 

Waiting is hell. If it's too hard to function, then find a doc who can help deal with the anxiety head-on. There are meds and types of talk therapy that can offer the short-term support necessary to get through the waiting. 

YOU CAN DO THIS. 

Hang in.

Karen

[Marilyn Raven]

On 7/23/2023 at 7:45 PM, annamariehammoud said:

Hello everyone. What a scary couple of days. My husband is 34 and we have 2 kids. Went for a heart CT scan a month ago which incidentally found multiple nodules in both lungs.

He had the CT scan done two days ago and I’m petrified because the report sounds very scary! 

Multiple nodules, the largest is 1.6 and  spiculated, suspected metastasis but no primary location other than the 1 spiculated. Enlarged lymph nodes were also found. 

Waiting on seeing a specialist but we presented to ED as my husband is freaking out. We saw an ED doctor who called a a lung and sleep specialist who reviewed the report and imaging and said, perhaps Sarcoidosis? But unsure until we see someone further. General bloods were all in range including inflammatory marker etc (this is what ED doc said)

He has no other symptoms.

Hoping for some reassurance and support.

Thanks so much

Hi Aussie here,

I see you live in Victoria so you have one of the best specialist cancer centres in AUS, I can understand your anxiety it's very difficult to wait, however I am sure you will be referred to a specialist centre quite quickly, I live in a regional area in NSW and have to travel to Canberra to see my oncologist, is the nodule 1,6mm or Ctm, because that will make a difference as to how quickly they make a referral, he has had a CT scan so most probably a PET will be next, it's hard to remain calm but we have excellent treatment options here. Perhaps you can contact your GP or whoever ordered the heart scan to ask about the specialist appointment, wishing you all the best, may all be well.

Marilyn 

 

 

[LilyMir]

The others gave you some good info, I just wanted to say hang in there, you will handle it whatever it is. I was incidentally diagnosed last year and feel your panic,  my kiddo was not even 6 at the time. Take deep breaths guys and do not anticipate disaster. Wait for results and deal with them when they come. Even if it is lung cancer, there is so much in way of treatment these days. It may be that this incidental finding is a blessing if the nodules are indeed cancer as chances they can zap it early and deal with it before it becomes a much worse tumour. 1.5mm is tiny. 1.5 cm is a concern but still not that horrible. Breathe and try to calm down until you know more. Lung cancer is not what you read about when you google search it anymore, info online is very outdated so stop reading irrelevant info. Make sure they followup up soon add biopsy if doable. Take care!

[annamariehammoud]

Thanks for everyone’s responses. It’s nice to feel the support here. 
Update: Biopsy done yesterday. The doc said they had a quick look under a scope and couldn’t see any cancer cells… is this reassuring? Not sure how accurate that is. Hubby spoke with the lung specialist who said the lymph nodes did light up on the PET. She also mentioned something about seeing granulomas in the lymph nodes?? Hoping I interpreted the conversation right

[annamariehammoud]

Hi @Marilyn Raven It’s 1.6cm 

[annamariehammoud]

Lung biopsy came back - no cancer!

They think it’s sarcoidosis 

[Karen_L]

WOW! Congratulations!  I don't know anything about sarcoidosis, so I hope treatment offers you a pathway to a good life.

Karen

[Marilyn Raven]

On 7/28/2023 at 7:37 AM, annamariehammoud said:

Lung biopsy came back - no cancer!

They think it’s sarcoidosis 

Very good news indeed 

Cheers 

Marilyn

[LilyMir]

Hurray for no cancer. Now go and live your lives with your kids. After such a terrible scare ending with such good news, it must feel like a new lease on life, congrats.

[LouT]

Excellent news on the cancer front, now your medical team can address the sarcoidosis.  We wish you all luck for your husband to have a swift and complete recovery.

Lou