size of lung nodule

thrifty1

Hi all, I recently had a CT scan and it says the size of the nodule is .46cm x .33cm. Everything I've researched says if nodule is over 8mm, its to be a concern. The radiologist does say that it "likely reflects a noncalcified granuloma and recommend another CT in 3 months. Has anyone else ready studies where the size kind of determines if malignant or not??? I have an appt with my onc this Friday and will know more, but wanted some input from others who are familiar.

thanks....

KBeee

I am not sure on size, but I do know that benign lung nodules are very common.

ICanDoThis

Mostly, they are looking for a change. I was diagnosed last month with a 6 (well, actually, 5.8)mm nodule. Will be doing a follow-up ct in February.

Evidently, there is a protocol for following up on nodules larger than 3mm, involves following it for a couple of years.

We are going to be fine!

pajim

I don't think that size matters. It's all about whether it grows. So they'll follow it.

I have one too. They mention it every PET scan, but it hasn't changed size in 3 years so everyone it pretty sure it's not cancer.

Apparently, as KBeee says, they're very common.

thrifty1

Thank you Ladies...I've had a peace about it this week, after reading more and seeing everyones replies. Dr is going to do a repeat CT in 2 months. Said too small to biopsy. Pray my cancer marker #'s come back low in mean time I don't think this craziness ever leaves the back of your mind :-/

Cjs47

I just found out today that a 8.9 mm nodule showed up on MRI so now I have to have a pet scan Wednesday to see if it's cancer!! I had the MRI due to uptake on bone scan that thankfully was not cancer. More waiting and worrying. It never ends

bevin

ugh. so sorry, but I am very glad your doctors are thouroughly looking at everything.

KBeee

cjsm keep us posted.

thrifty, it sounds like you've got a good plan in place.

Artista928

I'm in this boat too with a 6 mm nodule they found on CT before I started chemo. My chest xray was clean before my bmx on 8/6/15. MO said it's too small for PET scan to pick up metabolic activity so plan is after I'm done with chemo (last infusion is on 3/1) to do another CT to see if it's still there or not. If it's still there, highly unlikely that it's a met. If it's gone then still not for sure it's a lung met because nothing confirms it other than a PET scan. I don't know how often I'll be monitored. I haven't asked yet but my bs seems to think every 4 months which sounds excessive to me. I don't know. Too many scan is not good for you either because of the high amount of rays. I already am getting rads too after chemo... sigh

Nancy2581

I have 3 lung nodules all less than 5 mm. Showed up on my pet/ct scan. I'm not being followed though as the radiologist was not concerned. I'm assuming all is ok since they were found 1 1/2 years ago. That and a couple of liver cysts. Sheesh things I would rather not know lol

Nancy

Artista928

The key is from my understanding is when they do the PET scan if it shows metabolic activity. If it does = cancer. If not then it's something else.

How often do those of you with lung nodules get scanned to see if there are any changes?

Cjs47

Hi everyone,

Glad to know I'm not alone in this journey. It took me months to get doc to do scans due to his "no routine scan" rule, but now I've gone to no scans to three in a month. Be careful what you wish for!! Hugs and good wishes to all

muska

With lung nodules it's not just about size, the appearance is of big significance too. In most cases, small lung nodules - by small they mean the ones that are under 5 mm - are monitored for a period of two years and no action is taken if they see no changes and no new nodules. Most often the radiologists recommend CT scans every three moths or "per clinical protocol."

Those small lung nodules might have different appearances that are reflective of different etymology, so there is no one-size-fit-all answer. You need to trust what the specialists tell you and discuss your questions if any. I for one was not very happy about the three month follow up CT recommendation and negotiated a less frequent protocol with my MO who didn't have many concerns about the nodules as she thought they were unlikely to be bc metastasis anyway.

Two years passed and I had no change in the nodules but they didn't let me off the hook: turns out my nodules look like tiny 'ground glass' opacities - I have multiple in both lungs - and such 'ground glass' looking nodules are often a precursor of lung cancer, so they will continue to monitor and will intervene if they start growing.

Artista928

Thanks muska. Praying for the best for you.

shoppygirl

I had a 6mm lung nodule that was found when I had my scans after dx three years ago. It was followed for 2.5 years with no change so now it is considered benign. I can honestly say they I almost drove myself to the brink of insanity worrying about it. What I did find out about having alung nodule is that they are very common.

Good luck to everyone that is in the watch and wait club for this!!

Cjs47

Thanks to all for your support and posts. Reading what people post does calm me down. Best wishes to everyone and I pray every night for all of us. Hugs to all🙏

thrifty1

I agree, reading others posts does calm you down more! Thank you everyone. Dr wants me to rescan in 2 months instead of 3 because I'm pretty much Triple Negative. Now just waiting for my cancer marker results and go from there. All clear there then this lady is ready to hit the gym and start eating better. Hoping it will help with depressed mood and feeling better and burn off some of this anxiety this cancer junk seems to give you!! 19 years ago today I lost my dad to cancer, he was only 57! :-(

Cjs47

thirfty1,

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. I think it makes it much worse to go thru this when you've lost someone close to you and have seen what they went thru. I agree with being ready to get back to my workout routine and feel like I'm in control of some part of my life instead of cancer dictating what I do i.e.: doctor appointments, scans, and treatments!!!!! Hugs

Cjs47

Good news!! My pet scan is clear. Recheck on nodule in a couple of months. Thanks for all the support

shoppygirl

I love good news! So happy for you!!

Cjs47

Thank you shoppygirl!! Now I can sleep for the first time in four weeks😴. Prayers to everyone who are in this wait and see group

shoppygirl

Thats exactly how I felt!!! 😘😘

shoppygirl

Thats exactly how I felt!!! 😘😘

Cjs47

Hi everyone,

On Jan. 21, I was told my pet scan didn't light up, but yesterday I actually got a copy of my pet scan and found out that I have two nodules, not one like my onc told me!! One is 1 cm the other is 1.4cm and are called ground glass opacity and malignancy can't be excluded. Rescan is recommended in a couple of months. I'm so angry at my onc for not being honest with me, and I could be facing the fact that I could have cancer in my lungs after I was told not to worry due to the fact it was probably scar tissue due to radiation. Has anyone else had this type of lung nodule?

Would appreciate any information. Thank you.

muska

Hi Cjs47, I have many such nodules that are 3-4mm in size. They have remained stable for the past 2.5 years. At my last appointment with my MO in October of last year, I was told they they would continue monitoring the lungs but not as frequently as before because of the ground glass appearance of these nodules. Neither my oncologist or my PCP whom I trust seem to be concerned about them. When I saw my PCP last week, he downplayed these concerns even further.

Cjs47

Thank you muska for your reply. I've just read that ground glass opacity could be a precursor to cancer in the lung and I'm scared. I guess I'll keep my fingers crossed that there no change when I go for my rescan.

Cjs47

I'm so mad I could scream!!! Just came from onc and told him I was upset that I was told my pet scan didn't light up when in fact not only was there another nodule that I wasn't aware of but it also showed uptake and an intermediate concern for malignancy. He then got nasty with me and said if I hadn't insisted on a scan to make sure I was clear after all my treatment was finished I wouldn't be worrying right now and this is why he doesn't do routine scans. He made me feel like it's my fault that these nodules are there and I'm causing him more work because he's "sure" it's not cancer but now he has to order another rescan to be sure. He said he doesn't want to hear I'm worried cause I asked for this!!! Other people who have had breast cancer get routine scans all the time, and I just want to be proactive and catch anything that reappears so that we can treat it at its early stage. Sorry for the long rant and thanks for listening

muska

Hi Cjs47, I understand your frustration but at the same time I understand your onc too. It's a good thing your onc is not concerned - they usually know what results are and what aren't worrisome. It's not good that (s)he made you feel bad - they should take more time to explain why they do things in a certain way.

Unfortunately, the reality of the situation is that catching things a little sooner or a little later doesn't appear to matter much for the eventual outcome. At least, it is not proven it improves the outcomes.

Cjs47

Thanks muska. I just know that it is better to catch something before it spreads to the lymph nodes or grows bigger. When you have cancer, even if you're doing fine at the moment, it's hard not to be concerned when you get one reading from the radiologist and then the onc reads it a different way. It's hard to know who to believe especially when the doctor says things like "you look too healthy to have anything wrong!" I don't look any different now then I did before and during treatment "except with hair". I'm just losing faith in my onc. I was also told he doesn't do any routine blood work for breast cancer patients when they are done with treatment. I guess it's hard to live without fear that the other shoe could drop at anytime, and I feel that I have no support from my doctor

Artista928

Good to hear shoppygirl. I have a 6mm nodule which appeared after sx and before chemo. So after chemo they'll be doing a CT in early March on it. If it's gone, it could or not be mets. If it's still there then good chance it isn't. That's the basic scoop I was given as the assumption is the chemo would affect it if it is cancer. Nerve wracking! So even when they say ok, they keep an eye on it for a couple years with scans?

ElaineTherese

Cjs,

Every onc is different. My MO is a scanner; yours is not. I don't see your diagnosis, but your MO might be less inclined to scan if your lump was small and there was no nodal involvement. I'm sure that I might get more scans than others because I was diagnosed at Stage IIIa, and my cancer was dividing rapidly (Grade 3 and HER2+). In any case, you may need to shop for a new onc if you no longer have confidence in him.