3mm Nodule in Lung - How worried should I be?

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BlueCowgirl
BlueCowgirl Member Posts: 667
edited June 2014 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis

Just like the title says, PET scan revealed a 3mm nodule at the base of my right lung. I am supposed to have a followup CAT scan (3 months after PET, which puts it at about a month from now) to see if it has grown. From my internet research (and you all know how terrifying that can be) 60% of lung nodules are benign...but add factors like BC and smoking and the stats change...

So, I guess what I am asking in a roundabout way - who has gone through this? Is this how lung mets generally present? Happy stories of lung nodules turning out to be nothing? I know worrying about it won't do any good, but I am terrified. 

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  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited November 2011

    Hello BlueCowGirl!  Not sure what side your cancer was on but a nodule could be caused by radiation, especially in the location on the lung where it is.  I have also read somewhere, that breast cancer mets to the lung don't usually show up as one sole nodule.  There are usually more than one.  Many people have lung nodules.  This nodule is also very small, it may have always been there. Is this your first PET?  Did you have any other scans after radiation (I am assuming you had rads due to the nodes and size of tumor)....I understand why you would be terrified.  But I'm sure you will hear stories soon of other women who have had this and it turned out to be nothing....I hope the next month goes by without too much stress for you.  I understand why you are searching on the Internet as I would do the same thing...but it is a scary place and will not give you the comfort you need right now.  I hope you hear from others who have had a similar experience and ended up with happy results soon....

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  • BlueCowgirl
    BlueCowgirl Member Posts: 667
    edited November 2011

    Thanks Kathleen, that really helps! Yes, it was my first PET - 3mm would have been too small to show up on any other stuff apparently. And yes I have had radiation, though PET was actually done at ROs request before starting rads, so not caused by that. And it's on my right lung, whereas my BC is on the left. Thank you, thank you. I don't want to be in panic mode for the next month and every piece of reassuring info helps!

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited November 2011

    Hi BlueCowgirl, 

    I am so sorry you are going through this. I know how scary it is.  I have a similar problem. I have a 3cmx6cm lesion on my lung with spiculated edges.  The PET/CT showed a SUV of 3.7. I have follow up scans every 3 months to see if there are any changes. My first set showed no growth, which is a good thing and what they hope for. My next scan is in January.

    My doctor did say he could do a biopsy, but given risks didn't push it, so I took that as a good sign.

    I came here too when they found this on me and seemed to find most people have the same thing, CT scans, watch and wait.  Hopefully both of us have fibrosis from radiation and not anything more worrisome.

    Do you know what the uptake was on your PET?  Its called an SUV and that can tell good information. If you haven't yet, I'd see a pulmonary doctor who specializes in lung disease too just for a second opinion. Did they offer to biopsy?

    This is a mind wrenching process and its hard to not think the worse situation. Good luck with your next scans, and please think about seeing a pulmonologist if you haven't yet.

    Bevin

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  • BlueCowgirl
    BlueCowgirl Member Posts: 667
    edited November 2011

    I am feeling really guilty about being a smoker for 20 years...Yes, I have quit, but boy do I crave one right now! LOL...How ironic that upom hearing of a possible lung cancer metastasis, the first thing I thought was, oh God I need a cigarette!

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  • BlueCowgirl
    BlueCowgirl Member Posts: 667
    edited November 2011

    Bevin, I missed your post from last week, as we both seem to have posted at the same time. I have no idea about the SUV...Will ask about it for sure. Thanks for the info. 

    And no plans to biopsy until after the CT scan, if at all...It is way down at the bottom of my lung and apparently a difficult spot to biopsy unless absolutely necessary. 

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  • pj12
    pj12 Member Posts: 25,402
    edited November 2011

    I am sorry you are having to cope with the anxiety of not knowing but it seems to be a common state for many of us.,



    In my preminary work up two and a half years ago a small spot showed up in my right lung. BC was on the left side. I have had three CT scans and one pet scan, all inconclusive. My pulmunologist interprets the report from the radiologists who use vague words like shadow or fuzzy or artifact in their written reports. The hospital where I have the scans done does not have any protocol for a patient speaking directly to the doctor who interprets the scan. I am to the point that I have suggested ignoring the asymptomatic spot but then the pulmunologist and the oncologist both get that worried, brow furrowing look on their faces and I am scared into another scan in six months.



    I guess I should be glad that I am being watched closely but I would rather stick my head in the sand . I am actually kind of getting used to the uncertainty and can kind of out it out of my mind until appointment time looms again. I hope you too come to think of the scanning and worrying as an annoying exercise in futility and nothing significant comes from it. That's my slant and I am sticking to it.



    Sending good vibes!

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited November 2011

    Hi Bluecowgirl,

    Good luck and yes definately ask about the SUV its important in the differential diagonsis.  Also if you think about it, ask for a copy of the radiologist report and a CD of the scan.  That way you can always get a second opinion from another pulmonary guy too.

    Hope everything is good.

    Bevin 

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  • sweetbean
    sweetbean Member Posts: 1,931
    edited November 2011

    When I was diagnosed, I had a 4mm nodule on  one of my lungs - don't even know which one.  None of  my doctors were concerned and nobody has attempted to follow it.  I'm insisting on scans because I am nearing the one year anniversary of my diagnosis.  However, they were pretty certain that it wasn't cancer.  It does make me nervous, though.  At the same time, I imagine that they would be pretty proactive if it looked like cancer..

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  • Deep81
    Deep81 Member Posts: 51
    edited November 2011

    I was diagnosed with breast mets to the lung in Sept 2011. My symptoms were extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, a chesty cough and a heavy chest -especially when i bent down. My Oncologist sent me for a chest xray and a CT scan and there were a few nodules in my right lung as well as pleural fluid. He took a litre of the fluid from my lung which confirmed the cancer. Im now on chemo as im responding as the fluid has decreased. I thought the nodules may have appeared from my previous Radiation sessions but apparantly radiation nodules appear differently than cancer nodules.

    Goodluck with your results, i sincerely hope its not lung mets x

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  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 738
    edited November 2011

    A serious quandary ...  If you continue radiating your lungs every few months with these scans to make sure what is there doesn't grow and isn't cancer ... will you "cause" cancer from the radiation?  What other parts of the chest are also receiving radiation?  What are possible long term effects of that?

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  • BlueCowgirl
    BlueCowgirl Member Posts: 667
    edited November 2011

    Good question Luna, and one that I wish I knew the answer to...That is why I am going back to Boston to get a second opinion from my original MO before any more testing - I think having a doctor you trust 100% is the only way to feel comfortable with the benefits vs risks. IMO there is too much conflicting info out there for me to make my own educated decisions.

    Deep, sorry you are going through this and thank you for the information. I am not having any symptoms like you are describing.

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  • Deep81
    Deep81 Member Posts: 51
    edited November 2011

    you  might just have a chest infection/pneoumonia. My friend has had nodules in her lungs for years and just treats them with anti-biotics as her pneumonia keeps returning. The internet is horrific for information so i would say see your doc and let him/her confirm what it could be. :-)

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