All Lung Nodule Experiences

[MassMike]

Hello,

I wanted to see how many people have had lung nodules found on scans before. My mother was diagnosed with stage 2/3 rectal cancer and her docs found some lung nodules but said they're not suspicious, but of course I still worry 24/7. For context, she was a smoker for 35 years before quitting 6 years ago and also had constant bronchitis and pnemnuia when she was younger. I'm going to leave my mothers reports below incase anyone has any insight. Thanks

FINDINGS:
3 x 7 mm nodule along the right minor fissure image 48 may represent an incidental intrapulmonary lymph node. 4 mm micro nodules right upper lobe image 30 and left apex image 12. additional scattered less than 4 mm micro nodules. No suspicious lung nodules or consolidative changes. Central airways are patent. No pleural effusions.

Included part of the thyroid gland is unremarkable. Subcentimeter mediastinal lymph nodes. No suspicious adenopathy in the chest. The heart size is normal. No pericardial effusion.

Stable appearance of the included upper abdomen. Again noted subcentimeter hypodensity in the right hepatic lobe along the gallbladder fossa, possible small cyst.

[juliej]

Hello,

I wanted to see how many people have had lung nodules found on scans before. My mother was diagnosed with stage 2/3 rectal cancer and her docs found some lung nodules but said they're not suspicious, but of course I still worry 24/7. For context, she was a smoker for 35 years before quitting 6 years ago and also had constant bronchitis and pnemnuia when she was younger. I'm going to leave my mothers reports below incase anyone has any insight. Thanks

FINDINGS:
3 x 7 mm nodule along the right minor fissure image 48 may represent an incidental intrapulmonary lymph node. 4 mm micro nodules right upper lobe image 30 and left apex image 12. additional scattered less than 4 mm micro nodules. No suspicious lung nodules or consolidative changes. Central airways are patent. No pleural effusions.

MassMike, this is the key phrase: "no suspicious lung nodules." Radiologists err on the side of caution and if they see something even remotely suspicious they will state it in their report. Some of this has to do with litigation fears - better to over-report than get sued for under-reporting.

Your mom's long history of smoking and lung issues means most likely she has more than the normal amount of nodules and scarring in her lungs. Don't give it a second thought unless the radiologist or oncologist says it looks like cancer.

I have had 3 lung nodules that were cancerous and one that turned out to be benign. All of them were reported as "suspicious for metastatic cancer" on the report.

Hope this sets your mind at ease!

Juliej

[susie0915]

I have a 4mm non specific lung nodule being watched that my oncologist believes is related to the scarring and inflammation in my lungs. The radiologist recommended follow up due to my cancer history, but labeled it non specific. There are characteristics that will make the radiologist suspect cancer otherwise fo!low up is recommended to see if nodules grow or change. So far mine has stayed the same will have another scan in January. It's good your mom's nodules are not suspicious.

[Mercy110]

My mum also got multiple lung nodules from previous scan. She has never smoke before. These nodules were first appear in Pet Scan and the report mentioned wait and see strategy. We never thought that she is actually in stage4 and assumed those are just some minor spots. Then it turns out those are Mets.
Maybe the wait and see strategy is what you can do now. It can be nothing for ur mum's case as the report mentioned nothing suspicious. Good luck.

[rockhound]

I have a 4mm non specific lung nodule being watched that my oncologist believes is related to the scarring and inflammation in my lungs. The radiologist recommended follow up due to my cancer history, but labeled it non specific. There are characteristics that will make the radiologist suspect cancer otherwise fo!low up is recommended to see if nodules grow or change. So far mine has stayed the same will have another scan in January. It's good your mom's nodules are not suspicious.

I've got one that is 3-4 mm - has stayed the same for three scans now (first scan last Jan and most recent about a month ago). It was not even noted on the first scan so when I read the radiology report for scan #2 and saw it (as I was going through active chemo-rad), I went a little crazy even though that report specified that they were present in scan #1 and had not changed in the interim. My oncologists (radiation onc, plus two others) were not that concerned, but I was still a bit worried- it was nice to see that it had not changed on my most recent scan. My radiation onc made the point that I could have inhaled dust as a 7-yr old and that could cause a nodule..

[pantufla]

My DH's recent scan says "focal opacity along the left lower lobe measuring 7 mm which can be related to localized atelectasis, although an underlying nodule is not excluded, and 2 along the right lower lobe measuring 2 to 3 mm which may be due to small foci of atelectasis or nodularity."

We are just following them at this point.

It sounds like your mom's are benign though because of the "no suspicious" comment.

[susie0915]

I have a 4mm non specific lung nodule being watched that my oncologist believes is related to the scarring and inflammation in my lungs. The radiologist recommended follow up due to my cancer history, but labeled it non specific. There are characteristics that will make the radiologist suspect cancer otherwise fo!low up is recommended to see if nodules grow or change. So far mine has stayed the same will have another scan in January. It's good your mom's nodules are not suspicious.

I've got one that is 3-4 mm - has stayed the same for three scans now (first scan last Jan and most recent about a month ago). It was not even noted on the first scan so when I read the radiology report for scan #2 and saw it (as I was going through active chemo-rad), I went a little crazy even though that report specified that they were present in scan #1 and had not changed in the interim. My oncologists (radiation onc, plus two others) were not that concerned, but I was still a bit worried- it was nice to see that it had not changed on my most recent scan. My radiation onc made the point that I could have inhaled dust as a 7-yr old and that could cause a nodule..

My oncologist and pulmonologist both don't believe it is a met, but the pulmonologist did throw out the possibility of a new lung cancer (ugh!). She did say that most cancers will grow quickly (can double in 3-4 months). I am currently being monitored for scarring and inflammation in the lungs, so both doctors think it's related to that. But, it is always in the back of my mind. Hopefully, both of ours will stay the same or shrink. I know most nodules are benign and ct scans pick up so much, but once you have cancer, it makes you a little concerned.

[Aqx99]

I have 2 lung nodules that have been noted on my scans. They were unchanged from my scan at diagnosis to my scan after chemoradiation. It was noted that they are most likely scar tissue from an old infection. I will be going next week for my post chemotherapy scan, so I'll get to see if anything has changed since.

[CAGirl]

I love this post.
I am 2 1/2 months post-chemo. Had a CT scan at the halfway mark (in June) and one last week (five months from the last). Doc said the 7mm nodule has grown since the last scan. He couldn't notice but radiologist did. Said it's now 8 or 9mm. Still too small to biopsy, but my next CT scan has been pushed up to 4 months (instead of 1 year.)
I can't find my notes right now, but I think I had one 6mm and one 7mm lung nodule on my very first scan -- in Feb. And one on my liver. All remained unchanged in June.
I got freaked and read through old and new threads here re: lung nodules. Looking for evidence of benign nodules that showed growth. Someone (Julie, maybe?) mentioned she had one that grew and turned out to be fine. Also, I got some reassurance from the fact it hasn't doubled in size.
Still, in the end, I know it's either metastasis or not, and I will try to enjoy each day from now until my scan in March as if it's NOT. I also feel like at least my onc is going to monitor it sooner rather than later.
Thanks again to all of you for keeping this forum active.

[susie0915]

I love this post.
I am 2 1/2 months post-chemo. Had a CT scan at the halfway mark (in June) and one last week (five months from the last). Doc said the 7mm nodule has grown since the last scan. He couldn't notice but radiologist did. Said it's now 8 or 9mm. Still too small to biopsy, but my next CT scan has been pushed up to 4 months (instead of 1 year.)
I can't find my notes right now, but I think I had one 6mm and one 7mm lung nodule on my very first scan -- in Feb. And one on my liver. All remained unchanged in June.
I got freaked and read through old and new threads here re: lung nodules. Looking for evidence of benign nodules that showed growth. Someone (Julie, maybe?) mentioned she had one that grew and turned out to be fine. Also, I got some reassurance from the fact it hasn't doubled in size.
Still, in the end, I know it's either metastasis or not, and I will try to enjoy each day from now until my scan in March as if it's NOT. I also feel like at least my onc is going to monitor it sooner rather than later.
Thanks again to all of you for keeping this forum active.

I know it's worrisome. Mine showed up on my scan 1 year after finishing treatment. The radiologist reported it as 4mm that may have grown from a year ago but not sure, so recommended follow up. The nodule was never mentioned in the previous scan. So I had a repeat 3 months later with no change and will have another in January 6 months from the last. I was referred to a pulmonologist because my scan right after finishing chem showed scarring and inflammation in the lungs. Could be caused by the chemo or from an auto immune disorder that I am now being monitored for. Both oncologist and pulmonologist think it's related to the scarring and inflammation, but will continue to watch for growth. Although my pulmonologist did mention it could be a new lung cancer which is a scary thought. She says it would have to at least double in size before it could be biopsied or a pet scan would even pick it up. So I do try to not think about it but I'm sure the anxiety will begin as I get closer to my next scan. If these nodules do end up being something, the positive is that it will be caught quite early I guess. Good luck hopefully everyone will keep us updated on their follow ups.

[Atoq]

I also have one 8 mm node in my lung that is suspect, I am going to do a CT scan in two weeks to see if Xeloda cleaned it or if it is the same (then they mean is not cancer related).

I hope it is still there and same size

Claudia

[susie0915]

I also have one 8 mm node in my lung that is suspect, I am going to do a CT scan in two weeks to see if Xeloda cleaned it or if it is the same (then they mean is not cancer related).

I hope it is still there and same size

Claudia

It could also shrink or be gone. At a minimum let's pray for no change. Positive thoughts.

[pantufla]

There was no mention of DH's on his first scan at diagnosis either.

[MassMike]

Anyone have any updates on their lung nodules?

[susie0915]

Anyone have any updates on their lung nodules?

I had a scan on Wed and there has been no change in lung nodule(4mm) or scarring/inflammation. My pulmonologist recommended checking in a year, but I'm sure my oncologist will include the chest in my regular scan in June.