what are r the chances?

gravelroad
gravelroad Member Posts: 50
edited November 2013 in Lung Cancer #1

What are the chances, that my lung nodule is just a benigh growth? Having vats on the 10th for a 8.7 single nodule. This was found on a ct scan back in Sept when I was doing a random scan on my heart . have had a pet/ct scan sense nothing showed up . so I could either wait or watch or simply get it out . I chose the latter thinking that would be the best chance if i were cancer. I am just worried , but was wondering if anyone has had a false neg on a pet/ct scan? Either way I am having the surgery so they can get this thing under a scope to really see what it is. I have read too many needle biospy stories where they were told it was benigh only to find out later that they now had a positive mass in thier lung. So now I am wondering if anyone has had the same experience with the results on a pet/ct scan? Any info would be much appreciated , thanks in advance

Comments

  • Ladylacy
    Ladylacy Member Posts: 773 Member
    False test results

    I can remember about 15 years ago when the doctors told my husband that he had inoperable lung cancer and this was after a chest x-ray followed by a CT scan.  They had him dead and buried.  Needless to say we were scared to death.  A lung specialist decided to do a bronoscope and came out and told me that he found a serious lung infection not cancer.  

    Fast forward.  After undergoing radiation, chemo and then surgery for laryngeal cancer, a year later they found a second primary at the cervical of his esophagus.  Surgery ruled out, more radiation and chemo.  Follow up PET/CT 3 1/2 months later showed NED.  Then 4 months later after another PET/CT scan we were told the cancer had returned at the cervical of his esophagus and that there were small nodules in his right lung that showed growth.  A needle biopsy was done since that was the only way to reach the nodules.  Well after several tries they were able to get cells to biopsy, which turned out to be cancer.  Our H&N specialist pushed for the needle biopsy.  We were then told that only thing offerred was chemo and that it would only prolong not cure but could hasten.  My husband elected no further treatment and we are 9 months out from that diagnosis.  He is doing okay but I see the changes but it is what he wants.  All of his doctors were in agreement with his choice.  

    Guess long story -- 15 years ago his CT scan and chest x-ray were wrong.  Sure wish it was that way today but it isn't.

    Wishing you the best -- Sharon

  • gravelroad
    gravelroad Member Posts: 50
    Ladylacy said:

    False test results

    I can remember about 15 years ago when the doctors told my husband that he had inoperable lung cancer and this was after a chest x-ray followed by a CT scan.  They had him dead and buried.  Needless to say we were scared to death.  A lung specialist decided to do a bronoscope and came out and told me that he found a serious lung infection not cancer.  

    Fast forward.  After undergoing radiation, chemo and then surgery for laryngeal cancer, a year later they found a second primary at the cervical of his esophagus.  Surgery ruled out, more radiation and chemo.  Follow up PET/CT 3 1/2 months later showed NED.  Then 4 months later after another PET/CT scan we were told the cancer had returned at the cervical of his esophagus and that there were small nodules in his right lung that showed growth.  A needle biopsy was done since that was the only way to reach the nodules.  Well after several tries they were able to get cells to biopsy, which turned out to be cancer.  Our H&N specialist pushed for the needle biopsy.  We were then told that only thing offerred was chemo and that it would only prolong not cure but could hasten.  My husband elected no further treatment and we are 9 months out from that diagnosis.  He is doing okay but I see the changes but it is what he wants.  All of his doctors were in agreement with his choice.  

    Guess long story -- 15 years ago his CT scan and chest x-ray were wrong.  Sure wish it was that way today but it isn't.

    Wishing you the best -- Sharon

    That's why

    That's why I am doing the Vat's on this single small nodule even thou it was neg on the pet scan , I know some people would choose to wait an see before they had a surgery , I just want to do what is best long-term and from every thing I have researched if you get it all at the start and it is small that is the best out-come. and get it under a scope, I have others tell me It seems like an over-kill when it might just be nothing but I feel until I know for sure , I need treat it like it were cancer. It is in a place where biospy by needle in not an option so next best thing is remove it. I just do not want a short lived peace of mind only to find out later that I am dealing with something that has spread.I must say the neg report did feel like a sigh of relief but the more I looked into others that were told that and then later it was cancer well it help make this a easier process. I am assuming your husband 's was infact cancer all along perhaps a slow growing kind? So how long all together has it been sense you were first told until you really knew for sure it was cancer? Was the later cancer a mas from the first? Lot's of questions I know just want to learn all I can. Thanks

  • gravelroad
    gravelroad Member Posts: 50
    Ladylacy said:

    False test results

    I can remember about 15 years ago when the doctors told my husband that he had inoperable lung cancer and this was after a chest x-ray followed by a CT scan.  They had him dead and buried.  Needless to say we were scared to death.  A lung specialist decided to do a bronoscope and came out and told me that he found a serious lung infection not cancer.  

    Fast forward.  After undergoing radiation, chemo and then surgery for laryngeal cancer, a year later they found a second primary at the cervical of his esophagus.  Surgery ruled out, more radiation and chemo.  Follow up PET/CT 3 1/2 months later showed NED.  Then 4 months later after another PET/CT scan we were told the cancer had returned at the cervical of his esophagus and that there were small nodules in his right lung that showed growth.  A needle biopsy was done since that was the only way to reach the nodules.  Well after several tries they were able to get cells to biopsy, which turned out to be cancer.  Our H&N specialist pushed for the needle biopsy.  We were then told that only thing offerred was chemo and that it would only prolong not cure but could hasten.  My husband elected no further treatment and we are 9 months out from that diagnosis.  He is doing okay but I see the changes but it is what he wants.  All of his doctors were in agreement with his choice.  

    Guess long story -- 15 years ago his CT scan and chest x-ray were wrong.  Sure wish it was that way today but it isn't.

    Wishing you the best -- Sharon

    OOP'S

    OOP'S just reread you post sounds like the lung cancer was a infection to start with, and the other caner surfaced a number of years later. Any way sorry I got it wrong am just really nervious just donot want to take any chances

  • dennycee
    dennycee Member Posts: 857 Member
    Most of the time nodules turn

    Most of the time nodules turn out to be benign.  It can be enlarged due to an infection, exposure to an irritant such as an allergy or airborne particulates.  The VATS is the best choice, but I am wondering if there is more to this.  Usually they monitor it by rescanning in 2-3 months.  If there is growth then they would operate.  

    While the VATS is minimally invasive it is still surgery.  I am very interested in hearing the outcome of your biopsy.  

  • ksw_1969
    ksw_1969 Member Posts: 8 Member
    It could be nothing serious

    I had a 7mm lung nodule along with enlargement of mediastinal lymph nodes. I had a VATS surgery in Feb 2012. The surgeon told me afterwards that he could not positively identify any nodule during surgery, hence, took out the general area where it was meant to be. When biopsied, it was found to be an anthracotic nodule (carbon deposits). The nodule was found incidentally during a routine x-ray. A CT scan confirmed it. It did not show up on the PET scan.

    Chances are that it is nothing but you are on the right track getting it biopsied. Good luck.

  • gravelroad
    gravelroad Member Posts: 50
    dennycee said:

    Most of the time nodules turn

    Most of the time nodules turn out to be benign.  It can be enlarged due to an infection, exposure to an irritant such as an allergy or airborne particulates.  The VATS is the best choice, but I am wondering if there is more to this.  Usually they monitor it by rescanning in 2-3 months.  If there is growth then they would operate.  

    While the VATS is minimally invasive it is still surgery.  I am very interested in hearing the outcome of your biopsy.  

    I asked

    Same here . i ASK THE DR WHAT MY OPTIONS WERE, HE SAID WE COULD WATCH AND RESCAN .i ALSO ASK IF WE COULD JUST TAKE IT OUT AND HE SAID YES. THIS WAS A THING THAT SHOWED UP ON A CT SCAN I HAD AT RANDOM AT ANOUGHTER HOSPITAL  JUST WANTED TO SEE HOW MY ARTERIES WERE IT WAS ONE OF THOSE SPECIAL THINGS HOSPITAL DO FROM TIME TO TIME , SO FOR $50 BUCKS I SAID WHY NOT, ARTERIES WERE CLEAR BUT THIS LITTLE THING SHOW UP, THEY CONTACTED MY DR SAID I NEEDED A FULL CHEST CT, SO HAD THAT, STILL ONLY SHOWED THE ONE 8.7 MM NODULE AND THE DR SET ME UP WITH A SPEC WHO SAID WE CAN RESCAN JUST LIKE YOU SAID .SO I ASK HIM IF HE COULD REMOVE IT . HE SAID YES BUT HE WANTED A PET/CT SCAN JUST IN CASE IT CAME FROM A DIFFERENT PART OF THE BODY. SO HAD THAT TEST AND IT WAS NEG . AND NOW I AM SET FOR SURGERY ON DEC 10TH, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE MARKING THIS NODULE WITH A COIL IN RAD DEPARTMENT AND THEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IT ONCE THEY GET IN SIDE. I WOULD OF HAD A NEEDLE BIOSPY BUT IT IS TO CLOSE TO A ARTERY , SO WITH THAT BEING THE CASE I WENT FOR THE SURGERY. STILL WONDERING HOW THEY PLAN ON MARKING IT WITH A COIL AND IT BEING BY THE ARTERY . QUESTIONS TO ASK MY DR. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THIS PROCESS?

  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597
    ksw_1969 said:

    It could be nothing serious

    I had a 7mm lung nodule along with enlargement of mediastinal lymph nodes. I had a VATS surgery in Feb 2012. The surgeon told me afterwards that he could not positively identify any nodule during surgery, hence, took out the general area where it was meant to be. When biopsied, it was found to be an anthracotic nodule (carbon deposits). The nodule was found incidentally during a routine x-ray. A CT scan confirmed it. It did not show up on the PET scan.

    Chances are that it is nothing but you are on the right track getting it biopsied. Good luck.

    Nodule

    Seems like you and I have been on the same road. In May of 2012 I was having my heart scanned, nuclear test. Arteries showed up fine but was told I had a 4 millimeter node in my lung and to get it checked again in 6 months. The day after I left the hospital I got thre CD and took it to my oncologist in Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, I had larynx cancer in 2009. He said wait 3 months and recheck. We did and found that it had indeed grown a little. He said we could wait 3 months and scan again or get it out, I opted to get it out. Had VATS surgery and it turned out be adenocarcinoma, fortunately real early and not connected to the larynx. Dennycee gives good advice and is very knowledgeable. You are doing the right thing, had a checkup in September and all was well, another scan in March. Denis

  • dennycee
    dennycee Member Posts: 857 Member

    I asked

    Same here . i ASK THE DR WHAT MY OPTIONS WERE, HE SAID WE COULD WATCH AND RESCAN .i ALSO ASK IF WE COULD JUST TAKE IT OUT AND HE SAID YES. THIS WAS A THING THAT SHOWED UP ON A CT SCAN I HAD AT RANDOM AT ANOUGHTER HOSPITAL  JUST WANTED TO SEE HOW MY ARTERIES WERE IT WAS ONE OF THOSE SPECIAL THINGS HOSPITAL DO FROM TIME TO TIME , SO FOR $50 BUCKS I SAID WHY NOT, ARTERIES WERE CLEAR BUT THIS LITTLE THING SHOW UP, THEY CONTACTED MY DR SAID I NEEDED A FULL CHEST CT, SO HAD THAT, STILL ONLY SHOWED THE ONE 8.7 MM NODULE AND THE DR SET ME UP WITH A SPEC WHO SAID WE CAN RESCAN JUST LIKE YOU SAID .SO I ASK HIM IF HE COULD REMOVE IT . HE SAID YES BUT HE WANTED A PET/CT SCAN JUST IN CASE IT CAME FROM A DIFFERENT PART OF THE BODY. SO HAD THAT TEST AND IT WAS NEG . AND NOW I AM SET FOR SURGERY ON DEC 10TH, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE MARKING THIS NODULE WITH A COIL IN RAD DEPARTMENT AND THEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IT ONCE THEY GET IN SIDE. I WOULD OF HAD A NEEDLE BIOSPY BUT IT IS TO CLOSE TO A ARTERY , SO WITH THAT BEING THE CASE I WENT FOR THE SURGERY. STILL WONDERING HOW THEY PLAN ON MARKING IT WITH A COIL AND IT BEING BY THE ARTERY . QUESTIONS TO ASK MY DR. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THIS PROCESS?

    Perhaps someone here at the

    Perhaps someone here at the ACS site can help answer.  Their number is:    800.227.2345

    There is another site that I have found helpful called the Lung Cancer Alliance, their number is 800-298-2436.  They have someone answering 24-7.  

    Please let us know how the procedure goes.  I would be very interested in learning more about the procedure.  Will it be ultrasound or CT guided?   

  • dennycee
    dennycee Member Posts: 857 Member
    Found specific info in this article by Jack West, MD. Oncologist

    The percentage of nodules that turn out benign is 95%.  

    http://expertblog.lungevity.org/2013/09/06/i-just-want-it-out-a-red-flag-concern-about-lung-cancer-staging/

  • gravelroad
    gravelroad Member Posts: 50
    dennycee said:

    Found specific info in this article by Jack West, MD. Oncologist

    The percentage of nodules that turn out benign is 95%.  

    http://expertblog.lungevity.org/2013/09/06/i-just-want-it-out-a-red-flag-concern-about-lung-cancer-staging/

    thanks

    Thanks for the info it was interesting. Maybe if I could get a biospy I would not be as worried as I am .  But seeing that is not the case I am doing what  I feel will give me answers. Anyway I remember taking care of my mom ( she passed with lung cancer in 1981) I was 25 at the time with two small children at the time and smoked as well , go figure . Anyway it took me  couple of years after that to quit, and I did . So Almost 30 years now. I donot let anyone smoke in my home or car, from way back then. None of my children smoke either. But I have done office cleaning and cleaned a factory for many years so am worried about that and if it plays a part in all this . So I guess I want a yes or no answer. So I am sure others would choose different  but in the end we all choose based on life experences . So thanks for the info it was very interesting. I will keep you updated.

  • dennycee
    dennycee Member Posts: 857 Member

    thanks

    Thanks for the info it was interesting. Maybe if I could get a biospy I would not be as worried as I am .  But seeing that is not the case I am doing what  I feel will give me answers. Anyway I remember taking care of my mom ( she passed with lung cancer in 1981) I was 25 at the time with two small children at the time and smoked as well , go figure . Anyway it took me  couple of years after that to quit, and I did . So Almost 30 years now. I donot let anyone smoke in my home or car, from way back then. None of my children smoke either. But I have done office cleaning and cleaned a factory for many years so am worried about that and if it plays a part in all this . So I guess I want a yes or no answer. So I am sure others would choose different  but in the end we all choose based on life experences . So thanks for the info it was very interesting. I will keep you updated.

    It is good that you are

    It is good that you are insisting on the biopsy then to relieve that stress.  Please stop beating yourself up from smoking because smoker or not, no one deserves cancer.  the tobacco may not be the cause of this, there is no way to know.  There is a strong possibility that your cancer may be EGFR+ or ALK+, because of the number of years since you quit and your age.  Insist that they test for those mutations.  

  • gravelroad
    gravelroad Member Posts: 50
    ksw_1969 said:

    It could be nothing serious

    I had a 7mm lung nodule along with enlargement of mediastinal lymph nodes. I had a VATS surgery in Feb 2012. The surgeon told me afterwards that he could not positively identify any nodule during surgery, hence, took out the general area where it was meant to be. When biopsied, it was found to be an anthracotic nodule (carbon deposits). The nodule was found incidentally during a routine x-ray. A CT scan confirmed it. It did not show up on the PET scan.

    Chances are that it is nothing but you are on the right track getting it biopsied. Good luck.

    Question

    I have a question , sense your lung nodule tuned out to be benigh did you need any follow up care or were you done with scans and everything ?