new and don't understand my results from PET Scan

gravelroad said:

waiting is the hard part

 Waiting is the hard part and the just not knowing. You should have the results very soon and that is so much better than all the ( what if's) So just stay positive until you know , this could just be a infection, So just enjoy your new grandbabies and if there is a need to worry later on then there is plenty of time for that when the time comes. My brother has throat cancer , for over 3 years now they have been keeping an eye on a nodule in his lung for 2 plus years now , 3 months ago the pet scan showed growth so they did a follow up scan 90 days later instead of the regular 6 mts scan. The thing was gone to everyone surprize, Go figure , my brother was so afraid that he almost did not go get the follow up scan but boy was he ever glad that he did go.So I guess what I am trying to say is , you just never know yes it can end up being bad but it does not always have to. There are so many treatments these days that people in the past never had , things are always changing when it comes to cancer treatment and with those changes comes hope. So hoping things go well for you and you get a thumbs-up in the next few days, sending you peace and positive thoughts your way!

For the most part I've been positive. What bothers me the most I guess is the questions from the kids. I can't answer what I don't know. A couple of them are mad because they don't understand why my doctor didn't run test on Christmas Eve (this was when I got the news). I'm on blood thinners and will be the rest of my life. My blood suddenly was too thick again and they had to thin it enough to be able to take me off them for 5 days. I have wonderful kids, but even though they have their families, I'm what they have. I'm 54, was thin, active and so forth, but 2 yrs ago , I was a smoker and suddenly didn't feel well and went to ER. Stayed 2 weeks in CCU. Had 100% blockage in my leg! several DVTs and bilateral pluminary embolisms. No signs, swelling or anything. I had 2 nodulars they found shortly afterwards. Check again in a year, the same. Only this year I am super tired and hubby said I acted like I wasn't getting enough oxygen, so I asked for X-ray, which led to CT, then a PET scan, and now biopsy. I quit smoking 2 years ago. Never smoked another when I got out of hospital last time. Maybe that's why I don't know how to handle this with the kids.

dennycee said:

The SUV is a measurement of

The SUV is a measurement of cellular activity and I can't find a reference that tells me if one of these is high.  The report itself says medium so may not indicate cancer.   This is one of those things that the dr will have to answer, I think.  Please know that it is not cancer until a biopsy says its cancer.  95% of nodules found in the lung do not turn out to be cancer.  They may decide to wait 3-6 months before doing another ct for comparison.  Usually they shrink or 'resolve' in their own.  Anything from allergies to a cold to exposure to fumes can cause them to be enlarged.  Call your regular dr and ask him to explain it. 

Youve gotten yourself off to a very good start by advocating for yourself and getting the process started.  

thanks dennycee.  sometimes its just easier to talk to someone who doesn't know me and i don't have to pretend that it doesn't bother me.  i go on Wed afternoon, they should have my biopsy in by then.