My Friend 50 yrs just told nudules and cyst on lungs---Info please

nempark

She is a smoker. xray shows nudules and a cyst.  Can this be cancer?  Please give me some info.

dennycee

There are many more tests to

There are many more tests to be done before it is determined to be cancer or not. There needs to be a CT, PET and bone scan.  Once done they can do a biopsy.  Only a biopsy can confirm that it is cancer.  Some 90% of lung nodules resolve themselves.  They can be caused by inflammation due to exposure to fumes from household and commercial cleaning agents, allergies, air pollution, radon, colds and other sources.  Most cysts are not cancerous. 

18% of smokers develop lung cancer, your friend should quit but as a decades long smoker I know how hard that can be.   Even quitting is no guarantee you can't develop lung cancer. 20% of those diagnosed this year quit smoking 30-40 years ago.  Another 20% never smoked and grew up in nonsmoking households.  

nempark

dennycee said:

There are many more tests to

There are many more tests to be done before it is determined to be cancer or not. There needs to be a CT, PET and bone scan.  Once done they can do a biopsy.  Only a biopsy can confirm that it is cancer.  Some 90% of lung nodules resolve themselves.  They can be caused by inflammation due to exposure to fumes from household and commercial cleaning agents, allergies, air pollution, radon, colds and other sources.  Most cysts are not cancerous. 

18% of smokers develop lung cancer, your friend should quit but as a decades long smoker I know how hard that can be.   Even quitting is no guarantee you can't develop lung cancer. 20% of those diagnosed this year quit smoking 30-40 years ago.  Another 20% never smoked and grew up in nonsmoking households.  

tHANK YOU !!!

your info is very informative and at the same time encouragng.  Thank you again.