Ground Glass Nodular Opacities

Michelle911

February I had pneumonia bad! Spent 4 days in the hospital found out I had bacterial pneumonia.  Also with the CT found out that I have a 1cm groundglass nodular opacity within the apex of the right upper lobe.  There are also smaller scatter groundlgass nodular opacities within the lungs. There is no airspace consolidation. There are a few mildly enlargedmediastinal lymph nodes.  SO.........Its now what June 23rd and I have been the pulmonologist one time and he has ran all of my blood work to rule out any infection and TB, etc.  All tests NEG.  Normal range except that my lymphocytes high.  And have been since May last year.  I cant focus on anything.  This is all I think about.  And my Dr. Just says well we will see you in August.  What??  I want something done now!!!  I have Traumatic Brain Injury and Fibromyalgia already.  This isn't going to be an easy fight.  Does this sound familiar to anyone else?  My case?  My dr?

jorola

Sorry you stressing but first a couple of things....

Have you have a biopsy? This is the ONLY way to confirm cancer. Ground glass nodular opacities are areas where it was not clear or dark on you scan. Usually a denser area.  This can be caused by numerous things - infection, vascular, yes nodules that can be either non-cancerous or cancerous.  With having pneumonia that makes the CT findings make sense. I understand that your blood tests came out clear but how long after your CT scan where they done? Your doctor probbably wants to do a repeat scan in August. If they have not grown then it is not cancer. If they are cancerous they would be growing. Regardless this is obviously very upsetting to you. I am assuming you live in the US. Why not seek a second opinion? I live in Canada. Going for second opinions is not as easy as you guys have it. That way you can get the answers you seek. I strongly suggest you write down all your questions in a scribbler  with space in between to write the dr's response in. This way you don't forget to ask any of your questions and then you have something to refer to when you want to afterwards should you need too. Also take someone with you if you can. 2 sets of ears are always better than one.

I truly hope for your sake the CT findings are just the result of your oneumoina and nothing mmore. No one should have to travel down the cancer path - speaking from experience.

Best of luck to you.

Michelle911

jorola said:

Sorry you stressing but first a couple of things....

Have you have a biopsy? This is the ONLY way to confirm cancer. Ground glass nodular opacities are areas where it was not clear or dark on you scan. Usually a denser area.  This can be caused by numerous things - infection, vascular, yes nodules that can be either non-cancerous or cancerous.  With having pneumonia that makes the CT findings make sense. I understand that your blood tests came out clear but how long after your CT scan where they done? Your doctor probbably wants to do a repeat scan in August. If they have not grown then it is not cancer. If they are cancerous they would be growing. Regardless this is obviously very upsetting to you. I am assuming you live in the US. Why not seek a second opinion? I live in Canada. Going for second opinions is not as easy as you guys have it. That way you can get the answers you seek. I strongly suggest you write down all your questions in a scribbler  with space in between to write the dr's response in. This way you don't forget to ask any of your questions and then you have something to refer to when you want to afterwards should you need too. Also take someone with you if you can. 2 sets of ears are always better than one.

I truly hope for your sake the CT findings are just the result of your oneumoina and nothing mmore. No one should have to travel down the cancer path - speaking from experience.

Best of luck to you.

Two years of nodules

Im sorry I was so stressed out I left out the fact that I had  regular nodules 2 years ago that were found just in my left lung.  Its two years later and now I have GGN in both lungs one is 1cm at last measurement.  I had a breathing test last week and after the blood work I recently had showing no inflammation and no auto immune my Dr. is now concerned. He wants a CT asap.  Yeah.  I feel terrible.  I hope it isnt cancer also but I have a bad feeling this time.  The Dr. said he is takin g this as a 2 year nodule change and growth, and slow growing.  I keep coming up with adeanocarcenoma.  I don't know if that's right. 

jorola

Beware of Dr. Google

No matter what you type in for symptoms he will diagnose you will some form of cancer. IF that is where you are getting some of your answers from. The best and only real thing you can do is do the ct scan but even then as I stated before a biopsy is the only way cancer is confirmed. Your doctor will probably see what the scan says and go from there. Again not pulling this info out of my butt - been there done that and had a very good treatment team that strongly believed in educating as well as treating so I learned a lot. In the meantime it is your anxiety you have to deal with. Anxeity will actually pyschologically make your symptoms worse, especialy pain. So talk to your dr about that too. Waiting for a diagnosis as scary as cancer is down right freaky. The other thing I suggest is to keep busy - very busy - doing the things you love  not because of the pending diagnois but because it helps keep your mind off of things and hey you should be living life doing the things you love anyway.

I truly hope the best for you