how worried should i be?

Hope4Marge said:

So Sorry
I know how scary that is. My mom had that happen to her. They gave her a biopsy almost immediatley after finding shadows on her right lung. Did they suggest a biopsy for you at all? I'm not sure waiting for another scan in 6 months is the greatest idea. Stay positive and ask more questions and perhaps get another opinion. Please keep us all posted. This is a great place to get support.

granny maggie said:

get a biopsy SAP
Just to put your mind at ease you should definitely get a biopsy because in 6 months you'll be a wreck. I think 6 mm and 6.5 calls for action myself . Go to see a lung dr. and get his opinion I think they will give you the help you need. Take a copy of the ct scan with you. Wishing you all of best and we'll all be here for you it's a great bunch of people to get advise from.Keep in touch. Your in our prayers.

cabbott said:

Waiting or surgery
When I was scanned and found to have 1 nodule on my mid-right lung, they had me wait 3 months and then did a followup CAT scan. It seemed to have grown and so I had a biopsy which turned out to be lung cancer. Some nodules aren't lung cncer. Some are. Some things that aren't lung ancer can also kill. Some don't. The problem with biopsies is that they cause side effects, sometimes serious ones. So doctors like to make sure it is necessary if they have to go in. My sister the doctor(it is sooo cool to be able to have a doc in the family!) said that 3 months is a normal wait time and that I could work on getting or staying very healthy while I waited.

If you don't want to wait, please take the time to check into getting a top notch thoracic surgeon. That alone may take a month, but don't panic about that. It will still be shorter than the 6 months. Ask about getting a VATS procedure if the biopsy requires an incision. VATS means video assisted thoracic surgery and only some surgeons can do it. It is like laproscopic surgery. The tissue removal capability is the same as general surgery, but the recovery time is markedly different. Some folks can't qualify for a VATS procedure, but believe me it is worth the drive to get one. Some folks can skip any major surgery at the biopsy stage. If the nodule is too far down and too far in(mine was), then the doctor has to operate to get it it. The surgeon can tell you what is best for you, but be prepared to ask about VATS procedures if your nodules are small and located in a hard to reach spot.

Another question I would ask my doctors would be about getting a PET/CAT scan to see if any other areas are showing possible problems. Most doctors will want this before considering thoracic surgery anyhow. You will also have to have tests to determine your breathing functioning. You want to have the best possible lung functioning you can, so if you happen to smoke...well, you know how that sentence finishes. Smoking interferes with healing in any kind of surgery, even if it didn't contribute to lung disease.

Finally, try hard to relax some. Whatever it is, it is. Some nodules are harmless. Some aren't. You are lucky to know you might have a problem and you are doing all that can be done by following up on whatever is there. It isn't lung cancer until the doctor sees it under the microscope. Good luck!

Sprocket said:

thanks again
I can't tell everyone how much I appreciate all the information and responses. I feel so much more confident about my appointment on monday. Always a good thing not to walk blindly into a tough situation. Thanks again to all of you, will keep you updated

NayPaul said:

still much better
Much better than waiting several months, the differnce of a few days is only (but still significant) an emotional one. Good luck, and glad u r getting a second opinion.