what are r the chances?

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 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

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.  

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?

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 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.

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.

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 ?