Help! scan has possible lung spots

Hi there,
I am a Stage IV survivor and I had 2 spots appear on my lung back in February of 04 about 8 months after finishing my chemo. The spots, like your husbands were about 4-5mm in size. I was told the same thing, that a biopsy would be difficult and they might not even get the right spot! They have to actually be able to "feel" the nodules with their hand in order to know for sure they are taking the right piece of tissue out and when they are that small it is hit or miss! I was like, well, I am not going to be operated on if they don't even know if it is cancer and they might not even get it out! Geez....so I waited. Of course it was nerve wracking as hell, but what can you do? You could go ahead and find a surgeon who says he can remove them and possibly laproscopically. At any rate, I am sure there will be folks on here who will tell you to get a PET scan, however, in my experience a PET scan is highly inacurate for lesions smaller than 1 cm in size. I had 2 false negative PET scans. One in May of 04 and one in August despite my CT scan showing that the lesions had doubled in size in that period of time. In October, finally the lesions had grown to 1cm and my CEA was elevated AND my PET scan finally came back positive. In October I had the 2 lesions removed surgically and I have not had any more problems since then! YEA....I was 31 when I was diagnosed, so I have a similar situation to your husband. The good thing about watching and waiting is that if anything else is going to show it's ugly head, it gives it time to do so. For example, if there are any other nodules they will appear over a period of time. If some time goes by and nothing else shows up, then that is great and he can have the lung spots removed without fear that any more will show up later. Does that make sense? And of course there is the possiblity that they aren't cancer - in which case they should not grow and his CEA will not rise.
I hope that helped and gives you some hope. Like I said, I had my lung nodules removed over 2 years ago! Unfortunately I do not know any way around the anxiety that all this can cause other than to just wait and see. I was not on any chemo during the 8 months of waiting that I did, so possibly the Avastin will take care of your husbands "spots" and surgery will not even be necessary. I would say keep exercising, eat a healthy diet and get massages to get your husband through the anxiety!
Best wishes,
Susan

I have recently been through something similar. A routine PET scan noted a very small lung nodule (<1cm). It didn't "light up" on PET. Waited 3 months. Three months later, same size, but it 'lit up' on PET. But several doctors (I did the rounds!) still thought it might not be a met (funny shape, not growing). Waited another 2 months. Still no increase in size but decided it needed to come out in order to determine what is was (biopsy wasn't possible, other than surgical excision -- and I had a history of lung mets). In my case, it was a met. However, in the meant time, I learned a lot about lung nodules. As others have said, apparently a large percentage of the population is running around with 'nodules' or other benign 'spots' in their lungs. PET is generally not reliable until the lesion gets to about 1 cm. Even then, 'infections' can light up on PET - or other inflammations. Needle biopsy for lung can tricky (and some docs don't like to do it, for fear of spread). It wasn't possible for me, either time. Bronchoscopy is an option but often doesn't yield the cells you need, and the lesion has to be v. close to a [?bronchial opening]. I agree with others -- watchful waiting is probably the way to go. As you note, that is very hard!!!!! Wishing you all the best -- and certainly wishing that those spots are nothing. They probably are nothing.

CAMaura said:

Hi there, I'm right there as well...my first lung scan showed a nodule, but it is too small to boipsy as well. Mine wasn't calcified, but my onc wants to wait until February for a three month check. The days move SLOWLY. I did have another blood test, though, and my CEA is still super low so I am hopeful (my CEA seems to act in a consistent manner). Maybe you can ask for a blood test during the this waiting period? I know the 'not knowing' is hard...I am right there.
Wishing you and your husband all the best - Maura

With this possible scare, I am thinking about an even better nutritional/exercise plan for my immune system. I figure that it can't hurt! I reread Dr. Quillin's book yet another time and it is amazing how we can pick up on new things and need reminders... I have added different mushroom extracts and other herbs and am trying to vary (and increase) my workouts even more. Anyway, just thought I would mention it...it helps me to be part of the process.
All the best and take care - Maura

Hi,

I hope you have felt some comfort in knowing that these spots are probably not anything to be concerned about.

I had several small spots show on my first CT scan and my oncologist wanted to have the largest one biopsied. It turned out to be a hamartoma, which is something benign. The others are being watched and they have been stable for almost a couple of years.

Please keep us posted on your husband's progress.

Hugs,

Kay

Hi,

I think you have gotten some excellent advice. Each of my father's scans have showed small lung nodules that are believed to be what they call granulomas. My father worked in a foundry when he was younger, breathing in lots of dust, asbestos, and other crap so I wouldn't be surprised if that is what the granulomas are from. Did your husband ever get exposed to any environmental pollutants, or has he had any lung infections in the past? If so, maybe that could be why these spots are showing up. It is true. Many people with no history of cancer have some type of unexplained spots on their lungs. Also, was there a different radiologist reading the scans this time? It seems like sometimes the scans could be subjective and one radiologist may perceive something differently than another one. You and your husband are in my prayers.

God bless,

-Lee-