justinb
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Posts:4
My mom was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2007. She had one loeb of her right lung removed. All of her chest xrays and ct scans came back clear up intil December 2015. She did a ct scan which showed 2 3mm nodules one on her right lung one on her left. Can any body give me any feed back on this as I am freaking out. Thank you.
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Reply # - January 7, 2016, 08:57 PM
Hi justinb,
Hi justinb,
I see the question on your first post notes a single nodule whereas this one is 2 nodules. The more nodules the more worry they may be malignant. Still only time will tell. http://cancergrace.org/topic/new-3mm-nodule-after-eight-years/#post-127…
One more thought, you state that neither your mom nor her doctor seem too worried. That may be a good coping mechanism for her. If it is cancer in both lungs it would be treatable but not curable. If she's not having symptoms then there's no hurry to start treatment and she can hope all is well. I wish I'd read the following blog post earlier in my husband's care. I've learned that having cancer and maybe especially incurable cancer sheds a new light of understanding on a person, one that I now understand I cannot grasp but know is darker than my fears. So it's probably a good idea to let your mom have hopes and not give into the worry of cancer around her. http://cancergrace.org/coping-with-cancer/2009/04/29/denial-coping-mech…
I hope she is fine,
Janine
Reply # - January 7, 2016, 09:21 PM
At first she told me it was
At first she told me it was one then she told me 2. Does it matter that she has recently gotten over a cold? Ive read sometimes infection can show up as a spot on a scan. She went to the doctor back in Oct for a cold and the doctor gave her a inhaler
Reply # - January 7, 2016, 09:23 PM
Also what is treatable vs
Also what is treatable vs curable?
Reply # - January 8, 2016, 08:19 AM
Hi justinb,
Hi justinb,
I think the interval of eight years is an important factor. Most lung cancer recurrences are seen within the first three or four years after surgery, and the risk declines with each passing year. See Dr. West's post here. As a result, if either or both of these spots represent cancer, it is very likely to be new cancer rather than a recurrence. And since the spots are small, there is a good chance that they are two Stage I primary cancers, rather than a primary and a metastasis.
There are imaging features of the tumors that can point toward two primaries. If both are spiculated (having uneven edges) that suggests two primaries, while if one looked rounded with smooth edges that would tend to indicate a metastasis. If there is no evidence suggesting cancer anywhere else that is also a strong factor in favor of two primaries.
The difference is that two small primary tumors can be treated with curative intent, while if one is a primary and the other a metastasis, that is stage IV cancer and the goal of treatment would be to lengthen life and improve its quality.
I hope that further workup reveals either no cancer or two curable primaries.
JimC
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