hgallyn3
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Posts:3
1 year and 4 months ago, a 9 mm lung nodule was inadvertently found. My pulmonologist has had me getting ct scans every three months. For a year there was no growth on ct scan. Now, 4 months later, I had another ct scan and the radiologist said it hadn't changed. Then I had a MRI a week later (for small cysts found on my pancreas and a mass on my adrenal gland, with thickening walls...whatever that means) and now the radiologist report says, "posterior located right lower lobe pulmonary mass seems to be enhancing". It is now 1.2 cm's. My doctor has ordered a PET Scan. Thoughts?
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Reply # - July 6, 2017, 11:20 PM
Hi hgallyn3,
Hi hgallyn3,
I'm sorry you're going through this process and hope there's no cancer found. If the size change is from comparing findings from an MRI and CT, the difference could easily be from the different types machines. Even the same doc reading the same scan can give answers that differ by several mm. When it's said that a nodule is enhancing it means it appears to becoming more dense. A PET scan will tell whether the nodule/s are active such as in a cancer or infection.
It sounds like your doctor is taking appropriate measures to determine whats happening.
The following link describes the basics of a lung cancer work up.
http://cancergrace.org/lung/2016/03/02/gcvl_lu_lung_cancer_workup_basic…
I understand it's impossible to not worry during this work up but any oncologist can tell you they see lots of suspected cancers that end up not being cancer.
I hope all goes well.
Janine
Reply # - July 7, 2017, 06:19 AM
Oh, Janine, thank you so much
Oh, Janine, thank you so much for your very helpful answer! I have another question. Assuming it is cancer and it grew 4 or 5 mm's in a little over a year, would it be considered a slow growing nodule? I didn't mention that they also found two lesions on one of my adrenal gland. The thing that has me really worried is the fact that my PET Scan isn't scheduled for another 3 weeks. Would it be wise to consult and get a second opinion from someplace like UCLA? I'm located in the Antelope Valley and the medical care here isn't what one would consider to be top notch. I have excellent insurance (I pay just under $1,100 a month for me alone)! Thanks again for replying, it means the world to me! God Bless!
Reply # - July 7, 2017, 08:09 AM
Hi hgallyn3,
Hi hgallyn3,
It may be a good idea to get a second opinion, and UCLA would certainly be a fine choice, but it probably makes sense to allow your medical team to obtain the PET scan results first, so that you can take your records to UCLA for the second opinion. Prior to that point, there wouldn't be much for the new oncologist to review. No harm in starting the process now, though.
I agree that three weeks is a bit longer than I would want to have to wait, and it would be reasonable to ask that it be done sooner, if possible (perhaps at another facility if scheduling is an issue), but that time frame is not unusually long, as a suspected cancer workup can take a while.
JimC
Forum moderator
Reply # - July 7, 2017, 09:11 AM
Thanks Jim! Do you know if
Thanks Jim! Do you know if City of Hope is a good alternative to UCLA? The reason I ask is because they have a facility within five minutes of my house and one of their Oncologists is rated as one of the best lung cancer specialists in Southern California. I REALLY appreciate your help, as I'm kind of lost at the moment.
Reply # - July 7, 2017, 12:29 PM
That would be a fine choice;
That would be a fine choice; Dr. Karen Reckamp of the City of Hope in Duarte is indeed one of the leading experts in thoracic oncology and is a GRACE contributor.
JimC
Forum moderator