Hi All, I am a newbie so forgive me if I am posting in the wrong area of the forum. I recently had my first LDCT Lung Cancer Screening Scan and the results are as follows:
CT FINDINGS:
Lung screening specific:
Nodule 1: Image # 137, size range 5-6 mm, density ground glass, shape round, margins indistinct, location left lower lobe, previous size N/A
Nodule 2: Image # 158, size range 4-5 mm, density groundglass, shape round, margins indistinct, location right middle lobe, previous size N/A.
Nodule 3: Image # 197, size range 4-5 mm, density part solid, shape round, margins indistinct, location right middle lobe, previous size N/A.
Nodule 4: Image # 64, size range 6-7 mm, density groundglass, shape round, margins indistinct, location left upper lobe, previous size N/A.
Potentially significant incidental findings (lungRad Category S): None. Incidental pulmonary findings: Calcified granuloma in the right upper lobe.
Incidental nonpulmonary findings: Ectatic ascending thoracic aorta measuring 3.9 cm in AP dimension. Granulomatous sequelae in the spleen.
IMPRESSION/LungRads code:
1. LungRads category # 2, benign.
2. LungRads category S, negative, no significant incidental findings are found.
RECOMMENDATION: Follow-up LDCT in 12 months.
I am trying to wrap my head around what all this means but I am terrified to say the least. A little background on me. I am Female, 52 years old, Former Smoker, 20-22 year pack history. Quit smoking 15 years ago at age 37. My father passed away from NSCLC - adenocarcinoma at age 68. His was stage IIIB and he fought it for 10 months before passing from it. He was also a former smoker having had quit 20 years before diagnosis. I know first hand how devastating this disease can be. I am looking for any thoughts, or perhaps reassurances on my results. I feel like follow up in 12 months seems too long given my smoking history and family history. Although I do understand that the LUNGRADS categorization chart was modeled for people getting annual LDCT screenings for lung cancer due to smoking history. Thank you for any insights anyone can provide who has has maybe similar situation as mine that maybe helpful to me as I go forward from here. Take care all.
Reply # - September 23, 2024, 05:04 PM
Hello and welcome to Grace,…
Hello and welcome to Grace,
I'm sorry you're going through this scare. We can't read and speculate about the findings on your scan, it's both illegal and unethical. When you speak to your doctor about the scan results I'm sure they will explain the suggestion to repeat in 12 months. If they don't, by all means ask. The typical follow-up is between 6 and12 months. If there were any suspicious findings a follow-up would likely be shorter between 3 and 6 months.
Lung cancers aren't normally caused by a hereditary type of genetic function and since your dad was a smoker his probably wasn't either. I'm so sorry you lost your dad to lung cancer.
From Cleveland Clinic, "Many people have lung nodules. These abnormal growths are rarely cancerous. Respiratory illnesses and infections can cause nodules to form in the lungs. Most lung nodules are not a sign of lung cancer and don’t require treatment. On X-rays or scans, these growths may look like a shadow or spot on the lung...If an imaging test shows a lung nodule, your healthcare provider may recommend active surveillance. In six to 12 months, you get another CT scan. Nodules that stay the same size during a two-year surveillance period are not likely to be cancer. You may be able to stop getting CT scans."
I hope you do well and are able to worry less about the findings.
Take care,
Janine
I joined GRACE as a caregiver for my husband who had a Pancoast tumor, NSCLC stage III in 2009. He had curative chemo/rads then it was believed he had a recurrence in the spine/oligometastasis that was radiated. He's 10 years out from treatment.
Reply # - September 23, 2024, 05:24 PM
Thank you for your reply…
Thank you for your reply Janine. Do you think that because my dad was a smoker and got lung cancer it means that I do or do not have a "family history" of lung cancer? I ask because I have been asked that on various risk calculators and I never really know how to answer that question. He was a smoker for many years, quit at age 51 and diagnosed with NSCLC adenocarcinoma stage IIIb at age 68. To my knowledge he is the only one who has ever had lung cancer in my family. His mother, my grandmother smoked until age early 80's and passed from unrelated illness at age 89. His father died at 94 of prostate cancer but he was a non smoker. Sometimes I think of my own smoking history PLUS the fact that my dad had LC puts me at even GREATER risk if that makes sense. Do you know of anyone here that has had multiple ground glass nodules that did not progress or turn into cancer? I'm still trying to navigate these boards and don't think I have run into a post like that yet. Thanks for your help.
Reply # - September 24, 2024, 03:53 PM
Just because you're unlikely…
Just because you're unlikely to get lung cancer because your dad did doesn't mean that his cancer isn't part of your family history. It does add an added risk though still low. I'd bet you couldn't think of it as not a part of your history if you tried. So yes tell the docs about it and let them do with it what they will. Here is an explanation of the genetic predisposition of lung cancer. It says about 8% of lung cancer run in families.
About the follow up, NCCN Guidelines for Patients ® Lung Cancer Screening, 2023, suggests a 12 month follow up for baseline semi solid nodule less than 6 mm. This info can be found on pg. 23 about halfway through the guide. The table is called, Guide 2 Baseline LDCT results: Solid and part-solid lung nodules.
It goes on to say, "Many non-solid nodules can be followed-up with an LDCT every 12 months. You should have an LDCT in 6 months for a non-solid lung nodule that is 20 mm or larger. An olive or a cherry is about 20 mm."
On a personal note, my husband had lung cancer diagnosed in 2009 and was given a year or so to live. He had chemo and radiation that cured him. His scans have been all over the place this past almost 2 years. Everything on the scans looks like cancer, large 3cm nodules, high PET SUV, a history of lung cancer, and treatments that can cause lung cancer. After 2 biopsies and a broncoscopy/lavage/biopsy there's no cancer to be found. Obviously, something is going on maybe sarcoidosis but not cancer. Great !!! and now we have to find what that is through the pulmonary dept. BTW, He's doing really well :)
All that to say, you just can't expect outcomes when it comes to cancer. Work with your docs, ask questions, GET ANSWERS. It's more important than ever to be a part of your own care team. Who else cares more than you and your loved ones and we have the world at our fingers. You're on the right path. Don't worry...I know I know how much easier it is to say than be.
Let us know how things go. Hopefully, you just got scanned after a bought of something you may not even realized you had.
Take care,
Janine
I joined GRACE as a caregiver for my husband who had a Pancoast tumor, NSCLC stage III in 2009. He had curative chemo/rads then it was believed he had a recurrence in the spine/oligometastasis that was radiated. He's 10 years out from treatment.
Reply # - October 18, 2024, 05:40 AM
I would just add that it's…
I would just add that it's hard to do a biopsy on a small nodule such as these. Ask your doctor when they'll rescan. This is when they'd find out if they are growing, shrinking or staying the same. If any have grown, it will depend on how much growth on whether a biopsy should be done or not. As mentioned, not all lung nodules are cancerous.
Take care. Judy
NSCLC patient since 2010
Reply # - November 4, 2024, 07:22 AM
Hi Judy! It is so good to…
Hi Judy!
It is so good to have you adding important info.
I hope you are doing well and living life well.
How are the grands?
With much love and appreciation,
Janine
I joined GRACE as a caregiver for my husband who had a Pancoast tumor, NSCLC stage III in 2009. He had curative chemo/rads then it was believed he had a recurrence in the spine/oligometastasis that was radiated. He's 10 years out from treatment.