Worried to death about the non calcified nodules in my lungs - 1272913

antot
Posts:6

Hi! Im worrying to death. I just got my x-ray result saying i have 2 nodules 14mm &12mm. Im 28 years old, non-smoker, no history of cancer for my family, im not exposed to any harmful materials. It is possible that the BCG vaccine that i received when i was young somehow scared my lungs? Or it is possible its only a mucos because i have a cough and colds a week prior to the xray? Im just super worrued to the point i cant sleep. (Sorry im my question is making non-sense). Can you please help me.

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Reply # - February 9, 2016, 12:55 PM

catdander
Posts:

Hi antot,

I'm sorry you're worrying so. However I don't think there's any need in worry with what you've stated. It's much more likely the nodules are from scar tissue or from flammation or infection from a cold or flu. It could be from something you'll never even know about because your immune system is doing its job. To add to the unlikelihood that this has anything to do with cancer is that it's very very rare for someone your age to get lung cancer.

I imagine your doctors will want to do a followup scan in a matter of months 6 or 12 months out, the more unlikely this represents a real problem the longer the interval between scans.

I hope this helps with your worries.

Janine

Reply # - February 9, 2016, 01:09 PM

antot
Posts: 6

Hi janine! Thakyou! Im just super worried. They are now suggesting for a follow up scan but im thinking can i just go for the PET scan instead of CTscan? I just wanna know asap what it is. Not only me whos is worried, my mom and dad is so worried.

Reply # - February 9, 2016, 04:18 PM

antot
Posts: 6

So what will be the profer test i will do? I can not think clearly because ive read a lot of article now about the non calcified nodules. They said to do the PET scan because it will save you time unlike the CTscan.

Reply # - February 9, 2016, 05:22 PM

catdander
Posts:

Hi antot, I don't know who the they are in your statement. I just know what the standards of care are for those who are having a workup for lung nodules.

One piece of the puzzle while doing a workup on a nodule is to look into ones pulmonary history such as a smoking history, though there may other pulmonary issues in your history that might suggest other lung problems.

The most common reason for having a nodule in the lungs is scarring, inflammation and infection. That could be from many things, including colds, flu, pneumonia. All of these issues also light up on a PET scan like cancer does. PET scans however are very expensive and shouldn't be used without good reason.

The standard of care (what is found to be best of the patient's health) in this situation is to take a CT of the chest and if it still looks like 2 small nodules then a follow up CT would be done in 3 months. This gives the nodules time to show what they may be:
If they are gone on the follow up CT that suggests they were more than likely inflammation from a cold or something similar that is now healed.
If the nodules are still there but not changed that suggests they are scar tissue (such as from a flu sometime ago). In that case they will probably stay as they are but not cause problems.
If it grows between the first CT and the follow up CT then you will more than likely be sent to a pulmonologist for more close work up.

I know that this isn't the answer you'd like and you'd like to know something right away. This is how everyone with lung cancer lives. There's lots of watching and waiting.

There just isn't anything else to do without taking the nodules out and looking at them. But thoracotomies are considered by many to be the most difficult surgery to perform and from which to heal. Thoracotomies certainly aren't on the table of options for a 28 year old with 2 nodules found on an x ray.

I hope you and yours can find some peace of mind.
Janine

Reply # - February 11, 2016, 07:13 PM

antot
Posts: 6

Thankyou janine. But is noncalcified nodules same as ground-glass nodules?

Reply # - February 11, 2016, 10:11 PM

catdander
Posts:

A pure ground glass opacity is a cloudy looking nodule that is almost transparent but a noncalcified can be opaque. Even ground glass opacities are usually somewhere in between.

I wish there was some way to calm your nerves but I know there's always some degree of worry no matter how unlikely it is to be cancer. I hope your doctors come up with a plan with which you're comfortable.

Reply # - March 16, 2016, 01:42 PM

antot
Posts: 6

Hi janine. I've just undergone bronchoscopy for the nodules that i have. Now im super confused if its tb or cancer or somethings else. I have 3 doctors working on me but i until now they cant figure it out whats inside me. They told me that all my blood works are all normal, and my sputum is normal (negative for tb). But why they are saying "lets hope for tb not cancer", why they kept on saying that if all my blood works are fine and sputum test are all okay. And now im getting frustrated because I don't have to have a tb nor cancer. This is so stressful because they asked me to stop working until they have something.

Reply # - March 16, 2016, 03:14 PM

catdander
Posts:

Oh antot, I'm so sorry you're going through this. I can't imagine what that's like. I can't say what the work up is like for suspected tb that isn't a specialty we have. Mayo Clinic has a solid site that discusses different aspects of specific diseases. This is a link to it's diagnosis of tb which states, " Results can be wrong"
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/diagnosis-tr…

I don't know why your doctors say something but it could be they meant if it's one or the other tb is better treated than cancer. Obviously neither is best. I'll assume they don't want you to work because you may have tb. A 2nd opinion at a different center, one that has a specialty in diagnoses for pulmonary issues such as a teaching hospital. This is an excellent post on the subject of 2nd opinions. http://cancergrace.org/cancer-101/2011/11/13/an-insider%E2%80%99s-guide…

Best of luck,
Janine

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