Nodule found on lung

[Brian_nelson]

Hi Everyone,

My mother was brought the to E.R. the other day for an unrelated issue, but upon doing an X-Ray, they found a small nodule on her (left) lung. We are super nervous it could be cancerous.

She has smoked since she was 13, and is now 50. Has emphysema, and COPD. She is in the process of now quitting due to the findings. All the doctor said was to get re-tested in 3 or so much to see if anything grew.

Below are the results from the blood tests ran on her:

Discharge Diagnosis: Near syncope
Discharge Diagnosis: Lung nodule
Final: Dizziness and giddiness
Final: Syncope and collapse
Final: Dizziness and giddiness
Final: Solitary pulmonary nodule
Final: Abnormal electrocardiogram [ECG] [EKG]
Discharge Diagnosis: Vertigo
Discharge Disposition: HR

Reason for Visit:
DIZZINESS,FATIGUE,HEADACHE,PALPIPTATIONS

Vital Signs:
8/15/16
Temperature Oral 98.3 DegF (Normal is 96.4-99.1 DegF)
Heart Rate 59 bpm (Normal is 60-100 bpm)
Heart Rate 62 bpm (Normal is 60-100 bpm)
Heart Rate 65 bpm (Normal is 60-100 bpm)
HR/Rhythm Sinus bradycardia
HR/Rhythm Normal sinus rhythm
Resp Rate Spontaneous 16 br/min (Normal is 14-20 br/min)
Resp Rate Spontaneous 16 br/min (Normal is 14-20 br/min)
Resp Rate Spontaneous 16 br/min (Normal is 14-20 br/min)
Blood Pressure 151/74 mmHg (Normal is 90-140/60-90 mmHg)
Blood Pressure 162/83 mmHg (Normal is 90-140/60-90 mmHg)
Blood Pressure 104/72 mmHg (Normal is 90-140/60-90 mmHg)
NIBP Site Right arm
Vital Signs Position Sitting
Body Mass Index 25.2996 kg/m2

Known Problem List:
Anemia | COPD | MVP (mitral valve prolapse)

Allergies, Adverse Reactions, Alerts:
No Known Medication Allergies

Medications:
No Known Medications

Results:

8/15/16
WBC 8.02 _X10^3/uL (Normal is 4.00-11.00 _X10^3/uL)
RBC 4.19 _X10^6/uL (Normal is 3.80-5.30 _X10^6/uL)
Hemoglobin 13.5 g/dL (Normal is 11.5-15.3 g/dL)
Hematocrit 40.5 % (Normal is 34.0-45.0 %)
MCV 96.7 fl (Normal is 78.0-100.0 fl)
MCH 32.2 pg (Normal is 26.0-34.0 pg)
MCHC 33.3 g/dL (Normal is 31.0-37.0 g/dL)
Platelet 200 _X10^3/uL (Normal is 140-400 _X10^3/uL)
MPV 10.5 fl (Normal is 9.4-12.3 fl)
RDW 12.9 % (Normal is 10.8-14.2 %)
Neut % 64.8 % (Normal is 37.0-80.0 %)
Lymph % 24.7 % (Normal is 20.0-45.0 %)
Mono % 6.9 % (Normal is 1.0-13.0 %)
Eos % 2.0 % (Normal is 0.0-6.0 %)
Baso % 1.0 % (Normal is 0.0-2.0 %)
IG% 0.6 % (Normal is 0.0-1.0 %)
Neut Abs 5.20 _X10^3/uL (Normal is 1.80-7.70 _X10^3/uL)
Lymph Abs 1.98 _X10^3/uL (Normal is 1.00-4.80 _X10^3/uL)
Mono Abs 0.55 _X10^3/uL (Normal is 0.10-1.00 _X10^3/uL)
Eos Abs 0.16 _X10^3/uL (Normal is 0.00-0.70 _X10^3/uL)
Baso Abs 0.08 _X10^3/uL (Normal is 0.00-0.30 _X10^3/uL)
IG Abs 0.05 _X10^3/uL (Normal is 0.00-0.11 _X10^3/uL)
Sodium Lvl 138 mmol/L (Normal is 136-145 mmol/L)
Potassium Lvl 4.2 mmol/L (Normal is 3.5-5.1 mmol/L)
Hemolysis None
Chloride 104 mmol/L (Normal is 98-107 mmol/L)
CO2 26 mmol/L (Normal is 22-29 mmol/L)
Anion Gap 8 (Normal is 5-14)
Glucose Lvl 92 mg/dL (Normal is 70-105 mg/dL)
BUN 11 mg/dL (Normal is 9-20 mg/dL)
Creatinine 0.7 mg/dL (Normal is 0.6-1.1 mg/dL)
eGFR (African American) >60 mL/min/1.73m2 (Normal is >=60 mL/min/1.73m2)
eGFR( NonAfrican American) >60 mL/min/1.73m2 (Normal is >=60 mL/min/1.73m2)
Calcium Lvl 9.5 mg/dL (Normal is 8.4-10.2 mg/dL)
Albumin Lvl 3.9 g/dL (Normal is 3.5-5.0 g/dL)
Total Protein 6.6 g/dL (Normal is 6.4-8.3 g/dL)
A/G Ratio 1.4 (Normal is 1.0-2.0)
Alk Phos 58 units/L (Normal is 40-150 units/L)
AST 14 units/L (Normal is 5-34 units/L)
ALT 9 units/L (Normal is 0-55 units/L)
Bili Total 0.5 mg/dL (Normal is 0.2-1.2 mg/dL)

Diagnosis:

Vertigo (ICD10-CM R42, Discharge, Medical)
Near syncope (ICD10-CM R55, Discharge, Medical)
Lung nodule (ICD10-CM R91.1, Discharge, Medical)

Condition: Improved.
Disposition: Discharged: to home.

I have also attached the X-Rays.

​Thanks so much!

[drew103]

Brian, I hope you look back in as I can relate and have had experience in this.

In all such discoveries, further testing should be done IMHO an din general medical sense too. These growths can of course be one of many different diagnosis, and no peace of mind can be foudn until actually finding out what they are (it is).

LOng term smokers often get "cysts" in the lungs. Many times it is benign and has no definite connection to cancer, but at the same time that does not promise assurance that they will not turn so later.

I had a growth in the right lower lobe of my lung, and subsequent testing showed it free and clear, and its growth rate was really slow over two years, but it was growing.

I just had it removed last month through minimally invasive surgery with robotics that are widely available in major hospitals now. Once taken out, another post-op biopsy proved it to be T1a stage cancer and they got it all.

But if you are looking for advice, get a primary care MD to refer your mom for a biopsy, and an enhanced CAT scan.. If she has more than one growth then that biopsy is important. Most important is that she does nothing. Waiting in the wrong scenario could make that non-lethal event of an early stage carcinoma into a fatal stage. Its not going to turn and change overnight but surely schedule an enhanced CAT and a biopsy. Make sure it is a reputable hospital and radiology/cancer center, as a botched biopsy can either miss or burst a cyst with unpleasant results.

IMHO opinion, and probably you will be told so by the MD you get, CAT scans every six months or at least x-rays, will determine if the tumor (we can call it growth for now as tumor is a scary word to many) is growing or not. If it grows, then certainly there is cause to take a more direct approach. If it remains the same size or shrinks, then it probably isn't a worry.

Added for the extra info, although doctors do not preach on it, electronic cigarettes are inexpensive and far better for a cigarette smoker than the cancer sticks are, especially if a person is a heavy smoker. You can actually see and feel the difference, cleared up lungs becoming obvious, in as little as two to four weeks, with major improvements at 6 months, 1 year and 3 years. I smoked e-cigs now for 3 years, and lately have been on "Chantix" smoking intervention deterrent medications for 3 months. I never could quite put down the cigs flat out. So I have used these help devices to better my lungs and thus my life.

Get her to an MD though for the biopsy and CAT referrals as you cannot schedule them yourselves. And be sure to support your mom through it as most people even if they act like it is nothing to worry about, down deep inside they worry no matter. There is a great weight lifted off you when you find out it is not cancer or that they got all of it.

I have to have CAT scans once every 6 months for 2 years, then once every year for 3 years to make sure there is no recurrence but I feel much brighter about my future, and as I said, it may well be cigarette related cysts. But most all of all, do not do nothing! :)

click on link and read here please:

And don't freak out, its not a worse case scenario for your mom (smiles here).
(copy paste if not clickable)

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51057298_A_Young_Man_with_Multiple_Pulmonary_Cysts  

[drew103]

Sorry, that sentence was supposed to read "most important is that she does not do nothing" in paragraph #5, they don't have "edit" options here. :)