Worried about my dad

[mellie4]

My dad is 82 and pretty healthy.  In '08 he had a lung CT done due to an xray showing something.  The result was that there was some scarring from TB when he was young.  There was also a 5 mm nodule in the lower left lung that they felt was nothing.  They sent him to a lung specialist who agreed.

The other day he had a CT scan of the lung again, just for follow-up.  His doctor just called and said that there are "worrisome" findings.  The 5 mm nodule is now 6 cm.  She would like him to have a CT with contrast and then see the lung doctor again.

I know this doctor well as I see her myself.  I can tell from what she said and her tone that she is extremely concerned with this.  I thought doing  a biopsy would be best but she said why put him through that if we can get the results from the CT scan.  

She said if it is lung cancer it appears operable but due to his age, would he survive the surgery and if he did, what would his breathing capacity be like due to the scarring from the TB.

I'm sitting here sick to my stomach.  I haven't told him anything yet.  I know we need to wait for the testing to be done, but I'm wondering how likely it is that this is lung cancer?  My gut is telling me it is.

[mellie4]

Thanks.  I do tend to "run with things."  But the fact that this has grown from 5 mm to 6 CM is really worrisome.  Plus, even if it's benign (which she doesn't seem to think it is), something still needs to be done.  

I told him he needed to have another CT scan with contrast.  They've scheduled it for Tuesday, July 6 (which is his birthday.)  He told me if it turns out to be cancer, they can take the lobe out and he'll be good as new.  If only it were that easy.

Just like everyone, I take him for granted and assume he'll always be here.  I'll just try to take it one day at a time.

It's a shame they didn't monitor this a bit better.  His last CT scan was in '08 and at that time the nodule was 5 mm.  Now in '10 it's 6 cm.  He probably would have had more options if it was caught when it was smaller.

On a positive note, though, the doctor noted that there doesn't appear to be any lymph node involvement, which is good.  Maybe they can radiate and do chemo and shrink it if they're not able to operate on it.

Good luck with your situation.  I'm sure it must be difficult to "wait and see."

[tridhc284]

Im sure your dr is concerned with your dads age and putting him through some stressing tests. I think she is right to do a ct with contrast, these can give them lots of information and definately get him an appt with the lung specialist.

Try your best not to dwell on this until you know for sure. Think positive it could be many different things causing this. I myself have to 6mm nodules that i have to have scanned every few months to see if they are growing. This is a very hard thing for us to deal with our thoughts can run wild. Be positive think positive and just enjoy life with your dad dont worry until you have to.