Lung Nodules/Mass/Lumps

[Chocoholic 62]

I went into my regular doctor for a lung x-ray for a pre operative checkup for elective cosmetic surgery and a "shadow" was found.  They thought it was a nipple shadow so they covered the nipple and re-did the x-rays.  Same "shadow".  I went fot a CT and they listed it as 21x17x18mm lung nodule and said it was non-calcified  and malignancy can not be ruled out so I need to go in for a PET.  I am 43 years old/female and after smoking from ages 16-26 I quit and have been smoke free for 17  years.  As soon as I quit smoking back in 1989 I started running and weight training and have been a marathon runner for 11 years.  I have run 39 marathons and feel terrific!!  I am a anxiety-ridden hypochondriac anyhow so I am trying very hard not to give myself a "death sentence".  I had a chest x-ray a year ago as part of a routine physical and nothing was there so this is recent.  In December I had a cold which was gone in a couple of days but the congested cough that went with it lasted for about 2-3 weeks.  I was forcing congestion out of my lungs because I could not stand the "crackly" breathing and wonder if I could have caused some sort of lesion or if it was really a bad lung infection and could have left a scar on my lungs.  The only other things I can think of are that about 6 months ago I started burning inscence in my bathroom daily instead of using air freshener and wonder if I am having a reaction to that?  I have a PET scheduled for March 24th.  Anybody (especially someone in the Med field) have any info? Thanks!!

[National Jewish]

Your routine chest x-ray from last year, not just the report, should be obtained and compared with your most recent.  It is unlikely that a lesion this size would have been missed, but such things happen, especially when a lesion is "hidden or masked" by a normal structure.  If there truly was nothing there on that chest x-ray, it is unlikely that a malignancy would have reached this size in only one year.  An infectious cause would be much more likely.  While malignancy truly cannot be ruled out, it is unlikely in a 43-year-old woman who quit smoking 17 years ago.

PET scanning is sensitive to the detection of malignant lesions, but not 100% specific.  It can sometimes be positive with benign lesions.  If positive, the lesion will almost certainly have to be biopsied or removed.

This could be a scar from the "bad lung infection" you had in December.  If your doctors recommend invasive surgery on the basis of your PET scan, you should ask if a needle biopsy or VATS might suffice.

[Chocoholic 62]

I had my CT read by a pulmonologist and he suggeted Hamartoma or Valley Fever since I live in the Santa Clarita Valley 30 miles north of Los Angeles.  I still have a PET scheduled for the 24th but I am not as worried.  He said I still may want to have it removed because of my age (43).  Like I said I haven't smoked in 17 years so my lungs are like that of a person who has never smoked.  I sure would love to hear from the medical person who usually answers on this site.......

[Chocoholic 62]

I went into my regular doctor for a lung x-ray for a pre operative checkup for elective cosmetic surgery and a "shadow" was found. They thought it was a nipple shadow so they covered the nipple and re-did the x-rays. Same "shadow". I went fot a CT and they listed it as 21x17x18mm lung nodule and said it was non-calcified and malignancy can not be ruled out so I need to go in for a PET. I am 43 years old/female and after smoking from ages 16-26 I quit and have been smoke free for 17 years. As soon as I quit smoking back in 1989 I started running and weight training and have been a marathon runner for 11 years. I have run 39 marathons and feel terrific!! I am a anxiety-ridden hypochondriac anyhow so I am trying very hard not to give myself a "death sentence". I had a chest x-ray a year ago as part of a routine physical and nothing was there so this is recent. In December I had a cold which was gone in a couple of days but the congested cough that went with it lasted for about 2-3 weeks. I was forcing congestion out of my lungs because I could not stand the "crackly" breathing and wonder if I could have caused some sort of lesion or if it was really a bad lung infection and could have left a scar on my lungs. The only other things I can think of are that about 6 months ago I started burning inscence in my bathroom daily instead of using air freshener and wonder if I am having a reaction to that? I have a PET scheduled for March 24th. Anybody (especially someone in the Med field) have any info? Thanks!!

I had my CT read by a pulmonologist and he suggeted Hamartoma or Valley Fever since I live in the Santa Clarita Valley 30 miles north of Los Angeles. I still have a PET scheduled for the 24th but I am not as worried. He said I still may want to have it removed because of my age (43). Like I said I haven't smoked in 17 years so my lungs are like that of a person who has never smoked. I sure would love to hear from the medical person who usually answers on this site.......

[Chocoholic 62]

Thanks giorgio for the comments.  Isn't there a nurse or doctor that is supposed to read this stuff and comment?

[giorgio]

i know the aniety feeling and 'death sentence" thinking you speak of from prior recent experience ;) i am just popping in on your thread to try and offer ya some peace. your a young woman and you sound ultra healthy so you probly dont have anything to worry about. try to stay positive and let the dr. give ya the last word. just reading the information on this forum should help to ease your mind. i know the "wait" is the worst!!