Pulmonary Nodule

[ALDRE]

I was told today that I have a .6mm nodule on my lung (6/10 MM)  Should I be concerned?

[kid10012]

1) Do you smoke?
2) Are you a male?
3) Are you over the age of 45?
4) Do you have a cough?
5) Is there only one nodule?
6) Have you ever had cancer before outside of your chest?

These are questions that will help your doctor move forward with a diagnostic decision. If you don’t smoke and have never had cancer before, then the likelihood of this nodule being malignant is quite rare. 60% of all lung nodules that appear on chest films are benign (they harbor no cancer). However, if your doctor suspects cancer, he/she may recommend a biopsy. But again, 1/500 chest X-rays show a nodule.

RM

Write back if you have any questions:)

[ALDRE]

Thanks for your response.  

1 nodule .6mm

Melanoma 12 yrs ago

Just found a .5MM lesion on right hand Merkel Cell Carcinoma.  physical exam reveals no swelling of the nodes

[kid10012]

If it were any other form of skin cancer I would say your likely just one of those people that get a nodule; however, melanoma is notorious for recurring and metastasizing. But you also probably live in a subtropical enviorment. Do you? This could also be the cause of the nodule as they tend to enlarge do to fungal infections in these enviorments. Now, your doctor needs to consider a chest CT. If the CT finds only this nodule you will probably just be watched for the next six months or of your doctor is good he will try and get some tumor markers and sputology as well as a biopsy. If all of that comes back on the neg end, you should be good to go.

[ALDRE]

You appear to be knowledgeable on this subject.  Do you have a medical backround? If so what?  

AD