Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
166039 tn?1256422867

questions re: nodules

I have put a question on here before, but just need some clarification.  To sum it up I am 32 y.o., non smoker, but been exposed to a lot of 2nd hand smoke.  I recently starting having shortness of breath, chest and back pains.  Sometimes I have pain weakness in my legs, sometimes the pain in in my arms. I had a chest xray, asthma test everything is fine. Found through an echo I have mitral regurgitation, put me on Toprol XL.  I had a chest MRI done found I have a 5 mm non-calcified nodule in my left upper lung. I am continuing to have pain, shortness of breath on and off.  I recently sound a little hoarse and clearing my throat a lot.  How fast does lung cancer develop? I am supposed to wait 4 months to get this nodule looked at but I am still not feeling like myself.  Should I call my doc and demand something else be done?  Someone also told me that non-calcified nodules are not good to have.  Any advice because I am worrying myself sick!
3 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Hi,

On the intervals:

The interval of performing scans to check for changes is based on two things.

The first is the actual rate of size increase. A lot of people are afraid because they feel that some intervals are too long. It is true that cancer grows continually, however the rapid rate of growth occurs before the time that it is even detectable by any imaging too. Put another way, it would be easier to increase or double in size if you started small. Once the cancers are detected - the growth rate is a lot slower. Even the most aggressive cancers are not going to increase in size significantly within a month or two. Hence a usual practice is to do the scans around the 3 month interval.  

The other issue for interval assessment is to reduce risks associated with radiation from the diagnostic procedures. Radiation can also cause cancer - and so we wouldn't want to create the problems we are trying to solve.

On Calcification:

Calcification means there are deposits of calcium in the nodule. In general, it is associated with benign nodules more than malignant. A review in the journal Radiographics in 2000 pegs the following statistics: Cancerous nodules with calcification about 6% of cases in CT series. Benign nodules without calcification 38-63% (for post-infectious benign nodules) and up to 50% of hamartomas ( a benign tumor). So, the presence of calcification makes the odds of a benign nodule very likely. It does not however, automatically mean, that the odds of a malignant nodule are high in the absence of calcification.
Helpful - 0
166039 tn?1256422867
thank you so much for getting back to me.  i did talk to my doc and she is sending me to a specialist.  she said that she did run blood work for anemia and for inflammation.  she said usually people with cancer have anemia or the inflammation blood work comes back with high result.  yes i will continue to drive myself insane. i dont think it is scar tissue though she said the calcified ones are usually scar tissue and this is non-calcified.  cancer does run on my moms side of the family.  good luck with your specialist and keep me posted!  i will continue to drive myself insane! :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I recently have gone through the same thing.  I went in June & had a CT & they found a 4.4 mm nodule on my left lung.  They told me to re-do a scan in 6 months.  Well,  it grew to 6mm.  I am scared to death & now have an appt. on the 25th with a pulmonary specialist.  That being said,  I think that the "ill" feeling you have is due to the valve,  and not the nodule.  When a nodule is that small,  it doesn't give symptoms yet,  as far as I have ever heard.  In fact,  5m is considered pretty small,  and that is a great time to catch it,  (when it is small enough that they can get it dealt with.  It could just be scar tissue & not cancer,  that is why they want you to wait 3 months & have a comparison done to see if it grew.  The other alternative is to have a biopsy done,  which is pretty invasive and may not be neccessary.  So my advice is,  if you are the type of person who will drive yourself insane with worry,  and you can stand the huge amount of tests & stuff,  then you could push it.  But otherwise,  I'd just forget about it & then go in 3 months like they said & have another scan done.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Lung Cancer Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Here are 15 ways to help prevent lung cancer.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
Diet and digestion have more to do with cancer prevention than you may realize
How your health improves once you quit.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.