Hello Everyone - I'm new here.

BGKID · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 12:03 pm Post subject: Hello Everyone - I'm new here.

This is all new to me. I have a 1.1cm SPN in my upper right lobe. They found it incidentally last July 2007. Sit and wait and observe.

X-rays in October - no biggie.

X-rays in January - dr's said to get the Cat Scan. Got the CT the next week. Got a call a couple of days later and told to get a PET scan. They said it was too difficult to do a biopsy. Got the PET yesterday, 2/15/07.

I'm healthy, fit, non-smoker, 41yom. Smoked a little in college, but who didn't?

I'm really bad at asking the dr questions. I just listen to what he says and do it.

I'm on this forum because info helps me deal with the unknown. (Like learning about planes helps me deal with the fear of flying!)

Any way, my questions are:

1. did the SPN have to change between October and January to necessitate the Cat scan and then the PET scan?

2. hopefully the SPN is benign. If so, should it still be removed?

Thank you everyone. Take care and God Bless.

Brad.
_________________
41 year old Male
Super Fit!
1.1cm SPN Upper Right Lobe
PET - 2/15/08

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1138

Hi Brad,

Sorry you are into the unknown zone. I'm sure this is a scary time for you.

I'm not sure what an SPN is, but I'll guess it is a nodule. First and foremost, this is your body, so get yourself a notebook and jot all your questions down. Bring this with you to the doctor and notate the answers. You need to be informed what is going on. Also ask for copies of ALL reports so you can monitor this yourself too. Reports can raise all kinds of questions for you to ask. Don't be passive about your own body.

As a word of comfort, your doctors are obviously on the ball with following up on this nodule. This is good. If it should turn out to be the worst case scenario, you sound like it was caught in a very early stage.

Some people have multiple nodules that they do the watch and wait on for years. I don't know if the size has changed (ask the doctor), but either they are being very good about following what this is or they have more suspicions due to something changing.

As far as smoking goes, 50% of all new cases of lung cancer are in people who have never smoked or former smokers. Of that figure 15-20% are people who never smoked. Yes, it's a little known secret that I wish more people were aware of for their sakes. Still, there are no early detection methods and most times it is caught in the early stages by happenstance. Sadly, lung cancer is very far advanced with symptoms by the time the majority of people are diagnosed.

Nodules can sit in your lungs for years and do nothing. Calcified nodules are always benign --- but I have to say that they wouldn't be going for a PET scan on a calcified nodule.

Hopefully they are just being very cautious. The PET scan will be the telling tale and it's a frustrating position to be in waiting for the results.

If it is benign, the doctors will determine if removal is even necessary. Lung surgery is a big deal, so they will carefully consider the pros and cons.

Best wishes,
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

BGKID

PBJ -

Thanks for your thoughts and advice. I appreciate it.

Another question if you don't mind. Can a CT scan determine whether or not a nodule is calcified or non-calcified?

Thanks again.
_________________
41 year old Male
Super Fit!
1.1cm SPN Upper Right Lobe
PET - 2/15/08

brainman

BGKID, I am very sorry about your cancer. I will be thinking about and praying for you as you go through your treatment.

I do believe that a CT scan can in most cases detect calcifications.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

BGKID

Hey Jim -

I haven't been diagnosed yet. Hopefully it's not cancer!

Just had x-rays, CT scan and then a PET scan last friday.
_________________
41 year old Male
Super Fit!
1.1cm SPN Upper Right Lobe
PET - 2/15/08

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1138

Hi BGKD,

An x-ray should be able to show calcification. My husband had calcified nodules found on an x-ray almost 20 years before the lung cancer diagnosis. A CT should definitely show calcification.

There can be benign non-calcified nodules too, but that is where it gets trickier and it's best to find out if this puppy lights up on a PET scan.

My thoughts are with you during this time.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

BGKID · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject: I'm fine - it's benign

dr said no metabolic activity on the PET.

Need to get a CT in six months, just monitor it.

Thanks for the best wishes and thoughts.
_________________
41 year old Male
Super Fit!
1.1cm SPN Upper Right Lobe
PET - 2/15/08

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1138

BGKID,

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can hear your sigh of relief all the over here!! I'm so very, very happy for you.

God bless,
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

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