Thoughts on non-calcified nodule

Lily · Regular Joined: 11 Apr 2008 Posts: 12

Hi, I am a 36 year old non-smoking female. I had a CT scan of my chest because of shortness of breath and chest tightness. The scan revealed a 5 mm non-calcified nodule in the lower area of my lung. The doctor called it a granuloma and told me not to worry and that we would recheck it in 6 months to make sure it was not growing. In the meantime I've been doing a lot of reading on the internet and I have myself sick with anxiety because it sounds like it could be cancer and I'm not sure how I'm going to function for 6 months waiting. Is this the protocol in the situation to just wait this out? I'm worried what if it is cancer and they have me waiting so long. Just looking for opinions on what these nodules usually are (cancer or not). Thanks

Sasha · Regular Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 49

From what my family has been through in the past two month with doctors not knowing what they're talking about I would suggest getting a second opinion from an oncologist.
Sasha

Lily · Regular Joined: 11 Apr 2008 Posts: 12

Thought I'd just bump this up to see if anyone else has any thoughts on this. I go back in October to see my doctor. It's been almost 3 months since my scan and I'm getting more and more nervous with waiting. My doctor doesn't seem concerned.

brainman

Lily, first, I am very sorry about your health concerns. Second, I am very sorry that you have not received more replies to your original post. I personally know how hard waiting 6 months can be and how the anxiety builds as the time of the next scan draws closer.

There are so many other things that can cause a granuloma. It is easy for me to tell you not to worry about it but I know how hard that is. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
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/

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 871

Lily,

I'm sorry about lack of response to your first post too! I try to respond, but some slip through this sieve of a brain I now have. Rolling Eyes

I'm glad they are following up and it's easy to say don't worry, as Jim pointed out already. I never thought the term granuloma was used in relation to lung cancer. I think my husband had calcified nodules 20+ years before he ever got lung cancer and there was no relationship from what I understood.

Five mm is tiny, so let's hope it was just some irritant that now may be encapsulated by the lung and be calcified. That's what the docs told us many years ago about my husband's calcified nodules. They asked if he was around chickens, pigeons, etc in his life and probably suspected histoplasmosis. Let's hope, as weird as this sounds, for calcification the next scan. I doubt that a 5 mm size anything in a lower lobe would affect your breathing in any way. How is your breathing now?

Good luck and keep us posted. I'm sure this didn't help much.
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

Lily · Regular Joined: 11 Apr 2008 Posts: 12

Thank you both for your replies. I was a little confused when my doctor referred to it as a granuloma because I thought those were calcified but mine is non-calcified so I guess I have to say I'm confused now. My doctor did mention histoplasmosis but again could it be non-calcified? My breathing does seem somewhat better and the doctor thinks its from a disc problem in the middle of my back and some anxiety and says it has absolutely nothing to do with this nodule. I just need to figure out how to keep my mind occupied for 3 more months because the anxiety is overwhelming for me and I'm a person that all ready suffers from anxiety so now it's much worse at the moment. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 871

Lily,

If the granuloma was new, it may have been some type of irritant and may not have calcified at the point when you had the scan. That's why I said I was hoping for calcification down the road. I think calcification is a process and not something that happens immediately.

Here is a link to a granuloma discussion from a lung specialist at the Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/granuloma/AN00830

Breathe deep -- I know how frightening this stuff can be and I'm sorry.

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

koikkeril · Senior User Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 198

Hello Lily,
I know what its like to wait for the next scan.. I only hope time passes quickly for you. I see PJB has put you in touch with a site and I hope it answers some of your questions. Try your level best to be optomistic and I await to hear your good news! God Bless, koik

Lily · Regular Joined: 11 Apr 2008 Posts: 12

Thanks again for the replies. This is just all so scary. I've done some surfing and I came across a lot of posts similar to mine but unfortunately the original posters never return to give their results. It leaves me wondering is it because they were finally diagnosed with cancer and couldn't post back or were they okay and then just kind of forgot about their original posts and moved on with life. I just wish people would have updated on their status.
I just want to say my prayers are with all of you who are dealing with lung cancer or who have a family member or friend with cancer. I'm so sorry.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 871

Lily,

I know what you mean. Sometimes people post and then vanish. It is frustrating. I hope the link helped a bit.

Try to relax and enjoy a nice holiday weekend.

Hugs,
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

Lily · Regular Joined: 11 Apr 2008 Posts: 12

Thanks.

Lily · Regular Joined: 11 Apr 2008 Posts: 12

I was just curious if any of you or loved one experienced this prior or during lung cancer?..I have been having neurological sensations (pain, itching, burning, numbing) in my hands and a little in my feet and I read it is usually from diabetes (which I don't have) and then I happened to read it can occur prior to a Lung cancer diagnosis. So anyhow now I have become extremely frightened about my 5 mm non-calcified nodule. I scheduled an appt. with my doctor for later this week about my new symptoms and I'm going to see if he'll move up my CT scan. My anxiety is out of control and I don't know how I'll be able to wait another 3 months.
Thanks

Trudy · Regular Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 28

Hello Lily,

Keep a list of all your questions and concerns and take it with you to your doctor. Make a copy for him/her and you, this way you can both be focused on discussing the same symptoms when you are talking to him/her.

I will pray you can get the answers you need to relieve the anxiety you are experiencing. Waiting is tough to do.

You are not alone,

walking with you on the journey.

Trudy

84 yr. old mother with Stage 4 NSCLC

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 871

Hi Lily,

No itching for my husband. I'm glad you've bumped up your appointment. I know doctor's operate on timetables, but it frustrates the heck out of me when they know it is causing such anxiety for the patient. Just seems plain cruel. Sometimes I wonder if they even realize this aspect for the patient?

Good luck sweetie and let us know what happens.

Hugs,
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

Lily · Regular Joined: 11 Apr 2008 Posts: 12

Thank you Trudy and PBJ for your advice and comments. I know everyone has so much on their plates and I appreciate you taking the time to read and respond to my post. I just hope my doctor can say something to me this week that will alleviate some of my anxiety.

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Lung Cancer Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours Goto page 1, 2 Next
Page 1 of 2

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others