Suggest Treatment For Presence Of Nodules On The Lung

Posted on Wed, 5 Apr 2017

Question: I have had a lung nodule on my lung for 7 years very small now my chest xray shows is about 1 inch and hA GROWN She called it a small lesion LIKE A PATCH AROUND THE AREA SCAR TISSUE . I HA TO HAE A CAT SCAN TO DETERINE WHAT IT IS, sHE SAID SHE IS 85% sure its not cancer and could be pneumonia. I just got this news and I a frightened to dealth. mI am 75 years old . Said there are no lymp nodes at all in that area. I scared silly what do you thnk

How long befor I get an answer?? Very nerveous

Answered by Dr. Dr. Jolanda (26 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Contrast CT is very decisive in your case

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking in HealthcareMagic.

I have gone through your concern and i am going to give you some more information.

According to the history if you were my patient i would recommend you to do too as follows:

Hemogram
CRP
ESR

These tests are the inflammation indicators and they might be elevated if it is pneumonia.

CEA
Ca 125

These are the tumoral markers tests that are mainly affected in tumoral situation.

Yes contrast CT is very decisive in your case.

The positive point in this is the fact that there is relatively long time you have this nodule and you are healthy.
The most important thing now is to explore what kind of density is the nodule (after having ct result).

If you do not have smoked the percentage of been a lung cancer falls but taking in consideration your age better to exclude it correctly with CT.

So if you want you can attach me CT result when you will have it and i will be here to help you again anytime.

I wish a good health to you

Dr.Jolanda

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Jolanda (4 hours later)

My doctor told me she is 85% sure that it is not lung cancer. The doctor who read the report told her treat it like pneumonia and get a cat scan.. What is your opinion as far as being lung cancer? I am a former smoker I quit 35 years ago.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Jolanda (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
The biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of cancer

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
I defer to take stand without gold standard tests. The biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of cancer. That was a good sign quitting smoke 35 yrs back.
If the ct result is positive for lung cancer the next step would be taking a biopsy sample.
According to the position and the size of nodule.
If it is in close position with the airways than a fibrobronchoscopy procedure would be perform for the biopsy. If it is far from them, a trans parietal biopsy should be done.

Further follow up depends by the biopsy result.

Best regards
Dr.Jolanda

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Jolanda (25 minutes later)

I just had a blood test on 3/10/17 and the doctor told me the blood work was fine. It was CBC w/Differential. Wouldn't something have shown up there if I had cancer??

Answered by Dr. Dr. Jolanda (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Blood test is not related directly with lung cancer

Detailed Answer:
Hi again

No, usually blood test is not related directly with cancer, only in severe situation of the patient but it is not diagnostic.

Tumor markers are related with this condition

Regards

Feel free to ask me again

DR.Jolanda

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj