Can anyone help.In May I was admitted to hospital for another condition and had an abdominal CT scan. It was noted that there were nodules on my lungs (top of the scan). I was then referred for a lung CT scan to confirm.
Result not cancerous great👍
They hadn't grown (only three weeks between the scans would be really worried if they had grown!)
I asked my GP in July should the nodules be monitored for any changes. She wrote to the hospital and the reply was vague. She wrote again and I haven't heard anything.
Has anyone else any experience of this?. I have severe asthma .The GP said chest infections can cause them (also had COVID )and some people are born with them.
Any comments appreciated
Thank you
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Welshtoffee
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Hi Welshtoffee. My asthma consultant wanted a CT scan of my lungs and the results were a couple of nodules and a couple of other things that we were able to discount after checking my records. Another scan was required but was around 10 weeks after the first, and that satisfied the doctor that the nodules were nothing to worry about.
The doctor definitely wanted to have at least a couple of months between scans. IIn your shoes, I would feel more settled if another scan was done. Double check with your GP to see if they've had a response to their second contact and, if not, you do have the option of using to PALs to resolve the matter. nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospita...
The fact that your GP isn't satisfied with the letter from the hospital as it was too vague and they haven't received a satisfactory response to communications, is not ideal, so PALs are ideally suited to resolve the matter, whether that's by getting a better explanation or securing a further scan. You may want to tell your GP what you're doing, just out of courtesy.
Over the years I've had so many tests, x-rays, scans etc and every time they find something and every time someone explains that "we always find something, but on this occasion it's nothing to worry about."
A relative of mine works in PALs and they've encouraged me to use them a couple of times, with success. She says more people should use them and probably don't as they don't like to be seen as difficult, which couldn't be further from the truth. As she says, there's always room for improvement.
Thank you. I am happy that they are not cancerous. I just wanted to know do they need monitoring.? . I didn't want the nodules to grow /change and cause further problems in a few years.
A nodule, described as a small pimple was discovered on my right lung when having tests for possible blood clots, years ago. Told they may check it in a year to see if it had grown, they never did and I was so ill with other things I didn’t bother either. Nothing has come of it so presume it’s ok. But if it’s worrying you and you have more than one it may be prudent to chase up further checks, just to set your mind at rest. 🙂
Had nodules imaged on a CT scan, and was told to come back in 6 months to see if they were cancer :). When I asked what the chances were, they said they were a common side-effect from prior pneumonias etc. I did have a weaponized pneumonia as a kid, so I never bothered to re-check. It's been almost 20 years, so I guess it was not cancer, after all
I have nodules that show up on ct scan. My consultant wants to re check in another year from last scan to see if changed or same. She said (the respiratory consultant) that they could be damage from my earlier years of smoking/ repeated chest infections etc. Also they are small so she is being extra cautious which is reassuring.
I am long term asthmatic, since childhood.
I wish you well with your journey. Definitely persist if you want rechecks. Kind regards 😊
Good eveningI read your post with interest and feel that you should push for a pet scan as a ct scan is not detailed enough to tell if nodules are benign or not
Also from my own experience nodules don't always grow but can become more solid and the only way to test thst is first a pet scan which will glow red on a pet scan and the definite test by a biopsy
In my case I was monitored for a year then insisted on a pet scan which showed nodule had not grown but had solidified
I was given option of further monitoring or having biopsy via lobectomy of my upper lung lobe
I choose lobectomy done via robotic keyhole surgery I felt more pain having a tooth out !and recovered quickly
It was stage 1 cancer caught early enough and I did not need further treatment but will be monitored yearly
I am a non smoker with bronchiectasis and was lucky to have consultants and surgeons who agreed with my decision and suspicions having read about lung cancer
Nodules in the lungs are common as replies suggest but only a pet scan and biopsy will tell what kind of nodule it is
Lung cancer does not have any symptoms in the early stages which makes it so deadly
I don't mean to frighten you but because I care and the replies here are well meaning and are trying to allay your fears I would urge you to seek further testing
thank you for your kind and considerate reply. I will be sure to mention it at my next consultation. I have been told that as they are small they are not big concern currently but nothing to lose by mentioning it to respiratory consultant. Thank you. 🙏
You are welcome I have done extensive reading on this and whilst the size is a strong indicator when diagnosing the nodule the density changes of the nodule tends to be just as significant
My nodule was only 8mm the size had not changed in over a year but the density had and it had become more solid
There are various types of lung cancer and so the nodules for each type grow at a different rate .
Whilst ct scans are a good tool and can spot nodules etc it cannot define them as well as a pet scan
I won't use all the scientific terms but to put it in very basic terms
Cancer attract sugar and the injection they give you at pet scan has radiation and sugar in it
When they look at the pet scans cancer areas show up in red where the sugar levels containing radiation are .
Obviously consultants try to avoid doing pet scans where possible due to the radiation levels however depending on their results a biopsy may be advisable
The lungs do not have nerves which is why there are usually little symptoms that anything is wrong with them until it becomes serious
Do please follow this up with the consultant because if there is anything amiss at this early stage it is treatable
Thank you. I have had asthma since childhood as well. It looks like your consultant is keeping a close eye on your nodules which must be very reassuring for you. That is exactly what I would like . My GP wasn't concerned as they were found as a result of a CT scan for something else.
Following the comments on this post I have sent another email to the surgery to find out if they have had a reply which I have diarised.. thank you everyone for your help.
Hi! I have Myasthenia Gravis and had a routine chest scan to check for a thymoma, a tumour on your thymus gland, that can be caused by MG. An incidental find of a 3mm and a 5mm nodule were found on my left lung, I was told they weren’t anything to worry about as they looked normal, but I had a follow up Ct scans for a further 2 years on the run to check for changes, thankfully no changes, the consultant said they are extremely common and obviously just part of my make up, and was discharged. I also might add I have been asthmatic since I was 16 (now 57) and have had yearly chest infections, steroids and antibiotics given for every bout. I am not happy to be totally discharged and no further scans, so in a year or so I will be visiting my Gp to request a repeat Ct . Hope this helps, try not to worry, these nodules are extremely common, my consultant told me they’ll be hundreds and thousands of people walking round with lung nodules that don’t know!
Thank you for your reply.True there must be plenty of people with them and not know. I had never heard of lung nodules until they were discovered on my scan. Take care kind regards
I have nodules too that alarm doctors every time I have a chest xray even when I warn them In my case they though it could be from bronchitis or histoplasmosis, a common respiratory infection in the Ohio valley region where I went to college.
I am glad for you your nodule is not cancer. Really I have bladder cancer and other heart and lung problems but kinda coped. During a routine op to monitor my cancer a nodule was found on a near organ. Don't know if it's cancer spread or not, had a PSA and a CT Scan - Not heard nothing yet.
I agree hospitals are "vague." - I agree you are best monitored then any changes can receive treatment if they occur - Good luck Welshtoffee...
Good eveningI read your post with interest and feel that you should push for a pet scan as a ct scan is not detailed enough to tell if nodules are benign or not
Also from my own experience nodules don't always grow but can become more solid and the only way to test thst is first a pet scan which will glow red on a pet scan and the definite test by a biopsy
In my case I was monitored for a year then insisted on a pet scan which showed nodule had not grown but had solidified
I was given option of further monitoring or having biopsy via lobectomy of my upper lung lobe
I choose lobectomy done via robotic keyhole surgery I felt more pain having a tooth out !and recovered quickly
It was stage 1 cancer caught early enough and I did not need further treatment but will be monitored yearly
I am a non smoker with bronchiectasis and was lucky to have consultants and surgeons who agreed with my decision and suspicions having read about lung cancer
Nodules in the lungs are common as replies suggest but only a pet scan and biopsy will tell what kind of nodule it is
Lung cancer does not have any symptoms in the early stages which makes it so deadly
I don't mean to frighten you but because I care and the replies here are well meaning and are trying to allay your fears I would urge you to seek further testing
Thank you for your reply. I have contacted my Dr again about it . I was feeling that I was making a fuss wanting to know more about nodules and what could happen if they were ignored. I wish you well
hello I too have modules on my lung I had ct scan then 3 months later was called to have another scan no change and another 6 months later no change no further appointments were made for a check up although I was told by the specialist many people have them and she thought I got them because I had had pneumonia which had not been treated I too have chronic asthma bronchiectasis and copd. It’s been several years since the nodules were discovered and I have not had any further recalls since then.
Thank you . That is sort of what I was expecting to happen to me. I thought that three weeks between scans and no growth was too short a time. I would have been really worried nof they had grown in that time.
yep. I’ve got a couple of bodies - perfectly normal and they were described as being similar to having moles or freckles. Most people have them but as not everyone has scans they are not made aware of them
Hi welshcoffee I might be able help not on your nodes but have you been checked out for Eosinophilic ahsma only 10% of ahmatics have it. I have it every 4 weeks I have a drug called Nucala or mepolizumab I've had 60 over app 4 years my wife gives me it. I make to many eosinophil in my white good cells it my consultant app 18 months to find out they give a book all about it. Swelling of your air tubes etc all as result o phneumonia in 2016 which started in my sarnis a virus. The drug as given me my life back ps never had astma in my life. Good luck hope you get sorted. Harryhull
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