Hi everyone,I am so very appreciative to have found this community as i am living the same experience that so many of you went throu and generously shared your story here.
In my case 9 nodules where found by chance when a CT scan was done to get a calcium score of my artery. Turns out that 8 of them are smaller than 4mm, some are solid and others semi solid. 1 nodule with a size of 11mm have the glass ground characteristic with retraction. A second scan was done in december and no difference in size was observed. January 6th the 11mm nodule was confirmed as cancerous so a VATS procedure is schedule for march to remove my upper right lobe.
Since i live alone and have no family, is it possible to recover at home by yourself without any outside help regarding daily activities like cooking, shower and so on?
I feel very privilege to be a good subject for this VATS procedure but the remaining nodules are very much on my mind. Is there anyone here experiencing a similar situation with multiple nodules?
Many many thanks
Christian
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zzchristianzz
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morning like you I have a 12mm nodule o upper lung found during routine Ct scan , I went on to have a PET scan then Dototote scan , have you had a lung biopsy? As I was told the only way to determine a true result is from a biopsy , which I had ( not very nice) and the result gave me the all clear ,,, mine is a heamatouma , but they will keep me followed up with scans regularly
Hi, Thank you for your comment, i didn't get any biopsy but everything is pointing very strongly toward a cancerous nodule in the spectrum of adenome carcinoma. According to my lung specialist i will skip the "not so fun" biopsy and go directly to surgery. Maybe when i meet the surgeon he might think differently.
Best wishes. I hope they decide on the right procedure soon and that all goes well. I think you need to make it clear to your GP and consultant that you live alone and will almost certainly need help after your treatment. In this country Social Services would be the people to contact. What is available in Canada?
I don’t have any personal experience of this but my mum’s 81 year old neighbour has recently undergone keyhole surgery for the removal of the upper lobe of her right lung due to cancer. She also lives alone, although does have family 50 miles away. She did stay with them for a week when she first came out of hospital but she is a very determined lady and wanted to get back to her own home asap. They brought her back home and she has been managing on her own ever since. Me and her other neighbour got her shopping for the first couple of weeks she was home but then she was back on the bus doing it herself by week three! She has since been back for a checkup and now signed off from the surgical team.
She did say it was quite painful in the early days and she appreciated the help she got then. I don’t know how social care is set up in Canada but, if her experience is anything to go by, you will either need some home help, or somewhere you could stay and recuperate for a week or two post op.
I wish you well with the op. Hopefully someone will be along soon who has firsthand experience and can give you better advice.
Wow, this is a strong woman indeed! Will inquire with social services if they can provide any help for my situation but i know they are overwhelmed and short of staff, will certainly need a B plan. Thanks you.
Hi zzchristianzz, I have 5 lung nodules which were discovered a year ago. I have had 3 scans which showed 2 of them had reduced in size. They are all between 3mm and 5mm. My consultant seems to think they are inflammatory and has decided to wait until my next scan in June to make a diagnosis. I am unable to have any biopsies as they aren’t in an accessible place. Like you I worry about them.
According to research most of those nodules <5mm are 85 to 90% not cancerous, particularly if there is no retraction ( spider legs ), but even if probabilities are on your side it is still worrisome, wish you well for your next scan.
Hi zzcgrustianzz, I hope the surgery goes well for you . I would think you will need a little help for the first couple of weeks after this procedure x
Hi I had a nodule found accidentally on CT when changing Biologics for my RA. They repeated the CT’s for 3 years every 3 or 6 months & every CT showed something different. Sometimes new nodules sometimes others vanished but then several new ones arrived plus ground glass effect. The biggest was 7mm. After 3 years of CT’s they decided they weren’t behaving like cancer & were probably caused by RA but on the last one it showed Bronchiectasis which is why I joined this group. Yours sound like they are behaving differently as you have had so many different types of scans. The surgery sounds scary & you must naturally be worried as I would be. But as mine never progressed any further I don’t have any helpful advice. I wish you all the best. X
I’m going through a super similar experience and had a VATS lung biopsy and wedge resection 3 weeks ago. I had a CT last summer and they incidentally found 3 nodules, the biggest is 8mm and one showed cavitation, and they also found number of cysts on my lungs, possibly resembling fibrosis. I’m in my early 30’s and a non smoker so this was all a bit of a shock. I had a bronchoscopy done which showed increased white cells, and also have done tonnes of other blood tests, but no definitive answers to what’s going on. So my doctors decided to do a VATS biopsy.
I’d never had surgery or anything like this in my life before so was extremely scared, but it was absolutely fine and YOU will be too. The ward and nurses were awesome. They give you a general anaesthetic so you’re completely out. When you wake up, there was no pain or discomfort at all, you’ll be hooked up to a chest block and have a little button which gives you a little burst of extra pain meds if you need it. The physio team will want to sit you up and move you around after a day or so, which at first feels very strange. Just do everything at your own pace. They give you plenty of medication to control any pain, and I was also given medication to thin the mucus in your lungs so you can cough easier. I was very nervous about coughing after, but it was actually okay! They remove your tubes and lines and things over the next day or so and before you know it you’ll be up and and about. I had surgery on the Friday and went home on the Monday!
The first two weeks home I was a bit stiff, and got breathless a little easier. I found I could manage any pain with just paracetamol, and I was given a good stash of it by the hospital when I went home. I found the pain felt like sharp muscle ache around my ribs, and sleeping was a little uncomfortable, but completely manageable with pain meds. I managed to take a walk down the road after two days at home and a gentle walk around town later in the week. The most annoying bit was the stitches, they kept catching on my clothes! I had the stitches removed after two weeks. I stayed at my Mum’s for this time, but she was working (from home) so basically did everything by myself, but honestly it was helpful knowing I could shout for her if I needed anything. I had no issues moving around, cooking, anything, you’ll just find you’ll be a bit slower at everything but just take your time. You will be a bit sore but it was never unbearable, don’t rush anything at all and take plenty of rests and breaks. I did find showering uncomfortable but could manage by myself no problem, I just had to be gentle around the incision. I was told not to lift anything or do any repetitive housework like hoovering, my Mum had to make my bed and do the laundry for me. My arm on the side I had the op was a bit stiff too, but tried to keep it moving as much as possible. I would personally advise someone stay with you, but the hospital should be really helpful and I heard they can organise care for you at home while you’re recovering.
I’ve been back at work for a week now, I usually work in a lab but have been kept to office based work for a couple of weeks. I feel more or less back to normal now, I still get a bit of pain in my rib muscles but it’s very mild. Sleeping is a bit of a pain because it’s a little uncomfortable lying on the side I had the op, but managing to do it a bit more every day! I have full use of my arm back too.
The worst but now is waiting for results. I’ve been told 6-8 weeks and haven’t heard anything yet. I had two nodules and some small bits of lung tissue removed. It’s very stressful, but the operation went wonderfully and was far easier than expected.
If you have any questions at all please let me know I’ll be happy to offer reassurance! Best of luck, you’ll be fine!!
Thanks so much for sharing so generously your experience, i am so appreciative. Will keep your words near by as they will come handy once i'm back from surgery. Wish you the very best on your upcoming results.
My friend Roy had a lobe removed and told the hospital I would support him at home the first few days, as I live just up the road. In fact, he had prepared his house well and didn't contact me at all. I'd just keep in touch or call round to make sure he was OK.
You need to plan everything well beforehand for your circumstances. Lots of microwave meals in the freezer, everything to hand like the phone and charger on an extension cable with switched sockets that you can place on a table so you don't need to bend down. Maybe a bed downstairs so that you can live on the ground floor if you're not in a single storey house. It helps to have central heating.
But do have someone you can call on to help you if necessary, as you will feel out of sorts the first few days. Make sure they have a key to get in, with instructions along the lines of 'if I don't phone you at x time today, call round to make sure I'm OK'.
This my situation. I had a resection and removed the largest of three. I feel so relieved to have gotten it out - but my mind cant help but focus on the remaining two. Just had my 6 month follow up and they haven't changed - but they are still there. Dr. isn't concerned - but like - how can I not be? Does anyone with LC have nodules that are benign?
Before surgery i had 9 nodules, 8 solid and 1 classified as ground glass nodule with a size of 12mm. The latest was removed may 1st and was naturally very concern about the 8 others that i still carry around. But research shows me that the odds are very much on my side considering the size and nature of these nodules that vary from 3 to 5mm.
I include a chart showing the guidelines regarding nodule's management also a publication from the BMJ journal with more indepth information about these guidelines. Both of these publication made me at ease with those remaining nodules, hope it does the same for you.
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