Does Lepidic mean cancer?: Hi all, I... - Lung Cancer Support

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Does Lepidic mean cancer?

LouF profile image
LouF
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Hi all, I recently posted a separate post about a ground glass opacity growth and the tests my consultant has referred me to. I have a PET scan booked in for this Saturday and received a copy of the letter sent to my GP. Under actions the Consultant's letter reads "PET CT but very likely to be negative as possible LEPIDIC cell"

They are referring to a ground glass opacity which has grown from 8mm to 20mm. All research I have done for the word lepidic keeps pointing me to adenocarcinoma. My question is, does lepidic mean cancer or is it used to describe something else?

Thank you

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LouF profile image
LouF
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JanetteR57 profile image
JanetteR57

Google is not the best source to learn about cancer especially when already in a likely emotive state.

The term describes how the cells look from a pathologist's perspective.

Lung nodules and ground glass opacities are the bread and butter of thoracic pathologists work and they train for years to know the difference between how cells look under microscope. They use different terms to describe things and their description in the narrative should reassure you. fingers crossed the PET shows the growth could be due to inflammation or other causes. 20mm still relatively small.

It is easy to assume things that are not the same but sound similar - I wrote an article that was published last year about lung cancer in never smokers and the publishers added a link about a type of breast cancer as it sounded/looked similar to the mucinous adenocarcinoma I'd had and mentioned in the article so even journalists and others leap to the wrong conclusions.

keep the faith and wait for the investigations and the professionals' verdict if you can.... find a way to distract yourself from the rabbit hole that google can become.... good luck.

LouF profile image
LouF in reply to JanetteR57

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my question. My husband has recently been diagnosed with Leukaemia so my anxiety is already on high alert, I agree google isn't doing me any favours so will wait to hear the full storey from the experts once the tests have been concluded.

Denzie profile image
DenzieModeratorVolunteer

The most important thing to focus on here is the description of a GGO. All GGOs are semi solid. They only way that I am aware of is a wedge resection (surgery). My oncologist is watching some GGOs of mine that have grown recently. He told me they would be of greater concern if they change state to become solid.

myarabella profile image
myarabella

The doctor's note states it is very likely to be negative, not positive. That is potentially good news.

myarabella profile image
myarabella

PS... wishing you and your husband good results. God bless.

LouF profile image
LouF

Thought I'd post an update on my PET scan. I've received a call to say the GGO lit up on the PET scan so next steps is a lung biopsy. They said I should receive an appointment in the next week or so. I was in the middle of Aldi's when I received the call so didn't have an opportunity to take it all in. I'll call tomorrow to get some more info

TutuMa profile image
TutuMa

prayers & good thoughts 🤗

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