Lung Biopsy - Lucky?

[Eadgbe]

During my 1st PEt scan for PC a shadow was revealed on my lung. Subsequent to my PC treatment I did a CT scan of the area and am undergoing a biopsy of that node in a few days. The pulmonary Dr. had doubts that it was from the PC since it was so far removed from the prostate and my cancer was not advanced (stage2/3). However it appears to have grown slightly over the last 6 months.

Am I lucky that it was caught or am I just on the medical treadmill?

The biopsy is done only with a local. Does anyone have experience with that? Having gotten sepsis from one prostate biopsy, I'm a bit gun shy about potential side effects from a lung biopsy.

[maley2711]

These lung nodules are common.....I had 2 seen on CT post PCa diagnosis.....or it might have been on MRI...I can't remember. They wanted scan followup evry 3-6 months for several years...befored deciding on biopsy. The urologist seemed rather blase about any worry about those nodules, so have had no further scans! Facing PCa treatment, worry about those nodules was more than I wanted to deal with.

You are lucky that it was caught......if cancerous. Otherwise, probably the treadmill!! I have discovered other problems as I've endured a cavalcade of scans after high-risk PCA diagnosis.....just more to worry about?

Anyway, good luck with the biopsy. If you are so inclined, Google will provide more education on these lung nodules, and what determines the correct time to biopsy....percentage enlargement over a certain time period. I'd avoid a premature biopsy..but that's just me !!! I'm not a fan of invasive procedures!

[ragnar2020 in reply to maley2711]

maley2711,

During a PSMA PET in 10/23, the radiologist commented that a shaded spot in one of my lungs that had been seen in 2019 "seemed" to have grown larger, so he recommended a CT chest x-ray. That second radiologist in 1/24 recommended referral to a pulmonary specialist and suggested possible undetermined lung ailments. So, I've had the lung function testings and will see a pulmonary specialist in 5/24. I know two gents who have had PCa appear in their lungs. One had the tumor removed with surgery and another is simply watching it. PCa, is rare when it moves into one's lungs, but it does occur. Lung biopsies are serious business because of the chance of infection, so I'd want to have any biopsy done at a COE if possible, but that's a personal choice. Good luck.

Ragnar

[j-o-h-n]

Lung biopsy is a nothing burger. I ended up with a lung metastasis from a skin melanoma. I was treated (at MSKcc) with Keytruda (Immunotherapy) and it worked. If it's Ca then ask doc about Keytruda. I hope it's not..... BTW treatments with Keytruda were also nothing burgers.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[Eadgbe in reply to j-o-h-n]

HI j-o-hn,

I could take the prostate biopsies and OAR placement but am very anxious about this one. I understand that it is just a local that is used. SE of a collapsed lung are a bit scary.

If it proves cancerous, that's another issue.

[j-o-h-n in reply to Eadgbe]

Hello Eadgbe,

Mine was such a nothing, that I can't even remember it...........(In my case, I didn't realize or imagine what could go wrong, so as they say "ignorance is bliss").... (remember Keytruda).

Hope all is OK!!!

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[lpol83712]

sorta. My PSMA PET was clean except for a 6 mm indeterminate lung spot at Mayo, reviewed at UCLA. Ct has been stable for 6 months so they are continuing to watch it. My understanding is over 6 mm or growing a biopsy is recommended . They have found some early lung cancers. In 2018 article looking at isolated (single ) lung spread with none elsewhere there was only 4 or 5 cases in the worlds literature so they are likely correct it is not likely to be prostate cancer that has isolated spread (extremely rare) but low positive PSMA has picked up lung cancers or the precancers--a noninvasive type that needs to be removed before it becomes invasive.

[dhccpa]

Your doc's logic puzzles me. If it turns out to be PCa-related, won't that bump you to Stage 4 immediately?