Guest guest Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 Janielle - Dr. Furman will have to address this one - Delicious ideas to please the pickiest eaters. Watch the video on AOL Living. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 Janielle, Now that everyone is having CT scans so frequently we a finding many nodules that we would never have found before. Most of these nodules are just inflammation that are the result of something getting inhaled into the lung and not able to be removed by the body. The most important means for classifying nodules as malignant (cancerous) versus benign (not cancerous) is whether the nodule has changed in size over a period of time. That is why the scans are done six months apart. Having a scan done at 3 months would probably not allow sufficient time for the nodule have have appreciably change in size. The fact that the nodule was not seen on your Chest x-ray is not important as 6 mm nodules really are too small to see on chest x- rays. They typically say 10 mm is the smallest that can be seen. What would be helpful are any previous CT scans that you may have had at the time of our diagnosis of CLL. Rick Furman, MD > > Dear Dr. Furman, and Group, > > A couple of weeks ago I had a CT Scan looking for coronary calcium > scoring. The Agatston score came back at zero which is great. My > doctor has been looking for reasons for some severe fatigue, chest/jaw > pressure, and extreme flushing/sweating upon exertion and wanted to rule > out any cardiac issues. All the cardiac tests have come back normal. > > Additional findings found a 6mm left basilar subpleural noncalcified > nodule (just above diaphram). I had a chest/lung x-ray back in > September (for bronchitis) and the nodule was not present at that time. > My GP is saying that I should have a 6 month follow up chest CT to > assess stability. > > My GP did order a lung capacity test (after the nodule was found) and > the results were Minimal Obstructive Airways Disease. She has > prescribed Asmanex to use daily and Combivent to use as needed. > > In reading about pulmonary nodules, the risk factors seem high for > myself (with regards to benign vs malignant). I have smoked for 20+ > years. > > I have been in watch and wait (stage 0) mode since I was diagnosed with > CLL in September of 2006 at the age of 44. > > My question is this: should I wait 6 months? If not, should I see > about having a bronchoscopy, needle biopsy or what? Also, what > information would I use as an argument to fast track this? > > Thank you in advance for any information you can provide. > > Janielle Hedt > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 Dr. Furman, Thank you for your informative reply. It does relax my mind (a little). I had a CT scan (with contrast) in October 2006 (right after my CLL diagnosis). I had my GP check those results/findings as well. She states that at that time, the lungs were clear and looked un-remarkable. Thank you again, Janielle Hedt From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of rrfmanSent: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 10:51 AM Subject: Re: Lung Nodule Janielle,Now that everyone is having CT scans so frequently we a finding many nodules that we would never have found before. Most of these nodules are just inflammation that are the result of something getting inhaled into the lung and not able to be removed by the body.The most important means for classifying nodules as malignant (cancerous) versus benign (not cancerous) is whether the nodule has changed in size over a period of time. That is why the scans are done six months apart. Having a scan done at 3 months would probably not allow sufficient time for the nodule have have appreciably change in size.The fact that the nodule was not seen on your Chest x-ray is not important as 6 mm nodules really are too small to see on chest x-rays. They typically say 10 mm is the smallest that can be seen. What would be helpful are any previous CT scans that you may have had at the time of our diagnosis of CLL.Rick Furman, MD>> Dear Dr. Furman, and Group,> > A couple of weeks ago I had a CT Scan looking for coronary calcium> scoring. The Agatston score came back at zero which is great. My> doctor has been looking for reasons for some severe fatigue, chest/jaw> pressure, and extreme flushing/sweating upon exertion and wanted to rule> out any cardiac issues. All the cardiac tests have come back normal.> > Additional findings found a 6mm left basilar subpleural noncalcified> nodule (just above diaphram). I had a chest/lung x-ray back in> September (for bronchitis) and the nodule was not present at that time.> My GP is saying that I should have a 6 month follow up chest CT to> assess stability.> > My GP did order a lung capacity test (after the nodule was found) and> the results were Minimal Obstructive Airways Disease. She has> prescribed Asmanex to use daily and Combivent to use as needed.> > In reading about pulmonary nodules, the risk factors seem high for> myself (with regards to benign vs malignant). I have smoked for 20+> years.> > I have been in watch and wait (stage 0) mode since I was diagnosed with> CLL in September of 2006 at the age of 44.> > My question is this: should I wait 6 months? If not, should I see> about having a bronchoscopy, needle biopsy or what? Also, what> information would I use as an argument to fast track this?> > Thank you in advance for any information you can provide.> > Janielle Hedt> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 I, too, was found to have a lung nodule last March when I had a CAT scan for vocal cord paralysis. I had a repeat CAT in Nov that showed no changes but had a severe dye reaction. So, at this point, I am not sure how this is going to be followed in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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