天博体育

Most are Noncancerous, But Follow-Up Care is Critical

If you鈥檝e been told you have a lung nodule, you may be worried about lung cancer. Just hearing the word 鈥渃ancer鈥� can be stressful. But most lung nodules are not cancerous. Don鈥檛 panic 鈥� but do talk to your doctor about your concerns and what your next step should be.

Here are answers to some common questions about lung nodules:

What is a lung nodule?

Also called a pulmonary nodule, a lung nodule is a round spot in the lung that is more solid than normal lung tissue. It鈥檚 usually detected on an X-ray or computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan. Lung nodules are quite common. In fact, lung nodules are found in up to half of the people who have chest X-rays.

How do lung nodules form?

Most lung nodules are caused by scar tissue, a healed infection or an irritant in the air you鈥檝e breathed. Inflammation that is not related to an infection can also cause nodules. Rheumatoid arthritis is one cause of inflammation that can lead to a lung nodule. Noncancerous growths such as fibromas (benign tumors made of connective tissue) can also appear as nodules.

However, some lung nodules are cancerous. If a nodule is cancer, it will probably grow fairly rapidly. If it doesn鈥檛, it鈥檚 probably not cancer.

How are lung nodules important in the diagnosis of cancer?

Most of the time, lung cancer doesn鈥檛 cause symptoms until it has spread to other parts of the body. If it can be detected in earlier stages, when it is still confined to the lungs, it鈥檚 easier to treat and has a higher survival rate. One way to detect early-stage lung cancer is to investigate any spot in the lungs. That鈥檚 why you don鈥檛 want to ignore a lung nodule. Talk to your doctor about a plan of action. You may want to get a second opinion to make sure you have as much information as possible.

If I have a lung nodule, does it mean I鈥檒l get lung cancer?

Most nodules are noncancerous (benign), and a benign nodule will not turn into cancer. But some nodules turn out to be cancerous (malignant).

Small nodules, especially those that are smaller than 1 centimeter, are rarely cancerous. Larger nodules, larger than 3 centimeters, are usually called lung masses and have a higher chance of being cancerous than small ones.

The chance that your lung nodule is cancerous depends on many factors. Your doctor can give you an estimate if you want one.

So what鈥檚 the next step?

In most cases, you鈥檒l simply need regular CT scans to make sure the nodule isn鈥檛 growing or changing. This approach is called active surveillance or watchful waiting. If the nodule doesn鈥檛 grow over a two-year period, it鈥檚 unlikely to be cancer. If it does grow, you鈥檒l probably need more imaging tests or a biopsy to rule out cancer.

A lung biopsy involves taking a small piece of lung for further testing. It鈥檚 considered safe, but as with all medical procedures, there is some risk and expense involved. That鈥檚 why doctors usually don鈥檛 recommend a biopsy right away. It鈥檚 safer to monitor the nodule through active surveillance for up to two years. If it doesn鈥檛 grow, you probably won鈥檛 need further surveillance or testing.

Talk to your doctor about your preferences and any concerns or questions you have.

What symptoms should I look for if I鈥檓 worried about lung cancer?

Unfortunately, most lung cancers don鈥檛 cause symptoms until they have spread to other parts of the body. But some people may have symptoms. Keep in mind that early symptoms of lung cancer are similar to symptoms of many other conditions, so don鈥檛 panic, but do see your doctor. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are:

• A cough that does not go away or gets worse.
• Coughing up blood or rust-colored sputum (mucus or phlegm).
• Chest pain that may get worse when deep breathing, coughing or laughing.
• Hoarseness that doesn鈥檛 go away.
• Loss of appetite.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Shortness of breath or wheezing.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• A respiratory illness, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, that doesn鈥檛 go away or that keeps coming back.

If lung cancer spreads, it may cause:

• Bone pain (like pain in the back or hips).
• Nervous system changes (such as headache, weakness or numbness of an arm or leg, dizziness, balance problems or seizures) if the cancer spreads to the brain.
• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), if cancer spreads to the liver.
• Swollen lymph nodes such as those in the neck, above the collarbone or in the armpit.

What if I do have lung cancer?

You may have heard that lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer or seen frightening statistics. But keep in mind that every case is different. If your nodule is small, it鈥檚 likely to be early-stage cancer, which is easier to treat. Your age, overall health and other factors also play a role. For the best outcome, make sure your cancer care team is experienced with lung cancer and has access to the latest treatment options.

Learn about 天博体育鈥檚 Lung Nodule Program, which provides active surveillance of lung nodules and other risk factors for lung cancer.

This article first appeared in the November 2019 edition of the HealthPerks newsletter.