What if lung nodules grow

Therefore, doctors approach every pulmonary nodule as cancerous until they can prove otherwise. About 40 percent of pulmonary nodules turn out to be cancerous.

Half of all patients treated for a cancerous pulmonary nodule live at least five years past the diagnosis. But if the nodule is one centimeter across or smaller, survival after five years rises to 80 percent. Benign pulmonary nodules are just that—benign. Cancerous pulmonary nodules, however, are known to grow relatively quickly—usually doubling in size every four months but sometimes as fast as every 25 days.

Over time the patient will experience shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain. The challenge in trying to identify pulmonary nodules before they become masses is that there are few, if any, symptoms to indicate a nodule might be present. If any symptoms do appear they tend to imitate characteristics common to a chest cold or a mild flu. Cancerous nodules can be the first stage of a primary lung cancer, brought on by smoking or any other common cause of lung cancer.

They also can be a secondary cancer that metastasized in the lungs from a primary cancer elsewhere in the body. The diagnostic process focuses on determining whether a pulmonary nodule is cancerous or benign.

The most sure-fire way to make the distinction is by examining the growth rate of the nodule. Most lung nodules seen on CT scans are not cancer. They are more often the result of old infections, scar tissue, or other causes. But tests are often needed to be sure a nodule is not cancer. Most often the next step is to get a repeat CT scan to see if the nodule is growing over time.

The time between scans might range anywhere from a few months to a year, depending on how likely your doctor thinks that the nodule could be cancer. This is based on the size, shape, and location of the nodule, as well as whether it appears to be solid or filled with fluid. If they are, we schedule the appropriate tests as quickly as possible. If you don't have lung cancer, we all celebrate and you go on your way.

If you do have malignant nodules and a lung cancer diagnosis, you can get started with treatment right away. Worrying about a lung nodule and the possibility of cancer is both normal and valid. At CTCA, we understand that patients need answers, and they need them as soon as possible. Make a difference in the fight against cancer by donating to cancer research.

Call us anytime. To help you get the information you need, this article answers common questions about lung nodules, including: What does a spot on your lung mean? Can a CT scan tell if a lung nodule is cancerous?

What are the benefits of getting an early lung cancer diagnosis? What should you do if you have a lung nodule? What does a spot on your lung mean? If the CT scan shows small nodules less than a centimeter wide, or about the size of a green pea , the probability of them being cancerous is low. Larger nodules are more worrisome. Rounded nodules are less likely to be cancerous than spiculated having jagged edges ones.

Calcified lung nodules contain calcium deposits that sometimes form in response to infection. These nodules are most likely noncancerous. Why you should undergo yearly lung cancer screenings if you're at high risk of lung cancer Lung cancer screenings are like mammograms or colonoscopies: a yearly test that checks to see whether high-risk individuals have developed suspicious signs of cancer, or if cancer does develop, helps catch it as early as possible.

The CTCA rapid lung-nodule diagnosis program: Why we started it and how we approach cancer care We've seen many patients left stressed and anxious for weeks or months after finding out they have nodules in their lungs. Related Articles Don't let fear get in the way of your lung cancer screening.

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