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Lung Nodules

skinscared
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Had a Chest CT today. Three nodules, 0.3 cm

No follow up needed said the report.

I'm scared beyond belief anyway

I'm 46, off and on smoker since age 18. Why wouldn't I be high risk for more follow ups? 

No cough but sinus drainage that I swore had some pink streaks (blood?) In it? Had a CT in 2019 for suspected blood clot and no mention of nodules then. I get it they're pretty small so probably wouldn't have shown on chest x ray but I've had plenty of those in last few years too.

So these show up new and yet no need for.follow up.is what the report said. Don't get it.  Feeling very scared and lonely as my partner thinks I'm overreacting.  

  • Hello skinscared and thanks for posting, 

    Lung nodules are common - they are seen in up to 35% of people having a chest CT scan and most are benign (not cancer). To decide what to do about them doctors look at the size and certain features of each nodule and follow guidelines that have been put together by experts. Some nodules are investigated further, some are re-scanned in a few months time and nothing needs to be done about the others, so not all lung nodules need follow up.

    Things like this can be very unsettling and remind us that good health can't be taken for granted. So I think a lot of people find something like this alarming.  I think the best thing to do is to talk it over with your own doctor and ask them to go over the CT scan report and explain the guidance. Hopefully they can put your mind more at ease.

    Best wishes,

    Julia     

  • Offline in reply to CRUK Nurse Julia

    But I have 3 in my 2 lungs, all 2.5cm, along with numerous other nodes, but my lung is also 80% collapsed and nothing, I see my respiratory consultant in feb, but just keep getting pushed form one too the other

  • in reply to Brandon69

    Hello and thank you for getting back to us.

    I am afraid we are not able to tell you anything else about these nodules. I see you are under the care of the respiratory team and have an appointment to see them in February. I do think that if there was a concern that you could possibly have cancer you would have been told this.  However, some people with lung nodules might need to be followed up for some time.   

    I am sorry we cannot tell you anything 

    Take care,

    Caroline

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