pet scan results

My husband recently had a routine chest x-ray as part of a yearly physical that ultimately led to him having a PET scan.  The scan shows three nodules and the score of the scan was an 8.1.  The doctor would not give a diagnosis until after the surgery next monday.  What are the odds that these growths are not cancerous with a reading of 8.1?  He is a non smoker and otherwise in excellent health with no obvious symptoms.

Can't exactly answer your question.  But, 90% of lung cancer victims are smokers.   If your dr. is going to surgically remove the cancer, that means it is only Stage 1 or maybe Stage 2 and can be surgically removed and then with a bit of radiation or something to make more sure that they've gotten any migrated cells close by, he'll probably be just fine.  I have Stage IV lung cancer, nonsmoker, and I felt well, still do, after 9 months of treatment with Tarceva.   When the cancer has metastacized, they don't do surgery, just try to kill those cells and it is much dangerous.   Is the surgery to remove the cancer, or are you thinking biopsy to find what kind of cancer?   I don't know what your pet scan points mean.   My pet scan showed a large hot spot on my lung, several hot spots on my backbone and a little warmth on some lymh nodes by the time I was diagnosed.   They couldn't treat before the information from the pet scan and the biopsy.

 

On 5/26/2009 nevah wrote:

Can't exactly answer your question.  But, 90% of lung cancer victims are smokers.   If your dr. is going to surgically remove the cancer, that means it is only Stage 1 or maybe Stage 2 and can be surgically removed and then with a bit of radiation or something to make more sure that they've gotten any migrated cells close by, he'll probably be just fine.  I have Stage IV lung cancer, nonsmoker, and I felt well, still do, after 9 months of treatment with Tarceva.   When the cancer has metastacized, they don't do surgery, just try to kill those cells and it is much dangerous.   Is the surgery to remove the cancer, or are you thinking biopsy to find what kind of cancer?   I don't know what your pet scan points mean.   My pet scan showed a large hot spot on my lung, several hot spots on my backbone and a little warmth on some lymh nodes by the time I was diagnosed.   They couldn't treat before the information from the pet scan and the biopsy.

We have not been told yes or no to the question of is it cancer.  The doctor said he will remove the three nodules that showed as hot on the PET scan and have them examined to determine if he needs to remove the lower lobe of the lung and the lymph nodes.  I guess we need to wait till after the surgery to know what we are dealing with. 

Maybe the dr. can have the biopsy done while he's in surgery and do everything at once if he finds that it is cancer? 

that is the plan.