confusing medical terms....

Hello everyone!!

I am new to this board. In early Nov I had a CT scan for another medical issue and a nodule was found. A few days ago I had a second CT scan and the findings mean I get a biopsy next. I have a copy of the report and a CD of the CT scans. They are so very confusing. I have looked up many of the medical terms but still could use some help. I am seeing a multitude of doctors next wed. They have a Lung Cancer screening board where all the team meets at once and will discuss my case then discuss with me. I am in very good hands!

Here are some of the results of the recent CT. (i typed just a few words the report is lengthy)

 9x11mm ill-defined and spiculated nodule with surrounding ground glass density (aprox 1mm larger than previous scan) in the superior segment of the right lower lobe. Primary differential consideration is primary lung neoplasm although active fungal disease could have the same appearance. Biopsy should be considered. (air bronchograms extend near the margin of the nodule but definitely do not extend through it)

Limited Non-contrast study but there is equivocal fullness in the right hilar region where adenopathy cannot be excluded. I would favor a 1.4 x 3.1 cm structure in the anterior-superior mediastinum is related to normal residual thymus although adenopathy cannot be excluded. a 8mm lymph node which does not meet the size criteria is seen in the pretracheal region but metastatic disease cannot be excluded.

I should add, I am a non-smoker that may have been exposed to chemicals at work. I also take a medicine that could have caused this.

BAC lung cancer is more common in non-smokers, females, and asians.  I am only female in that category, but I was diagnosed with this type of lung cancer.  It took a long time for my diagnosis, since they checked me for pnuemonia, lung fungus, TB, and sarcoidosis.  It wasn't until my 3rd biopsy that they discovered it was cancer.  In my small hometown they kept telling me no signs of cancer.  

Getting your biopsy will give you knowledge, it could be a number of things instead of cancer.  Once a diagnosis is made, the stress actually gets better.  The un-known to me was the worse.

You can read my story by clicking on my name, and that will take you to my profile and my story.  I wish you peace, BYRD

I forgot to add the BAC or brochoalvedar non small cell lung cancer is a sub type of adenocarcinoma.  I was told that my BAC morphed, or mutated into the adenocarcinoma.  I had no symptoms of lung cancer.  I thought I was having heart problems, since I read all those e-males about women and heart desease, because I was a little short of breath going up stairs.  Finding lung cancer early is usally because doctors are looking for something else.  BAC lung cancer does not show up on a PET scan either, but the mutated adenocardinoma does.  

On Dec 07, 2012 4:53 PM thebyrdsfriend wrote:

BAC lung cancer is more common in non-smokers, females, and asians.  I am only female in that category, but I was diagnosed with this type of lung cancer.  It took a long time for my diagnosis, since they checked me for pnuemonia, lung fungus, TB, and sarcoidosis.  It wasn't until my 3rd biopsy that they discovered it was cancer.  In my small hometown they kept telling me no signs of cancer.  

Getting your biopsy will give you knowledge, it could be a number of things instead of cancer.  Once a diagnosis is made, the stress actually gets better.  The un-known to me was the worse.

You can read my story by clicking on my name, and that will take you to my profile and my story.  I wish you peace, BYRD

Thank you so much for the info!! I chose a hospital that has a special Lung cancer forum on Wednesdays. I will have a group of doctors taking care of me from day 1. So that is good news.

I will read your story next. I appreciate your response and info. This helps me so much.

I have been having heart problems that is why my CT scan was done. My symptoms of my heart PVC are there but some other symptoms I feel like chest pain may be coming from my lungs. Thank goodness my heart was scanned and the nodule was found. It could have gotten much worse!!

You are so right the unknown is the worst!!

I get a lot of information at ~  inspire dot com.  lol  I had to spell it all out becaue they won't let me put in a link here for some reason.  But at Inspire, it is only about lung cancer, and is sponsored by the lung cancer allience.  It's a great sight and I'm sure you'll find lots of information there.  Another is cancer grace dot com.  That one has real doctors you can talk with.  

So, you sound like me.  I wanted EVERYTHING I could find on the subject.  I am one who thinks knowledge is power.,  And with this desease, we need all that knowledge we can find. 

Keep up the possitive attitude.  I know I was scared to death, and heck, I'm feeling fine now, 2 12 years out.  One thing my oncologist told me " well, if you have to have lung cancer, then BAC is the one to have."  So, at the time I didn't understand, now I do.  It is a very slow growing cancer, and it usually stays in the lungs.

You wouldn't believe how much progress has been made in lung cancer just since I've been diagnosed.  There have been new drugs approved, new treatments, and actually BAC has been changed as far as type of cancer.  It used to be classified as a sub-type of adenocarcinoma.  Now I don't know what it is considered, maybe just adenocarcinoma in the early stages.  You'll have to check up on that new infor, because I've forgotten.

I do have some ground glass they are watching in my lungs. I worried so much when I read about that in my ct scans.  But heck, they haven't grown, the oncologist is still telling me it could be something else.  So, I live my life worry free, because I know worry causes nothing but bad things.  I usually give myself only 1 day to worry, and that's the day before I go for my scans.  Heck sometimes I even forget to worry.  lol  All in all, I believe laughing gets me through a lot, and I try to keep all stress out of my life.  

I count every day a blessings and give thanks to God I've gotten all this extra time in my life.  ha ha  I am only 58 now, and don't feel that old.  I'm ready to face whatever comes at me after I've face this old cancer thing.  Life is good and I'm going to live it.

Peace to you ~ and Thank God you found the nodules when you did.  Take care, Byrd

On Dec 08, 2012 3:36 PM thebyrdsfriend wrote:

I get a lot of information at ~  inspire dot com.  lol  I had to spell it all out becaue they won't let me put in a link here for some reason.  But at Inspire, it is only about lung cancer, and is sponsored by the lung cancer allience.  It's a great sight and I'm sure you'll find lots of information there.  Another is cancer grace dot com.  That one has real doctors you can talk with.  

So, you sound like me.  I wanted EVERYTHING I could find on the subject.  I am one who thinks knowledge is power.,  And with this desease, we need all that knowledge we can find. 

Keep up the possitive attitude.  I know I was scared to death, and heck, I'm feeling fine now, 2 12 years out.  One thing my oncologist told me " well, if you have to have lung cancer, then BAC is the one to have."  So, at the time I didn't understand, now I do.  It is a very slow growing cancer, and it usually stays in the lungs.

You wouldn't believe how much progress has been made in lung cancer just since I've been diagnosed.  There have been new drugs approved, new treatments, and actually BAC has been changed as far as type of cancer.  It used to be classified as a sub-type of adenocarcinoma.  Now I don't know what it is considered, maybe just adenocarcinoma in the early stages.  You'll have to check up on that new infor, because I've forgotten.

I do have some ground glass they are watching in my lungs. I worried so much when I read about that in my ct scans.  But heck, they haven't grown, the oncologist is still telling me it could be something else.  So, I live my life worry free, because I know worry causes nothing but bad things.  I usually give myself only 1 day to worry, and that's the day before I go for my scans.  Heck sometimes I even forget to worry.  lol  All in all, I believe laughing gets me through a lot, and I try to keep all stress out of my life.  

I count every day a blessings and give thanks to God I've gotten all this extra time in my life.  ha ha  I am only 58 now, and don't feel that old.  I'm ready to face whatever comes at me after I've face this old cancer thing.  Life is good and I'm going to live it.

Peace to you ~ and Thank God you found the nodules when you did.  Take care, Byrd

Thank you so much. I will check those sites out right now!

I think knowledge also makes this less scary. The more I know the better.

I am 36 (37 in January) so I need to get this fixed so I can see my kids grow up. I have to do what I can to survive.

I have been reading here and I read your story. It does sound similar to mine some.