How long should doctors observe a small unidentified mass in the lung before taking action on it?
A recent CAT scan showed a very tiny mass at the bottom of my left lung. My internist thinks we should wait for 5 - 6 months before checking to see if it has grown. Is this the regular and standard practice? I thought the earlier this is checked and identified the better it would be?
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Answer:
Internist is partially correct. He/she is monitoring it. I would go ( if you can afford it ) three months and look again. No action needed if it is "small" growth is what needs to be the concern here.
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Only as long as it takes for them to do a biopsy. Any type of mass is nothing to play with and if they are not moving fast enough for you move on to another doctor as fast as you can.
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It would be helpful to have a little more information. Your doctor is reading the radiologist report. It is most likely the radiologist who suggested waiting to see an interval change. Thin section CT images could yield information such as whether or not the the mass a granualoma. These are benign and nothing to worry about. A lot of people have these and don't know it until they get some routine chest xray. If a radiologist sees that on a CXR, they would recommend CT for further evaluation. Repeat the CT scan too soon and you are radiated for no cause. They must give it enough time to show definite change in size. Repeat too late and a little something can become a big something. 5 to 6 months sounds right. Most lung masses come from smoking (are you a smoker), asbestos exposure or mets (do you have a primary cancer elsewhere?) bgiers@yahoo.com
In most cases I would say that doctors make these decisions based on how big a threat they believe the mass is to your health. However, a doctor can not tell you what to do as your body is your own. If you would feel more comfortable checking on it ever month then you have that right. Some masses may take 5 - 6 months to show any signs of growth. If it is tiny, it is very likely that it is one of the slower growing types if it is malignant. However, it may also be the case that it is not malignant at all. It could just be a small non-malignant cyst. Do what you feel comfortable doing as your body is your own. If you want to have another CAT scan done in a month or so, go for it. If there are no signs of change from the last CAT scan, then perhaps wait a few months and try again. Do what will make you feel as comfortable as one can be expected to feel in such a situation.
My husband was diagnosed with lung cancer March 20th He had NO symptoms. He went thru radiation chemo gamma knife and took a drug called tarceva. Lung cancer is very aggressive. You need to get more tests. It may save your life. It is well worth the money.Good luck to you