Gound glass lung nodule and possibility of it being cancer

	Asked by Unregistered on Thu 01, May 2008 06:09am
	I have a 7mm ground glass nodule in lung..I am being told now that I have to go for another ct of lung in 3 months. I am female, 51, smoker and have emphysema and also RA. Everything I read on the internet says this nodule is cancer. DO you think the chances are high this is? I see a thoraic surgeon this month to go over the ct scan and discuss options. Are all ground glass nodules in lungs cancer? I also have ILD in both lungs. I also have several lymph nodes growing over a period of 3 years in both lungs but they are not concerend with them, only the ground glass nodule.
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	Answer by Dr Paul S, MD (doctor) on Thu 01, May 2008 08:42pm: Good day. I understand your concern regarding this. Considering your smoking history and the appearance of this nodule, then it will be very hard to dismiss entirely the possibility of cancer and I agree with you that the ground glass appearance may point out to a possible cancer. I also agree with you seeing a thoracic surgeon so that other options can be explored. An option that can be discussed is whether the nodule can be taken out through surgery so that the exact nature of that nodule can be ascertained. The location of the nodule and your operative risk can affect the decision. You should bear in mind also that you have ILD and emphysema that can make any operation to the lung risky. Your concern of having to wait for three months is also valid since if this is really cancer, then a crucial 3 months would have already passed and the window of opportunity to treat it may also have passed. The management of your nodule involves a lot of assessments between risks and benefits and I suggest you discuss these in depth with your doctors. I would also suggest that your case be presented to a multi-disciplinary conference which are being conducted in hospitals for dilemmas like this. Regards and God bless.
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