what cgh said

I'm finally going to write about this.

On 15th April, that stand-in doctor at CGH told me I have a nodule on my left lung.

This is how Wikipedia explain "nodule": Nodule (medicine), a small aggregation of cells. In medicine, a nodule refers to a relatively hard, roughly spherical abnormal structure. Nodules may form on tendons and muscles in response to injury. The vocal cords may also develop nodules. Nodules are normally benign and often painless, although they can affect the functioning of the organ.

The doctor said that there is 80% chance that it is benign. And all I can think of is the remaining 20%. That's the real me in action - pessimistic. He said that there is a window period of 2 years and I've just crossed the 1 year mark. But then who is so sure to say that all will be ok after two years?

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Respiratory-Disorders/Lung-Nodules/show/283171
"May 18, 2004 12:00AM
Question:
My husband had a chest x-ray done approx. 2 wks ago. It showed a 1cm nodule in the lower right lobe. He is being scheduled for a CT scan. He smoked for years but has been smoke free for months. Also about 5 years ago he had a positive TB test and he took medication for that. He was also getting over some type of sinus infection approx. 1 wk before the chest xray was done. He is 59. What do you think this nodule could be? Also, he has never had a CT scan before, how is this done. He is pretty healthy. He does not take any type of medication. Thanks for all the help.

May 20, 2004 12:00AM
Doctor's answer:
A nodule is usually a small, round shadow seen on chest x-ray anywhere in the lungs. Nodules are due to infections, inflammation, or tumors. This could be a tuberculous granuloma, which is a harmless reminder of the positive TB test that your husband had about 5 years ago. Since the nodule is 1 centimeter in size it is very unlikely to be cancer. Your husband will need to have more testing done to know what this could be. A chest CT scan is usually the next test that is done because it is more sensitive and shows more detail than a chest x-ray. The shape, smoothness and density of the nodule will be seen on the CT scan. This will help in determining what this could be."

http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.cfm?pageid=P93016
"What are Pulmonary Nodules?
A pulmonary nodule is a small, roundish growth on the lung—sometimes called a spot on the lung—that is easy to find and hard to diagnose. Pulmonary nodules turn up in about one of every 500 chest x-rays. But because they can be a form of early-stage cancer, it’s important to distinguish a benign nodule from a cancerous nodule as early as possible. Therefore, doctors approach every pulmonary nodule as cancerous until they can prove otherwise.

If a spot on the lung has a diameter of three centimeters or less, it’s called a nodule. If it’s bigger than that, it’s called a mass and undergoes a different evaluation process. About 40 percent of pulmonary nodules turn out to be cancerous. Half of all patients treated for a cancerous pulmonary nodule live at least five years past the diagnosis. But if the nodule is one centimeter across or smaller, survival after five years rises to 80 percent. That’s why early detection is critical.

Treating Pulmonary Nodules
In almost every case, benign pulmonary nodules require no treatment. Cancerous nodules, however, usually are treated by removing them surgically. Several surgical procedures are used, depending on the size, condition and location of the nodule."

Actually the more I read, the more worried I become. Though not TERRIBLY worried, but I'm certainly more worried this time then when I had TB years ago.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lung-nodules/an01082
"Can lung nodules be cancerous?
Answer (from Edward C. Rosenow III, M.D.)
Although most lung nodules are noncancerous (benign), some represent early-stage lung cancer.

Lung nodules — small masses of tissue in the lung — are quite common. They appear as round, white shadows on a chest X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan.

Your doctor may compare your current chest X-ray or CT scan with a previous one. If the nodule appears in earlier scans and hasn't changed in size, shape or appearance, it's probably noncancerous. Causes of noncancerous lung nodules include histoplasmosis, tuberculosis, lung cysts and vascular abnormalities. Such nodules usually require no treatment.

However, if a nodule is new or has changed in size, shape or appearance, your doctor may recommend further testing — such as a CT scan, positron emission tomography (PET) scan or tissue biopsy — to determine if it is cancerous."

Alright, I think I've read enough about nodules for a night. And I finally told mum. I had to, hadn't I?