Lung Cancer Forum - Nature of lung cancer tumors

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Q: Nature of lung cancer tumors

asked by: DoctorQuestion on August 5th, 2008

Hello,

My question is not for me but for my mother. 8 yrs. ago she was diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer. She had radiation done and has been cancer free for 8 years now. a 2 years ago, she was experiencing pain on the right side of her rib, so the doctors took a chest x-ray, a cat scan & 2 pet scans. All showed nothing wrong with her and the pain eventually went away. Last week, she went to her annual oncology appt. and just as a follow up, they took another chest x-ray. The dr. told her that he found a spot on her right lung and wanted to take a pet scan and cat scan. She is 67 years old, has never smoked or drank in her life. She has no symptoms. Yesterday, she went for her pet scan and after it was over, she asked the tech if he saw anything. He replied so far no, but I still have to put the pictures together. My fear is that its cancer. Could it possibly be something other than cancer. We are all very terrified.

Thankyou,

Kristina

Replies(1)

Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD

replied on August 7th, 2008

Lung Cancer Answer A4548

Cancer is a malignant tumor. A CT-scan and PET-scan can only visualize the tumor but can’t confirm its real nature. The real nature (benign or malignant) of a lung tumor can be revealed with bronchoscopy (if the tumor is centrally localized) or with a trans-cutaneus aspiration biopsy (if the tumor is peripherally located).

You may want to consult a pulmonologist about this problem.

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