Nowadays, more and more people focus on their health and undergo regular medical checkups. When a CT scan reveals one or more nodules in the lungs, people want to know whether they are benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) and what steps to take next.

Here is a general overview of lung nodules and the treatment.

What is a lung nodule?

A lung nodule is a well-defined opacity in the lung on a chest scan. It appears as a single, round area and is typically smaller than 3 cm in size. This type of nodule is often referred to as a “solitary lung nodule.” If a nodule is larger than 3 cm, it’s called a mass. A small lung nodule is usually less than 1 cm in diameter and found on a thin layer CT scan of the chest.

Does a lung nodule mean cancer?

It’s a common misconception that all lung nodules are cancerous. In fact, a variety of lung diseases can lead to the development of nodules, comprising both non-cancerous and cancerous conditions. The majority of nodules are non-cancerous and do not require treatment. They may be due to inflammation, tuberculosis, fungal infections, and non-cancerous tumors. Only a small percentage of nodules can be due to primary or metastatic lung cancer. However, it’s essential to have any new or growing nodules evaluated by a medical professional to determine the underlying cause and appropriate management.

What should I do after a lung nodule is found?

A number of factors need to be taken into account when a lung nodule is found, such as the size and shape of the nodule, as well as the patient’s smoking history and family history of cancer. Large population-based samples show that the vast majority of lung nodules are NOT cancerous, while about 5% of lung nodules turn out to be cancerous. This data suggests that if a lung nodule is incidentally found during a physical exam, you should consult a medical professional such as a pulmonologist or thoracic surgeon for a thorough assessment of the condition based on CT imaging, symptoms, and past medical history. They will then carry out follow-up monitoring or surgical treatment as needed.

Can lung cancer be cured with surgery?

When it comes to surgery, some people may have concerns such as: Can lung cancer be cured with surgery? Is the surgery very invasive? Will I experience a lot of pain?

Firstly, surgery is the preferred treatment for lung cancer and remains the only treatment with the potential for a complete cure for lung cancer. The literature reports that the 5-year survival rate for stage I lung cancer is over 73% and for stage IA lung cancer is over 95%. (Note: 5-year survival rate refers to the probability of surviving beyond 5 years in a population with the disease, rather than only 5 years).

Secondly, most early-stage lung cancers can be removed thoracoscopically, which is a minimally invasive surgery (MIS). This procedure has the advantages of less trauma, faster recovery time, fewer complications, and less pain compared to traditional open-chest surgery. Patients can get out of bed the day after surgery and be discharged from the hospital in about a week.

Patients with localized mid-late stage lung cancer can also benefit from a multidisciplinary and comprehensive treatment approach based on surgery.

In short, with early detection, diagnosis, and treatment, early-stage lung cancer can be cured in most cases.