Lung Nodules

In most cases, lung nodules won’t cause any symptoms. However, if you have a nodule that pushes against your airway, it can cause: 

• coughing

• wheezing

• shortness of breath

Symptoms that can indicate the early stages of lung cancer include:

• chest pain

• a chronic cough

• coughing up blood

• fatigue

• a hoarse voice

• loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss

• recurring respiratory infections

• shortness of breath

• wheezing

An infection or illness can inflame the tissue in your lungs, which can cause a small clump of cells to form. This clump of cells hardens over time, forming a non-cancerous lung nodule.

Lung nodules can also form as a result of abnormal cell growth, which can be cancerous (lung cancer and carcinoid tumours) or non-cancerous (neurofibromas).

Other factors that can cause non-cancerous lung nodules include:

• air pollution and irritants

• having an autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or sarcoidosis

• fungal infections

• respiratory system infections, such as tuberculosis (TB)

• scar tissue in your lungs

Risk factors

Factors that can increase your risk of developing a cancerous lung nodule include:

• being a former or current smoker

• being over 65 years old

• a family history of cancer

• radiation therapy to your chest

• exposure to asbestos, radon, or secondhand smoke

You’ll see a consultant at an initial consultation, where you’ll be asked about your medical history and symptoms. In some cases, a physical examination may be needed. 

Lung nodules are typically found on a CT scan or chest X-ray. The scan may well have been done for another reason entirely, and the nodule may be a chance finding. 

It’s impossible to tell the difference between a small non-cancerous scar and very early lung cancer through a CT scan or X-ray alone, so follow-up scans and biopsies are necessary to make an accurate diagnosis.

Most commonly, a ‘watch and wait’ approach is recommended. A follow-up scan may be done after a period of a few months, or for very small nodules, up to 1 year later. The follow-up scan will allow your consultant to determine if the nodule has remained the same, become smaller, disappeared, or grown.

If the nodule is unchanged or has become smaller, it’s likely benign and no further action is required. Sometimes, 1 further scan is recommended to confirm this after another year.

If the nodule has grown, which is the least likely outcome, your consultant will recommend that further tests be performed.

In cases where a lung nodule turns out to be a small lung cancer, there’s still an excellent chance of it being cured. This is because very small lung cancers usually haven’t spread and so can be completely cured, even after months of surveillance.

If you have larger-sized lung nodules, your consultant may recommend that further tests, such as a lung biopsy, be performed straight away.

It’s not possible to prevent lung nodules from forming. However, you can keep your lungs as healthy as possible by not smoking.

It’s uncommon for lung nodules to cause further complications, as most are noncancerous and go away on their own without treatment. 

However, a rare complication is that a lung nodule can press down on or block your airway. If this is the case, and it leads to breathing problems, your consultant may recommend surgery to remove it.

A noncancerous lung nodule shouldn’t affect your quality of life, and therefore most don’t require treatment.

If you have an infection in your lungs, this will be treated with antibiotics.

If a lung nodule is causing problems or is found to be cancerous, you may require surgery to remove it. Your consultant can talk you through what surgery involves and what the next stages of treatment are, if any.

At Welbeck, our respiratory specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.