Solitary Pulmonary Nodule

Outlook

Most SPNs are benign, but they may represent an early stage of lung cancer.
 
Lung cancer survival rates remain dismally low at 14% at 5 years. However, early lung cancer (ie, lung cancer that is diagnosed when the primary tumor is smaller than 3 cm in diameter [stage 1A]), can be associated with a 5-year survival rate of 70-80%.
 
Accordingly, the only chance for cure of early lung cancer that presents as SPN is prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Support Groups and Counseling

If your SPN is diagnosed as malignant, you may need counseling and help from support groups to improve your ability to deal with your situation. The following organizations can help you with support and counseling:
 

• The AMC Cancer Information and Counseling Line provides current medical information and counseling for cancer issues. 
  (800) 525-3777
  ciclhelp@amc.org  
  
  
• The Alliance for Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support and Education operates a national "phone buddies" program, in addition to other services. 
  (800) 298-2436
  info@alcase.org
  
  
• The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship is a survivor-led advocacy organization working exclusively on behalf of people with all types of cancer and their families.
  (877) 622-7937
  info@canceradvocacy.org

For More Information

If your SPN is diagnosed as malignant, you can get more information about lung cancer from the following organizations:

American Cancer Society 
(800) ACS-2345

American Lung Association
61 Broadway, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10006
(800) LUNGUSA
(800) 586-4872

National Cancer Institute, Cancer Information Service
NCI Public Inquiries Office
6116 Executive Blvd
Suite 3036A
Bethesda, MD 20892-8322  
(800) 4-CANCER
(800) 422-6237

American Society of Clinical Oncology
1900 Duke Street, Suite 200
Alexandria, VA  22314
(703) 299-0150

Web Links

American Medical Association, Atlas of the Body: The Respiratory System—Basic Function

Alliance for Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support, and Education

American Lung Association, Facts About Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer Online

MedlinePlus, Solitary Pulmonary Nodule

Multimedia

Media file 1: X-ray film of a large, well-circumscribed mass in the periphery of the right upper lobe. The mass was later was determined to be a neurilemoma.

Media type:  X-RAY

Media file 2: A 1.5-cm coin lesion in the left upper lobe in a patient with prior colonic carcinoma. Transthoracic needle biopsy findings confirmed this to be a metastatic deposit.

Media type:  CT

Synonyms and Keywords

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