A mass in the lung is not always cancer. Sometimes, the mass is benign.
However, through testing, a doctor may find that a mass in your lung is cancerous, which means treatment for the disease likely will begin as soon as possible. A doctor should closely monitor any discovery of a mass in the lung, but it is not always a sign of cancer.
Defining a Mass in the Lung
A mass in the lung is a tumor that has reached a certain size. A tumor forms in the lung when an abnormal growth of cells occurs. It also can form when a group of cells dies abnormally inside the lung tissue.
Two types of tumors may form in the lung, including:
- Nodule (or pulmonary nodule): which is a tumor in the lung that is 3 centimeters (about 1.2 inches) or less in diameter.
- Mass (or pulmonary mass): which is a tumor in the lung that is greater than 3 centimeters in diameter.
What Does It Mean if My Mass Is Benign?
If a doctor tells you the mass in your lung is benign, it means the mass is not cancerous. The benign mass will not affect or invade nearby tissue, and it will not spread to other tissues in the body.
In fact, doctors may not prescribe any treatment for a benign mass. The doctor may choose to watch the mass through multiple appointments and tests. If it begins pressing on other tissues, the doctor may choose to remove it through surgery.
Benign tumors in the lung tend to grow slowly, if they grow at all. Some of these tumors will shrink over time. They may push against other tissues, but they will not invade those tissues.
What if My Mass Is Malignant?
A malignant mass is one that is cancerous. It is at risk of invading healthy tissue in the lung, or it may spread to other parts of the body.
Discovery of a malignant tumor or mass in the lung should cause the doctor to begin treating the patient with cancer drugs and other treatments. Malignant tumors will grow quickly, sometimes doubling in size every few months.
What if My Mass Is Premalignant?
If the doctor uses a term such as premalignant or precancerous to describe the mass in your lung, it means the mass or tumor has a chance to become cancerous.
In a case like this, doctors will run multiple tests and scans over a period of time to monitor the growth of the mass. Computerized tomography (CT) scans and X-rays are common tools the doctor will use to measure changes in a premalignant mass.
The doctor also may order a biopsy of the mass, which is surgery to take a sample of the tissue.
What Symptoms Does a Benign Mass Have?
If you have a benign mass in your lung, you may or may not have symptoms. This is also true of cancerous masses in the lungs, where the ill person may or may not have symptoms.
It is not common to go symptom-free with a benign or malignant mass in the lung, but it can happen.
When the person has no symptoms, a doctor may randomly spot a mass in the lung on an x-ray or CT scan being performed for another purpose.
Symptoms of a Cancerous Mass
Should a person have a mass in the lung that is cancerous, some of the symptoms may include:
- Persistent cough
- Changes in an existing cough
- Cough with blood
- Pain in the shoulder or chest
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained loss of weight
- Hoarseness
- Wheezing
- Inability to take a deep breath
- Shortness of breath
- Lack of improvement in pneumonia or bronchitis, despite treatment
Symptoms of a Benign Mass
Some of the symptoms of a benign mass in the lung are similar to a cancerous mass, which is why the discovery of symptoms that may indicate lung cancer requires a visit to a doctor as soon as possible.
Some of the symptoms of a benign mass include:
- Persistent cough
- Cough with blood
- Shortness of breath
- Inability to take a deep breath
- Greater chance of contracting pneumonia
Contact Us Today for Help
If you believe exposure to toxic substances or chemicals led to your diagnosis of lung cancer, you should take steps to protect your right to seek awards for your pain and suffering, as well as for your medical costs.
Our team at the Pintas & Mullins Law Firm takes pride in accepting the toughest cases. We enjoy protecting the right of our clients to seek compensation after being exposed to toxic substances.
Contact us today at (800) 217-6099 for a free consultation. Because we work on a contingency fee basis, we do not accept payment for our services unless we reach a settlement in your case.