In recent years, with the increasing awareness of health among Chinese residents and the promotion and application of low-dose chest CT, the detection rate of pulmonary nodules in both healthy and high-risk lung cancer populations has been increasing year by year. Due to its certain probability of carcinogenesis, it often causes psychological burden on patients. So, how should we effectively manage pulmonary nodules after they are discovered?
1. Regular follow-up is recommended to use low-dose chest CT for re examination. For pure ground glass pulmonary nodules, the re examination time is: for pulmonary nodules with a diameter<6mm, it is recommended to have a re examination every 6-12 months; For pulmonary nodules with a diameter of 6mm or greater and less than 8mm, it is recommended to have a follow-up examination at 6-12 months; For pulmonary nodules with a diameter of 8mm or greater and less than 15mm, it is recommended to have a follow-up examination every 3-6 months; For pulmonary nodules with a diameter ≥ 15mm, it is recommended to have a follow-up examination every 1-3 months. For solid lung nodules and some solid lung nodules, the follow-up time is recommended to be 6-12 months for those with solid component diameter<6mm; For solid components with a diameter of 6mm or more and less than 15mm, it is recommended to have a follow-up examination every 3-6 months; For those with a solid component diameter ≥ 15mm, it is recommended to have a follow-up examination 1-3 months or undergo direct biopsy for pathology, or undergo PET-CT examination.
2. Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention applies the concept of treating diseases before they occur to the management of pulmonary nodules. In the early stages of disease occurrence, we need to prevent or stop the occurrence, deterioration, or transmission of the disease in a timely manner. Intervention can be carried out from the following five aspects: (1) Dietary intervention. Patients with pulmonary nodules should pay attention to eating less fatty and sweet foods in their diet. Those with weak spleen and stomach are difficult to transport, resulting in phlegm and dampness, which is not conducive to the dissipation of pulmonary nodules. Pingsu can be consumed as a substitute for tea drinks such as roses and tangerine peel to regulate qi, while taking medicinal and edible products such as yam, white beans, and astragalus to nourish the spleen and stomach.
(2) Psychological intervention in traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the influence of emotional factors and believes that emotional disharmony is one of the important causes of diseases. After patients discover lung nodules, they are prone to excessive worry, anxiety, and other negative emotions, which are not conducive to disease recovery. Pay attention to emotional regulation in daily life, avoid excessive emotions, cultivate hobbies, cultivate oneself, regulate emotions, correctly deal with external stimuli, and maintain physical and mental health.
(3) Living environment: The living room should maintain good air quality and be ventilated in a timely manner; Outdoor activities should avoid air pollution such as haze and stay away from second-hand smoke.
(4) Traditional Chinese medicine believes that a strong body can help prevent diseases. Through exercises such as Five Animal Play and Tai Chi, combined with regulating breath and mind, the goal of promoting both movement and stillness, as well as nurturing both form and spirit, can be achieved.
(5) Drug intervention for pulmonary nodules mainly involves tonifying deficiency, resolving phlegm, removing blood stasis, dispelling cold, and eliminating toxins. Commonly used for tonifying deficiency include Huangqi, Codonopsis pilosula, Panax ginseng, and Panax ginseng to nourish lung qi; Commonly used methods for resolving phlegm include Platycodon grandiflorum, Pinellia ternata, Araceae, Prunella vulgaris, Scrophularia ningpoensis, Kunbu, etc; To remove blood stasis, safflower, frankincense, myrrh, etc. are commonly used for the initial disease, while centipede, scorpion, earthworm, ground beetle worm, and bombyx batryticatus are commonly used for the chronic disease; Commonly used for dispelling cold include ephedra, Asarum, Pinellia ternata, Aster, etc., while commonly used for dispelling toxins include Fritillaria, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Platycodon grandiflorum, fried almonds, etc.
Pulmonary nodules are a dynamically changing disease with complex and diverse factors affecting their occurrence and progression. Traditional Chinese medicine intervention can reduce local lesions, improve symptoms, and alleviate anxiety. Regular follow-up and traditional Chinese medicine intervention are the most effective methods for managing pulmonary nodules, which can minimize the harm caused by pulmonary nodules to us.