Nodule Cancer?

[gjohnson]

My father had a chest ct scan that showed a nodule. The doctor will not say whether it is cancer or not just that it has grown since his last ct scan 6 mo's ago. He said get another ct in 6 months and it has been about a year. He also said "your dad is 83, not sure treatment would be an option"  Dad does not want to go back. He is 83, smoked for years but quit for a long time. Now he has shortness of breath, swelling in one foot, and is pale and sometimes his color is purpleish. His stomach is distended also. He blows through his mouth when walking and I hear a "whistling" quite often when he is just sitting. I think he may have COPD although he does not have a cough? Or is this maybe from the nodule and is it signs of lung cancer? He wont go back to the doctor and says if it gets too bad he will. Not sure what to do. Gayle

[gjohnson]

The doctors have never commented on his coloring but I do NOT know how they would not notice. He had been in almost every week for a while because they could not figure out why his foot was swelling so bad. (a new symptom) After ct's, xrays, and no diagnosis for the swelling, they just said "we do not know what is causing it"  After my research on the internet, i have decided it has to do with his possible COPD, Emphysema. Dont you think??? Dad has all the symptoms except for the chronic bronchitis. But why would a doctor not notice his shortness of breath? When he went to a doctor for hemorroids not long ago THAT doctor was MORE worried about his shortness of breath. Told him he needed to get it checked out and that HE was going to call his family physician himself (never did). But THAT is how noticable it is. Boy i dont know. But he is stubborn and I really think since he has a spot on his lung, he does not want to know what that is. I dont much blame him.

[Connie 1]

Nexium is helpful for heartburn, but why does his doc think it will help his purple color and paleness and swelling in one foot?  Unless those have been around for a long time without changing...  i guess then it could be from smoking.

even if everyone tells you to let him be, you can get medicine to make him feel better along his journey going to heaven...

[gjohnson]

I was prepared to make an appt for him yesterday. He called me late sunday night and said "hold off" i want to see if starting to take Nexium again will help (he does have a hiatal hernia). He doesnt understand, and it is frustrating. Everybody tells me to let him be and he will go when it gets bad enough. I dont think it is wise. =(

[Connie 1]

Gayle, those are scary symptoms, definitedly worth going back to see the doc.  Especially the shortness of breath with purple color & paleness.