2 small spots in right lung

[Jen23]

I am only 23 years old and I am a little worried, about 6 months ago I had a CT scan on my stomach. They found nothing in that scan but noticed a spot in my right lung. They did another CT scan and noticed that there was 2. They said it might be scar tissue but to make sure I need a CT scan every 6 months to be sure. I don't understand why I would have something like this I feel I am too young. I am a smoker of 10 years( I know that is horrible) but when the doctors keep trying to get me to quit I try for a few days and then start again, the stress just gets to me. If you ccould just let me know what I may be facing here, I don't know what scar tissue will do or if that isn't it what else could it be??????
Jen23

[National Jewish]

A nodule is a small, round shadow or spot seen on chest x-ray or CT scan anywhere in the lungs.  Nodules are due to infections, inflammation, or tumors.  There are many causes of “spots on the lung.”  At your age, despite your smoking, these 2 spots are most likely granulomas.  A granuloma is a small cluster or nodule of inflammation that can occur in any area of the body, including the lungs.  A healed granuloma is the same as an old scar.  This will not have any effect on your health, it is just a reminder of a lung infection that you had in the past.  A lung infection causes inflammation in your lungs.  After this inflammation clears away it is possible for a scar like these 2 spots to be left behind.  A fungus could have caused this infection in the lungs.  In certain parts of the United States fungal infections are a common cause of granulomas.  In the southwest it’s the fungus Coccidioidomycosis that causes valley fever and in the mid-west it’s the fungus Histoplasmosis.

Calcium makes a spot denser and less likely to be cancer.  Spots that don’t change are less likely to be cancer.  Repeating the CT scan every 6 months is reasonable to be sure that the spots are not changing.  Only if the spots have grown would more testing be done to know what these spots could be.  When there has been no change in the spots for 2 years they are considered stable and no further testing is needed.

The most important thing that you can do for yourself is to stop smoking now and forever.  To do this the most helpful combination is Zyban® (bupropion) and nicotine replacement, along with a support group to reinforce your commitment.  You must find a substitute for the cigarettes that will keep the stress from getting to you.  Often exercise, yoga, meditation or a combination of any of these can help you to handle the stress.  You may want to look at our giving up smoking information at http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/wellness/smoking/index.aspx for ways to help you stop smoking.  Also check with your doctor for other quit smoking resources in your area.

[bactitech]

You're going to be even more stressed if these spots turn into something to worry about.

You're only 23. My daughter started smoking at around the same age as you - 13. She is now 25. She very rarely lights up any more, but it's been a struggle for her. My husband's family has a strong history of lung cancer, so I'm thankful she's pretty much stopped.

You can do this. Smoking is NOT cool. Smoking is expensive (this was her main reason for quitting). You are no longer a teenager but an adult. The decisions you make will stay with you for the rest of your life. It isn't about rebelling any more - like it was when you were 13. It's about your addiction. It's about whether your health will stay intact and you will live to a ripe old age. Peter Jennings still succumbed and he was 20 years out. My father-in-law had quit twenty years previously and he died of small cell carcinoma - a quick death sentence. Cut your losses NOW.

Quit fooling yourself. There is online help from the American Cancer Society and I'm sure there is help locally. You can buy the patch anywhere. Do it - you'll be glad you did.

[hm05]

I hate to worry you, but those spots are most likely the start of problems, why would you want to purposefully breathe in smoke? I mean, I think the best way to get people to stop is to lock them in a room filled with thick, heavily concentrated ciggarette smoke, and not let them out.  I mean, if someone FORCED you to breath in smoke would you?  No-but because you think you are controlling it, it won't hurt you.  It will, my mom is dying of lung cancer, and trust me, it is AGONY.  Why not put your mind at ease and decide that YES people can die young.  Look at kids with cancer...does YOUTH prevent them from the disease.  There is no rhyme or reason to disease.  I am serious, that if you consider this having nothing to do with whether one is 23 or 73...it is about you, your health and prevention is better than cure.  Once you get cancer, say lung cancer, it is unlikely that you beat the disease.  Most everyone that ever gets lung cancer, doesn't survive more than two years.  My mom is proof of that.  Think of your future, and then ask your self, how can slowly, and methodically killing myself, be a good decision?

[ellekay]

It is soo easy for someone who has never smoked or who has smoked and quit to give holier than thou advice. As a smoker myself for 20 years I can sympathize with you. To non-smokers who may read this understand something... most people who smoke do not WANT to smoke. Whatever the reason we start is pretty much irrelevant by the time we are addicted. It is expensive, it is disgusting, smelly, unattractive, prematurally ages us with wrinkles, hacking coughs, yellow teeth and fingers, and very likely will kill us. Yes any logical intelligent person should be able to say "if I know all of these things to be true I should just wake up tomorrow and quit". It is simply not that simple. It is truly impossible to explain to someone who has never had an addiction how difficult it is to quit. I don't think of myself as "weak" or "out of control" but I am addicted to cigarettes. In any case, to the writer of the original question (jen I think?) I do agree that you should be concerned about your lung spots only a foolish person would not. Continue to make attempts to quit even if it is for only a few days at a time, as "they" say every time you quit, even if you start again, it becomes easier to quit in the long run for good. Try giving yourself a limit of how many cigs. you smoke a day. If you smoke 20 normally, try limiting it to 15 then after a few weeks 10 etc. That might help you to cut down at least. I do not believe there is a "magic" quit smoking device. Everyone I know who has managed to quit has had different methods of doing it. Some swear by cold turkey, others hypnosis, one guy I know started chewing on straws (lol)! I have found one way to limit my smoking is by only smoking outside and not in the house. Like I said it is a smelly disgusting habit and now that I don't smoke inside I find the stench inside other smokers houses near unbearable. But the earlier you start to quit the better. We both know that I am not telling you anything you don't know and how can I possibly preach when I am still smoking myself just know that you are not alone and don't let the judgmental bad guys get you down. Keep going for your scans TRY not to worry yourself TOO much and work on kicking the habit. Good luck to you. I hope things go well.

[bactitech]

I agree - I'm not a smoker. However, I live with a former smoker. He really enjoyed smoking, but tried to quit three times in the mid to late 70's to no avail. He started around age 20 and quit when he was 33.

Back in 1982, when they were still doing "routine" physicals, his "routine" chest xray found a spot. MRI's didn't exist then. Needless to say, the cigs went into the garbage and he's never smoked since. That was the defininte moment for him. The spot turned out to be an abscess. He's developed asthma over the years, and recently had some small spots on MRI's (that were taken due to chronic bronchitis) that the pulmonologist is just watching, as they're very tiny.

There is a cluster of lung cancer in my husband's family that is higher than normal per lung cancer researchers at our local medical school. A research study attracted my husband and other family members. His father died of small cell carcinoma twenty years out from quitting; his paternal aunt had a lung removed (she's still alive, luckily), his other paternal aunt died of lung cancer, and her daughter (his cousin) died of throat cancer. His other paternal uncle wasn't a smoker but died of other causes. Last I heard the researchers were attempting to acquire autopsy tissue to test for genes.

No, I'll admit I don't know what it's like to try to quit, but I've heard many comments from ex-smokers in my family over the years. I realize that it's difficult. However, if you don't try to quit when you're 23, soon you're 53 and faced with real big problems that could have been fended off much earlier.

Good luck to jen23.

[Jen23]

I thank you all for your advice and to the last comment I appreciate that you did not get angry with me but gave me some advice. I have cut down alot, I smoke between 3 and 5 smokes a day but the quitting all together is what is tough. And to the last comment as well, I do smoke outside as well as I have a 2 year old daughter and I don't want her to be breathing in the nasty smoke that I do. My fiancee went out last night and bought me these things that go on the filter of the smoke, it apparently takes out 90% of the tar (and trust me you see the black tar you breathe in) and hopefully this will work for me. I know that just because I am young doesn't mean I can't get cancer I am just worried that just because I was stupid and started smoking that I am not going to get the chance to see my daughter grow up. I do not feel sorry for myself, I know I am the one in the wrong but I can't help but worry that I could be sick. I wish so much that I didn't start smoking in the first place but I grew up with parents that smoked right beside me so for all I know I could have these problems even if I didn't smoke. Again thanks for the advice!
Jen23

[hm05]

You said: "It is expensive, it is disgusting, smelly, unattractive, prematurally ages us with wrinkles, hacking coughs, yellow teeth and fingers, and very likely will kill us. Yes any logical intelligent person should be able to say 'if I know all of these things to be true I should just wake up tomorrow and quit'.

You are correct. But, I was explaining that my mother was dying of lung cancer from smoking ciggarrettes. Did that sink in at all?  I mean have you ever seen someone dying of lung cancer?  It isn't pretty.  They fight and stuggle for AIR it is called air hunger, they cough and panic and look at you and turn red and cough up stuff, and have a nasty rattle in their lungs. Their bodies fill up with fluid, and their lungs too.  And when you can not breathe you can not live.  And then I listen to this bs from you people who are just fooling yourself that what you do today has no bearing on what happens to you in a year.  You aren't making the connection...are you all?  I just would have to agree with you that you all are in the "can't beat em join em" crowd.  You are the type I will see sucking in that nasty carcinogen and breathing out all over and thinking because it is "outside" it makes a damn bit of difference.  You will still bring in that toxic ashtray smell-it wafts in behind you.  Trust me I know because the girls at work smoke outside, then come in and think they smell like a bed of roses.  You stink when you come inside because your skin,  breath and hair and clothes all absorb the stench, like a dirty filthy ashtray.  If it goes in your body-it comes out through your body.  No amount of perfume or mints will cover that odor. It is worse than B.O. It is in your system. But again I digress.  Please tell me,  If someone locked you in a room filled with smoke, and told you you must breath it in, would you?  If you answer yes, that is all I need to know-and rest my case. In fact I would suggest that you all get together and smoke yourselves silly-and when you get lung cancer say, OH Well :)

[Jen23]

I am not saying I don't smell and I am not wanting to smoke anymore I am trying my hardest I have not had a smoke in 3 days but sometimes I have to give in to the cravings.....Ok wait I don't have to I choose to. It is the hardest thing I have ever had to do.I don't ever want to go through everything you described but even if I quit and these spots turn out to be cancer I didn't quit soon enough and there is nothing I can do about the past. I wouldn't want someone to lock me in a room full of smoke, but going anywhere where you can smoke (bar or pub) thats what they are doing. I am so sorry that you had to see someone go through that especially your mother. I wish I had never started smoking to begin with and I am trying to quit.

[hm05]

There is no try...
there is do.  Either you quit or you don't quit.
Do or NOT do.  I feel sorry for all of us weak humans with
our own addictions...I used to beg my mom to stop...think of your little girl, living without her Mommy, and telling all
the other little girls, it was because she smoked.  I appreciate the fact that you feel for my situation, but actions speak louder than words.

[SteveP71]

Hi All,

  My name is Stephen. It is about 10:30pm EST on Wednesday September 7th. I am a 34 year old non smoking male in relatively good health except for being overweight.
  For the past few months (Starting in June) I have been getting chronic bronchitis for some reason. I have not had it since I was about 5 years old untill June of this year. I dont know if I have just not TOTALLY gotten rid of it since June or it keeps coming back but to make a long story short, yesterday I went to the Doctors office because I have been coughing and wheezing for approx. 2 weeks. They gave me some breathing inhaler treatment, gave me prednisone and gave me an antibiotic. They did a chest X-ray and said it was bronchitis. The wheezing is still here (exhaling mostly) and I got a call from the office today saying that "The radiologist saw a "spot" or "Nodule" on my lung. He said "Dont worry yourself over it but we want you to get a CT scan to rule out anything". He said most of the time it is a cluster of blood vessels or something liek that and the CT scan will rule out anything "bad". Is this common ?
  I am scared to death. I have never smoked a cigarette in my life. No one in my family has ever had lung cancer and I am 34 years old. I hope I am worrying for nothing but something inside is telling me that this is something bad. If I had no symptoms (Wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath (or worse wheezing upon exertion) I wouldnt be worried but I have like 4 of the symptoms of Lung cancer !
  I am not able to sleep and I dont know how long it will be before my doctor will schedule a CT scan. I am calling her tomorrow as she was not in today.
  if ANYONE has anything to say, offer or has heard of any similar circumstances, I would be so appreciative if you could contact me. You can respons to this or Email me directly. ***@****

  Thank you so much in advance,

Stephen

[hope2help]

I'm not sure if anyone is still keeping up with this post, but I thought I'd jsut throw something out there since I've only just come across this thread.
  In regards to HELPING CUT DOWN SMOKING (4 anyone out there or loved 1's), have you ever heard of 'filters' for your cigarettes?  I recently saw some coverage on a newscast on these little clear filters.  What you do is just stick it on the end of your cigarette (& you can use it for up to 3 I think), and it will filter out some of the stuff that is bad for your body to ingest.  I actually know a long time smoker who recently started to use them and was been very pleasantly surprised at the difference they actually felt in their chest & reduced coughing.  I know now why, it was said on the newscast, that for every 5 cigarettes you smoke with the filters on, your body only basically ingests 1 of the amount of bad stuff into your system!!!  Pretty darn good for everyone who is so addicted to lighting up (I think).  I am personally a nonsmoker, but if you've tried to quit in the past and can't, at least this is worth a try.  Or protect your body a little more!!!  Jen you are quite young please at least give these a try & spread the information around!!!!!

I hope this can benefit a couple of people out there.

Very sincere.

[sash73]

hi everyone, especially Jen. I've been reading through all your comments about giving up smoking. It is a nightmare, they say more difficult than giving up heroin! But I've discovered the difficulty is "only" psychological. If you have a really good reason for giving up, and if you really truly want to give up, it's actually quite easy. I know this sounds glib but it's not, believe me I've smoked probably 20 cigarettes a day for 18 years, not to mention all the weed that seemed so cool at the time but in actual fact I believe has badly damaged my lungs.

OK but when I was pregnant I decided I couldn't risk damaging my baby just for my own psychological stuff (the stuff that made me think I needed to smoke). It wasn't hard at all, because I knew I couldn't smoke -- I didn't even miss it. I started to notice how bad all the smokers around me smelled, and how disgusting the smell of the smoke itself. It's only when you give up that you realise how poisonous even one cigarette can be. It's like if you don't smoke for a while then have just one drag - head rush!!

OK so then my addiction demons (those little voices that rationalise suicidal behaviour!) kicked back in when my daughter was about 4 months old, and I threw myself back into it, thinking 'well, once a smoker always a smoker' and 'actually I quite enjoy it' and all that junky-talk. Then about four days ago I had a real scare - I woke up in the night and couldn't breathe. I thought I was going to suffocate. Believe me, I haven't touched a cigarette since. I don't want to. Although I hear my addiction speaking to me constantly, it's like all roads lead to rome, all thoughts lead to the thought about me having a cigarette, it's like another kind of hunger or thirst, I refuse to have a cigarette because I KNOW I won't enjoy it. How many times have you had a cigarette and realised you didn't enjoy it at all? I am determined that little demon won't get me this time.

The trick is this - not to feel deprived because of not smokin. Not to feel like you're giving up something you love/want/need. Rather, keep reminding yourself that this is the road to LIBERATION. Today I woke up, as Dr Allen Carr says in his book, and thought, "Yay! I don't have to smoke today!"

And remember - the only thing that matters, always, is the next few minutes. Don't fall into the trap of not being able to imagine yourself not smoking for the next 50 years. Just always focus on the next few minutes. Keep them smoke free, and you'll be well on the way.

Oh, and check out this website: http://www.whyquit.com

Good luck, Jen.

[Trysh]

My dad recently had a chest xray and they found a shadow and did a CT scan and his doc called up told him he had lung cancer. He saw the pulumologist and he said he cannot tell by a picture so tomorrow they are putting a needle in there to draw some fluid to see for sure. He has no symptoms at all of lung cancer so the pulumologist told us not to worry. I find that hard not to do.. I am so worried I cant sleep. He is a smoker too sad to say. But if he has no symptoms of having lung cancer can this still be? I mean dont you have symptoms of some sort?