8mm mid left lung

[paulawith6kidsat37]

I have been sick on and off since 2011, pnemonia, bronchitsis, I have been a smoker for 6 years (DUMBEST thing I ever did) I just went back to urgent care and they did a xray told me:  A mid left lung field 8 mm nodule is again seen, and although this is not definitely changed from October 2011 - it is between my 5th and 6 rib (anterior)..

I have a catscan soon, but very worried, I have been weezing, cough will not go away, phlem coming up, and soreness under my bra area, which I am sure is by my 5 and  6th ribs.  I am sorry worried I have 6 kids and I am all they got :....(  Someone please advise, nodule, with continued cough weezing and phlem..It has not grown since October 2011 but that is not much time to me.

[paulawith6kidsat37]

Replying to all - had catscan and results came back and radiologists are requesting a peta test???  so no answers yet.. I am about to have a breakdown...  Is this the normal?  I am sure I am not out of the blue on cancer??

Very worried..

Thanks to all that took the time to respond but looking for extra information...  Anything is helpful

[Gee1111]

Hi Paula,  I can understand that you would be concerned about lung cancer with your symptoms and the x-ray reports.  The most likely case is that it is a benign nodule; however, the other responses are on the mark.
The smoking must stop, take these signs as a wake-up call.  Six years is not very long and I can't imagine that you would have cancer from just 6 years.  However, you likely do have some lung and airway damage, hence the pneumonia and bronchitis.  If you are having shortness of breath, cough, sputum, wheezing--those are indications that you may have asthma.  If you continue to smoke it will get worse (a whole lot), with emphysema, chronic bronchitis and irreversible airway disease (COPD).  Asthma is considered "reversible airway disease", which means that with medications your symptoms can be controlled. Continue with the CT scan, as that will tell a lot about your lungs/airways in addition to the nodule.  A needle biopsy of that nodule should put to rest your concerns.  Hopefully, this will all be history for you, and for goodness sake, stop smoking.  God Bless you and the kids.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

If the nodule has not changed in size, you don’t have to worry, it could be due to scar tissue. But if you are a smoker and have developed long standing lung infections/inflammation it can compromise your lung function.  Breathlessness on exertion could be due to the decreased lung function. To improve lung function practice breathing exercises and quit smoking.  Lung function tests could further help in evaluation. If the symptoms are getting worse or if you develop additional symptoms please consult your primary care physician.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[whisperwolf]

A nodule in the lung could be an infection, lung disease or even cancer. They might also decide to biopsy the nodule.

Also, you should quit smoking.