Spot on the Lung

[Rita9356]

I am concerned about the CT scan that was done in November 2005, they found a spot on my rightlung, I am 49, smoker, and have been sick with numerous things since August 2004, from kidney infection, H pylori, gall bladder removal, heart cath, and Whooping cough, the whooping cough I contracted in September 2005, and still have sever bouts of coughing, my father died of emphazima in 1983, my mother of heart attach in 1998,
to say the least if am scared to death, I have another CT in January 2006, they said that the spot is about the size of a dime.
any help would be appreciated.

[carmenuk]

hi rita..just wondering how you went on with chest xray and did you find out that all was hopefully well with scan of the nodule on lung? my mum has just found out she has a lump of 14mm in her right middle lung lobe and 8mm hilar lymph node..we are worried sick and have to wait until 23rd jan for PET scan to see if its benign or malignant...hope yours was ok

[Rita9356]

I found out that the nodule is 9mm that is all I know, I don't have any trouble breathing at all, they found it when they were checking to see if there was a blockage to my heart, (they thought I was having a heart attack ) which I have a 30% blockage in one of the arteries.
This is the reason for the concern, I have NO symtoms other than the pertussis (whooping cough).

[georgie430]

Hi Rita: I also have a nodule on my right lung, usually the report will have the size and maybe a decription, I will be going for another ct scan, this is standard procedure, especially for smokers!!(mine appears inflamatory and is 3mm)
Rita have you gone for pulm function testing? And what about smoking, the nicitrol inhaler really works!! I went cause of
my breathing, and the only thing thats making the quitting hard is worrying about my breathing!!I know it sounds crazy!!

[National Jewish]

Given the size of the spot, about the size of a dime, the odds strongly favor it not being cancer. You should gather all previous chest x-rays you might have had and they should be reviewed to determine if the spot might have been present on any of them.

Characteristically whooping cough does not result in a nodule.  However any infection might show such a spot.

[Rita9356]

Jane
It hasn't been three months, it was November 3rd when they did the sonogram and they are doing another Jan 6th, I did call the Doctor and I am waiting for them to call me back with the size of the spot.

[Jane1]

Hi Rita

I find it hard to believe that they would wait 3 months to further investigate this if they were concerned it was something sinister - You could be feeling ill because of the sicknesses you have had - whooping cough - etc.  I had a spot on my lung 3 years ago - ( almost to the day for diagnosis) it was noticed on X ray in late November and then they did a CT scan - They still weren't happy so I had a broncoscopy and 1 week later I had a biopsy.  I was scared to death needless to say. The resulting scar or spot was Sarcoidosis - a granuloma which wasn't treated with any medication and which cleared off the X Ray within 6 months - of course I had many disturbing symptoms prior to diagnoses and I feared it would be cancer - but it was a relief I had a diagnosis that wasn't as final.  I would contact your GP and tell them your fears because the stress of it will do you no good. Scars on the lung can be nothing more than scars in some cases particularly if you have ever had pneumonia.  It would be hard for me to try and put your mind at ease because I know from personal experience the only one who can do that is yourself when you get a thorough explanation - If you could, I would ring the consultant radiologist in charge of your case and tell them your fears.

Hope you are feeling better
J

[lisaS]

Rita,
I didn't mean to say a year,  My bother also had to go every few months, now he goes every six months.

[lisaS]

Rita,

My 41 year old brother has a spot on his lung too, He panicked the first time they told him. That was about 3 years ago. They also keep following him to make sure there is no change.
If they felt there was an urgency to do something they wouldn't wait.  The fact they are waiting a year would help me feel better, thinking whatever it is they aren't too worried about it. I don't know if ther other problems could be related, but they don't sound if they are.  good luck, i hope everything is ok
lisa

[Rita9356]

Thank you for the comments, the only real concern I have is that I have been so sick for 16 months, and now with having whis Whooping Cough and them finding this spot, and that was a little over a month ago, and another CT in about 3 weeks, they have also been watching my White blood count since it has been anywhere from 13000 to 19000 since August and I can't seem to get well, they have tried almost everything but nothing seems to be working and that is why I am so scared. my chest doesn't hurt, it is just scary, the unknown