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Nodular Lesion Found On Lung

Sent to Health Experts May 27 09:35 AM

Ok, I'm worrying myself sick..I'm a 27 year old female who has smoked for about 9 years, roughly a pack a day. Went back in December 2008 for a CT scan of abdomen, they found a 3-4mm nodular lesion on my lower left lobe of my lung, and recommended a 6 month follow up. Which six months is coming right up! However, I'm petrified this is cancer. I recently had lab work and all that came back was high cholesterol and a high wbc and platelet count but I have an infection in my foot at the time of the lab work being done. This nodular lesion, what could it be? Is it cancer? I also have a history of bronchitis and had a couple spats of bronchitis, but I haven't had either of these in almost two years, but before two years ago it was common for me to get bronchitis 1-2 times a year. My insurance will only cover 1 CT scan in a year I will pay for it out of pocket would prefer not to if it''s not a high probability that this is cancer or life threatening..PLEASE HELP!!!

 

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Female, Age: 27, New York

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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May 27 9:40 AM (5 minutes and 2 seconds later)
         
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I would STRONGLY encourage you to have the 6 month follow up CT scan as suggested. Without a follow up, this will be hanging over your head worrying you to death.

If this nodule has not changed in 6 months that is EXCELLENT evidence that this is NOT cancer, and you can return to your normal relaxed, healthy self. These nodules on CT scans can come from scar tissue (episodes of bronchitis or other respiratory infection)

It should go without saying that you should quit smoking.

If your insurance company is not going to pay for the CT scan - you can check with your doctor about the cost of scans at various providers in you area. Many free-standing imaging centers are cheaper than hospital based facilities.

Please click "ACCEPT" if I answered your question to your satisfaction so that I may get credit for my work.

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Family Physician -- Doctor (MD) -- 99% Positive Feedback on 4128 Health Accepts
Physician with 22 years experience in Emergency Medicine / Family Medicine
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May 27 9:42 AM (1 minute and 47 seconds later)
         
Ok, I will go ahead and check that and see what I can come up with. Smoking has ceased, in your opinion and your experience what are the chances that this is cancer? Just looking for a little peace of mind before I go and get this done and worry and wait for results. Thank you for your help
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May 27 9:46 AM (4 minutes and 10 seconds later)
         
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Family Physician -- Doctor (MD) -- 99% Positive Feedback on 4128 Health Accepts
Physician with 22 years experience in Emergency Medicine / Family Medicine
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May 27 9:48 AM (2 minutes and 18 seconds later)
         
Thank you I found a place that they will do it and allow me to do a payment plan on a sliding scale, so that is good. I'm scheduled to do the test on Thursday at 10 now...now I'll worry myself sick till I get those results..it seems as though it's never ending. Thank you very much
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May 27 9:52 AM (3 minutes and 39 seconds later)
         
One quick question, if it is cancer and over the last 6 months is it still managable enough to come through this and make the survival rate, or would it have progressed too far?
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May 27 10:13 AM (20 minutes and 47 seconds later)
         
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Family Physician -- Doctor (MD) -- 99% Positive Feedback on 4128 Health Accepts
Physician with 22 years experience in Emergency Medicine / Family Medicine
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May 29 11:51 PM (2 days and 13 hours later)
         
Thank you for all of your help: I went today and did my follow up ct scan, and I guess I'm feeling a little better the report is kind of confusing for me but it says that the one nodule is still there and hasn't changed, and they found many more spread throughout my lung fields both left and right, so there are about 6 of them the largest being 4mm and states that the lungs are otherwise clear and nodular lesions are likely benign and post inflammatory in nature; the impression stated that there were multiple, subcenetimeter pulmonic nodular lesions noted in the right and left fields, likely of benign etiology. Interval follow up necessary to document benign etiology. There is no interval change noted int he previously noted nodule further suggestive of benign etiologies and a recommended follow up scan in 9-12 months.

So based off of that without any medical explanation I'm assuming it's not cancer and is more than likely scar tissue based off of past spats of bronchitis..am I correct in this assumption? Is it likely that in 9-12 months it would turn to cancer?

I do feel more relived and so glad that I listened to you!!!! You're a gift to us all. Thank you so much for all of your assistance.
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May 30 12:11 AM (19 minutes and 44 seconds later)
         
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