Lung Lesion/Cancer

[fac6]

Hi all,

Very scared male 39 years old here.

I have always suffered colds/flu etc with coughs in the past ever since I was a kid. Whenever I get a cough with the flu etc the cough remains very persistent and lingers for weeks and weeks!

Anyway had a real bad bout of flu on 15th Jan and it went after 3 -4 days but the cough was nasty and lasted until maybe late Feb. However March 6th  I got floored with the flu big time and was did not feel right with again for a few weeks. The cough came back and was very nasty - Major coughing fits at 3am in the morning, I then passed this on to my kids!

I went to see the Dr. about 6 days ago as I was annoyed with the cough and he suggested a Chest X-Ray to rule out anything 'sinister" had this done. Then yesterday I get a call from him to go back to see him.

When I saw him he said he was concerned greatly and the report from my chest X-Ray said this..."There is some vague opacities in the right mid zone. These are non-specific. They could represent overlapping vascular structures or artifact. However lung markings such as granuloma cannot be completely excluded. A lordotic vioew of the whole chest may be helpful to confirm or exclude the presence of lung nodules."

He said it was on about lung lesions and said there was a possibility of Lung Cancer. He told me I must immediately be refereed to a Lung specialist then an Oncologist - I was left numb and speechless not to mention panic stricken.

I am male 39 reasonable health never smoked in my entire life or drink and I am off normal weight. My cough is now getting better and I feel fine. However now I dont want to face life at all on the basis I have lung cancer.

Any thoughts on what my chances of this being cancer are?

Cheers

Phil

[fac6]

Thanks for your guidance all, really appreciated.

I went to some more people and one of the guys said he felt it was just remnants of my a chest infection and that before he started down the 'sinister' route he wanted to confirm with another Lordic Chest X-Ray followed by another.

Anyway to my amazement the Lordic CXR was clear. He then did another normal chest X-Ray and it was all clear. The specialist said that in his and his colleagues opinion it was all clear and the previous opacities were due to a bad chest infection which is now clearing up. He said ultimately the only way to be 100% was scans but he said in his opinion it was not worth doing as there is nothing on the Chest X-Rays at all.

This was his report

Clincal History: Previously 1 week back showed some opacities in the rt upper zone,? vascular,? granuloma. Referred from GP for exclusion of sinister pathology.

XR Chest: Lung fields clear. Cardiac outline and pulmonary vasculature normal. Rib cage and diaphram normal.

What can I say I an speechless and of course HAPPY!

[HeinrikMD]

Hi Phil,

Crazedmommy raises good points. The CXR is indeed a start- but its view is pretty limited (due to several overlaps of internal organs) to really say if something is there. The CT scan takes images that look like slices (the best analogy I can make is the slice a magician makes in the trick of slicing a girl in half) across the body, so you could easily imagine that the skin, the muscles, the bones form a distinct layer, and the lung is better viewed. Measurements are also better taken through the CT.

The nest step indeed is to get the imaging  

Perhaps it was the doctor’s intent to urge you to have your testing done sooner than later. It is pretty difficult at times to know how much “alarm” is healthy, and how much “alarm” explodes into “anxiety”. Cancer cannot be diagnosed with an imaging tool, a sample to demonstrate its behavior (via a biopsy) is necessary. Hence, take the next step, but keep in mind that what you're entering is likely a cascade or a series of tests.

[crazedmommy1234]

Hi,

I think a Dr is better at this than I am but I too had a routine CXR (pre admission testing for a surgical procedure)  I am also a nurse9but that means nothing in this case)
Anyhow.  On my CXR they found a opacity as well.  Two ct scans and a PET scan later it showed neg.  I am waiting on my 2 yr follow up CT results (due Thurday)
Anyway all my reaserch has shown the only way to tell if it is something is to have further tests.  You need a CT or maybe even a PET scan to totally rule anything and everything out.  Get one!!!!!!  Early detection can save your life (if it is something sinister  as your PCP says)  
A granuloma are typically benign but the characteristics of the opacity will a lot.
Good luck and I wish you the best!!!!

Crazedmommy