symtom and ct lung scan

I hand a ct lung scan and it shows abnormal nodles in my r lung.  I had the ct because of an Xray.  I would like to know the systoms of lung cancer.  I have COPD and have been doctoring for a chough, hoarseness and pains in my lower ribs

Mary

Back in March I had a CT scan of my lower aorta. Lung nodules were found, and I was told I needed another scan in 3 months. The next scan was done June 28, This one showed another nodule, bigger than the other two. So now I had nodules in both lungs. A biopsy was done a few weeks ago followed by a PET scan. Thank god I'm fine. The past several months have been hell. I even cleaned out my closet because I didn't want anyone else to have to do it once I was gone. That is how scared I was. What I'm trying to tell you is; most lung nodules turn out to be nothing. I know you are scared I was too.

Rose

Thank you, I do feel better.

Mlb

On Jul 29, 2012 1:06 AM mlb500 wrote:

Thank you, I do feel better.

Mlb

Rose is absolutely correct.  I had pneumonia last year and after an x-ray was taken to confirm it, I was told I had nodules showing in both lungs.  They sent me for a CT scan - again 3 to 5 mm nodules showing up in both lungs.  They wanted to do a PET Scan but my medical oncologist requested the results be sent to him.  He examined them and told me to wait for my next yearly physical which was only two months away.  In the meantime I found that two friends had also been told they have nodules in their lungs - and they have never had cancer.  I had my PET Scan and I am fine.  It is scary when you first hear those words - but they are more often nothing. 

Diana 

What is the differents between a pet scan and a ct scan of the lungs?  I saw my dianosis and it says I have

pulmonary collapse

bronchietasis w/o acute

ot nospec abn find LNG

I don't know what all that means.  I do have a lot of pain in the right ribs

MLB

On Jul 29, 2012 9:42 AM mlb500 wrote:

What is the differents between a pet scan and a ct scan of the lungs?  I saw my dianosis and it says I have

pulmonary collapse

bronchietasis w/o acute

ot nospec abn find LNG

I don't know what all that means.  I do have a lot of pain in the right ribs

MLB

Mary -

A CT Scan is basically a more intense xray that creates cross-sectional images of the bones and soft tissues inside your body.

A PET Scan entails a short-lived radiopactive sugar laced tracer isotope  being injected into you.  You have to wait approximately an hour and then you are placed into the scanner.  IF there are any cancer cells, they will rush to the "sugar based" isotope (cancer cells love sugar). 

CT scans are more precise for giving a clearer picture of tumors, nodules, etc.   A PET scan is used when the CT Scan indicates suspicious looking areas or growths as it will either rule out of confirm possibly cancers. 

Mary, have your doctors even mentioned any possibility of cancer?  From what you wrote, I do not see anything that indicates that.  In fact, it appears to say the opposite - and if they did not order a PET scan, I would say they see nothing suspicious.  We have a couple of medical people on CC who may be able to give you a more layman's explanation of your diagnosis but I see nothing that even suggests cancer.  Both pulmonary collapse and bronchitis would cause pain in your ribs.

Diana      

Mary I'm not a doctor, but to me a pulmonary collapse sounds like a collapse lung. Sometimes your lung can collapse from an illness, injury, or for no reason at all. When my son was 13 his lungs would collapse for no reason. He finally out grew it. My other son had an injury at work which caused a collapse lung. When I had my lung biopsy my lung collapsed. It does cause a lot of pain. The air from the lung gets caught in the chest which causes the pain. depending on how much the lung is collapse and if it is sealing it's self depends on what the doctors do.

Rose

My family doctor went over my ct test results on Monday. 

I have the pulmonary collapse 5 or more nodgles of various sizes and they think it is an infection but recomend the Pet scan to rule out cancer.  I go to pulmonary doct on Mon.

Mary

Keep us posted. Remember most nodules are nothing.

Rose

On Jul 28, 2012 2:30 PM mlb500 wrote:

I hand a ct lung scan and it shows abnormal nodles in my r lung.  I had the ct because of an Xray.  I would like to know the systoms of lung cancer.  I have COPD and have been doctoring for a chough, hoarseness and pains in my lower ribs

Mary

I saw my  pulmonary doctor yesterday.  He showed me my ct scan and went over it with me.  I have infection which he is treating with meds.  We will do another ct scan in a year.  He said sometimes the nodgles on a screen are scares, they are small and they can't tell until they have another one to come pair.  He said the radiody reports things they see or maybe they see to cover themselfs against getting sued.  I don't have a collaped lung.  It is scar tissue and infection.

Thank you all and I pray for all  you that are sick

Mary