shortness of breath question

• By Marylou1
• Posted June 8, 2009 at 5:49 pm
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Hi Knitty:
It's possible you might be suffering from a bit of anxiety, but if it were me, I would want it checked out if it lasts two MORE weeks.

Hopefully, it will be just a case of nerves. I'll be praying for you.
Much Love,
Marylou

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• By kq182
• Posted June 8, 2009 at 6:08 pm
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Hi, Marylou made some good points, I would wait a little longer but if you notice more shortness of breath I would call my onc and have the test moved up, or order some other tests. You need to call and at least tell the nurse of your concerns and see what the doctor feels you need to do.
Please keep us updated, hope you feel better soon, Karen

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• By LTLCS
• Posted June 8, 2009 at 6:50 pm
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You are so right in that a teensy nodule will not cause you to be SOB. I agree with the nervious issue or anxiety issue. I also wish to share with you that heart problems can cause SOB. I am not trying to scare you, but there really are many reasons for SOB.

I'm sure your CT will be fine. Having nodules throughout our body is pretty normal, not what we want to hear, but non the less they are normal.

My 8 year old Grandson has brain nodules and all the doctor's including Mayo told us these were normal and not to worry about them.

I know many people with nodules, some lung cancer survivors and some who have never had lung cancer. And in MOST cases these nodules end up being scare tissue or they just go away, or they might even be an infection of sort.

I'm glad you quit smoking 2 years ago, but do keep in mind your never really out of the woods just because you quit. It's a good idea to just get a yearly checkup and even ask for a chest x-ray. Can't hurt.

Good Luck,
Connie

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• By Munker
• Posted June 8, 2009 at 7:10 pm
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Not certain why your doctor is taking a wait and see approach esp. since you are a former smoker. Were your CT/PET scans negative? My nodule was watched for almost a year with no change but I decided to remove it so I would know for certain and sure enough it was early stage cancer. As for the shortness of breath it is probably not related to the nodule because it is too small to cause any symptoms at least from what I was told (my nodule was 12mm). Bottom line is that you have to go with your gut on this. I could have watched my nodule for years without a change because it is BAC (very slow growing) but there can be slight changes that do not necessarily cause the nodule to grow if it is cancerous-- this is when really sharp doctors come in to play.

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• By Bertha23
• Posted June 8, 2009 at 8:05 pm
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Shortness of breath is one symptom I wouldn't ignore. I got SOB going up stairs and ignored it. Wish I hadn't. You should at least phone your doctor because it is a symptom of many things, including anxiety, as pointed out, but your doctor needs to know and you need to find out what is causing it.

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• By knitty
• Posted June 8, 2009 at 8:36 pm
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Thank you all so very much for your quick replies. It seems everyone is in agreement that I should let my doctor know about this change. I will call her tomorrow.
Munker - the doctor (pulmonologist) told me that since it was not a full 1 cm that it is most likely benign. It has been scanned twice now with no change so he felt like we could safely wait 6 months for the next scan. I am not thrilled about waiting but I am not sure I want anything invasive done either. He told me that it needs to be 1 cm for the PET to be accurate. I had decided that I would just go with this plan and see what the next scan shows. It is hard to know the right thing to do. Was your nodule 12 mm from the beginning or did it grow some before you had it removed/biopsied? Were you going to a pulmonologist or an oncologist?
Thanks again everyone. This is a wonderful resource full of caring, strong and knowledgeable people.
Knitty

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• By PeaNute8
• Posted June 8, 2009 at 9:05 pm
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I Knitty and all,

I too have been having winded times on the flat, stares now. Even watering my garden, Went to ER over a week ago....long story...Have this caugh that will not go away, even with 2 inhalors. It is a dry caugh. CT showed No change on spiral one that sunday. Have seen Neurology now and will have a full body scan on 6/10/09 MRI. Will also see my pulminologist tomorrow, cause I'm still caughing and he wants to see me.

Good luck with your CT. Great question and I will follow this question for a while to see what comes up for more info.
Smiles, Tina:)

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• By hhhdai
• Posted June 8, 2009 at 9:13 pm
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growing or not, statistically 60% chance your nodule is cancer. And remember this - CT scan can't see anything unless it has at least a billion cancer cells stick together which gets about 3-5 mm big.

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• By LTLCS
• Posted June 8, 2009 at 10:42 pm
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I am trying to find you some good info on Nodules, here is an answer that a doctor gave to a patient.
**********************************************************

Sometimes calcium deposits in areas where an infection caused tissue damage or scarring. Thus, in your case calcifications are a sign of lung healing after the pneumonia. Mostly, calcified lung nodules are found after infections caused by mycobacteria (tuberculosis) or fungi (coccidiodomycosis), but also after bacterial pneumonia, in particular due to legionella.

Sincerely,

Dr. Alberto de la Guerra
************************************************************
As you can see a nodule can be several things and not at all lung cancer related.

Warm Regards,
Connie

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• By emblair
• Posted June 9, 2009 at 12:59 am
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Knitty,

This is my first posting, and my story is similar to yours. I am 37 years old, a year ago i had a routine CT scan done to examine a repaired heart defect. It was then that they found a 10mm somewhat spiculated, non calcified mass in my left lingula, there were also three 2mm nodules scattered in my right lung. The report said they were of no significance. I had a follow-up CT performed every six months. I also had a PET performed last June that was negative. I saw my pulmonologist May 18th, after another CT scan, with this scan, he could not determine if it looked the same as before or not, so he suggested removal. I consulted a physician and am scheduled for VATS wedge resection and possible lobectomy June 15th depending on pathology. I have to be honest I am scared as hell. I am married with four wonderful children ages 10,7,4,1. I don't know what to think of all this, my scans were all OK, now all of the sudden both the pulmonologist and surgeon agree it looks different. Sorry to ramble.

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• By staceym
• Posted June 9, 2009 at 8:40 am
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knitty - my husband who was staged a IIB kept feeling shortness of breath even while sitting and it was deemed his anxiety. he did have fluid on lung which did cause sob but even when that was cleared up he still felt it. he has since gotten his anxiety under control with breathing techniques. also, the drs felt it was quite possible his fluid and sob came from a cardiac issue - atrial fibrilation...anyway, i would address the sob just to be certain.

Stacey

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• By debbien
• Posted June 10, 2009 at 2:25 am
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thanks connie.

my husbands dr said most people have small growths that are nothing. but when you have had one that is cancer, they all seem suspicious.

debbie

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• By radfoxycan
• Posted June 10, 2009 at 9:11 am
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This sounds a bit like my story. Ex-smoker, I had a dry cough I couldn't get rid of. Had shortness of breath. For almost six months they put me on puffers. Found out I had bronchial pneumonia, put me on antibiotics. Then finally on New Year's day, my rt lung collapsed then they found out I had cancer. I think all of this could have been avoided if proper tests were done. They removed my rt lung plus did a carinal ressection two months ago. I think it's a miracle I am still alive and I am thankful every day. I sure hope all goes well for you.

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• By teacherN
• Posted June 10, 2009 at 9:29 am
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I had a small spiculated nodule found on a routine CT after my breast lumpectomy last fall. It was negative on PET, so I was a wait and see. Had an "inconclusive" result on a bronchoscopy and atypia in a needle biopsy, but still wait and see. I finally, May 1, had VATS lung biopsy (during a preventative hysterectomy), and it was a 1.3 cm BAC cancer. So my LLL lobectomy took place that day as well. Suggestion: Ask for the needle biopsy and bronchoscopy, if you are anxious. BTW, I am a nonsmoker. But I am praying your SOB is "just" anxiety. (Anxiety is very real.) Hugs and prayers. N

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• By teacherN
• Posted June 10, 2009 at 9:32 am
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PS My dr. said BAC does not always show up on a PET because it is soooooooo slow growing. In 8 months mine did not grow at all, according to the CT. That is why everyone was surprised that my biopsied nodule turned out to be cancer----super slow growth and inactive PET.

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• By B74
• Posted June 10, 2009 at 10:02 am
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By all means pursue the reason for the increased shortness of breath and don't let it wait. I had shortness of breath carrying things upstairs and was in good physical condition so my dr scheduled Xrays for several years that showed nothing -- not good enough. When something finally showed up, I was diagnosed with nsclc stage IIIB. I learned the hard way. Best of luck.

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• By knitty
• Posted June 10, 2009 at 10:25 am
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Hi there everyone!
I really do appreciate everyone's help with this. I just got off the phone with the pulmonologist's office and have an appointment for first thing tomorrow morning. I will let you all know. I am glad to be getting it checked. On top of the SOB, yesterday out of nowhere I started coughing this miserable dry cough that gets so bad I gag. I don't know where that came from but I have been coughing constantly for about 24 hours. I am using some lemon/honey cough drops and they help for a little while but it is just weird. So it is a good thing I have an appointment.
Knitty

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• By teacherN
• Posted June 10, 2009 at 11:28 am
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I am soooooo glad you have an appt tomorrow. Do let us know what the dr. says. Prayers and hugs!

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• By TheHmip
• Posted June 10, 2009 at 10:32 pm
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Hi Kitty...
All those symptoms you mentioned, I also had. Mine was caused from fluid in my lung. A simple ex-ray will show the fluid. You should mention your symptoms to your Oncologist

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• By knitty
• Posted June 11, 2009 at 3:42 pm
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Hi all,
I saw pulmonologist today and it does not seem to be related to the nodule. The dr thinks it is asthma or even the beginning of COPD. There are still a few tests that have to be run but he sent me home with advair. He also wants me to see the cardiologist for a check up. I am happy that the problems aren't related to the nodule. So I will deal with these issues and wait for my follow up CT in December. Thanks to all of you!
Knitty

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