2 SPD's found - Lung & Respiratory Disorders / COPD Message Board

dgal53 · 02-28-2007, 02:42 PM

I'm new to this forum and thought I'd offer up my current experience's because...quite frankly, I'm pretty frightened. Out of the blue on Jan. 30th, I coughed up some blood. It was bright red. I went to the Dr. immediately and he prescribed a z-pack for possible bronchitis and a CXR. The CXR revealed a 7mm SPD in the upper right lung and a 9mm in the center left lung. I'm an ex-smoker (quit 12 yrs ago) and am over 50...all the risk factors. The Dr. sent me for a CT which I had about three weeks later. Today they referred me to a pulmonary specialist. They say it's just to be sure because I have risk factors. What does the lung specialist do anyway? I'm sure I'll have other questions as time progresses; right now I'm just freaked out.

dgal53 · 03-01-2007, 09:52 AM

It must have been the anxiety.

dgal53 · 03-12-2007, 06:30 PM

Well, just a follow up for those of you that read this stuff. After reading the radiologist's report and viewing all the xrays and ct's, the pulmonologist and radiologist have indicated both SPN's are scar tissue. I'm set up for two years worth of follow up as an ex-smoker, but I don't miss the anxiety. Good news for a change. All SPN's don't necessarily have to be the big C, even in ex-smokers.

bt8425 · 03-13-2007, 08:15 AM

That's great news. I went through same in 2000, had CTs every 6 mos for two years. Everything was fine, no change in nodules. In Nov 2005 had a CT for my new pulmonologist which revealed the same nodules and we followed 4 months later to find out I now had group of small nodules not previously seen, no change to older ones. Long story short, diagnosed with NSCLC (Squeamous Cell) stage 1A, have had radiation and some chemo since resulting in no evidence of disease on my CT performed on 1/3/2007. Upcoming PetScan ordered for 3/15/2007. My experience has shown that your follow up is important and once they are satisfied it's nothing, additional follow up in 2 - 3 years would be advisable. Since I have severe COPD I see my pulmonologist every few months which made it possible to detect my illness early. Hope and pray your scans remain unchanged.