POSTED THIS POST IN THE LUNG CANCER COMMUNITY.
I finally had my appointment with my lung specialist, but he didn't have the disk of the CT Scan so couldn't get exactly all of the results.

When I first got there, I saw the specialist's nurse, who gave me books on emphysema & COPD.
Also a book on quitting smoking, which I did, but still struggle at time, but getting there.

Then saw a student doctor, who took all of my history, since when I was 14 the age I started asthma.

Finally saw the specialist, He told me I had emphysema and COPD. That's about all he could tell me at this time, since the hospital where I had the CT didn't send it to him.

He gave me 2 different medication at that time, advair inhaler, and cingular pills.

Then 10 days ago I went to see my PCP, and got the requisition to pick up the disk of my CT, which I have in hand right now, and will bring it to my next appointment.

My PCP told me that the capacity of my lungs in February was 60%.
All of the parameter are low.
I don't quite understand these figures, but he circled the FEV1 L should be at 3.00, mine is 1.96, the other figures are all under the normal range.

CT SCAN results:

No sign at this time of bronchiectasie*. Also missing infiltrat active or nodularity suspect.

Moderate emphysema of the superior lobes particularly at right apex.
Distinct trainees lineaires d'allure cicatricielle* (scarring), chronic, in the middle and lingula lobe.

Small nodule approximately 4mm in the lower pleurale region of segment supero-dorsal of the inferior right lobe.

This nodule is non calcified.

It might probablybe granulome non calcified.

Never the less, without the document anterieur, this nodule has to be followed for the next 2 years.

Schedual another CT Scan in 6 months.

Conclusion:

No bronchiectasie*.
MODERATE Emphesema of the superior lobes.
Small nodule probably benign at the right inferior lobe, to be followed for the next 2 years.

HOPEFULLY SOMEONE HERE WILL UNDERSTAND THIS NOT SOO GOOD TRANSLATION FROM FRENCH TO ENGLISH.
AND
EXPLAIN ALL OF THIS TO ME.

SHOULD I BE WORRIED.

NOTE: My specialist with get the DISK of the ct scan on my next appointment and will determine if in fact, it is benign.

Thank you very very much

Mckenzie
One day at the time

Mckenzie,
Basically you have emphysema in both upper lobes and more in the right upper one. Which is common of cigarette smoking. The granuloma is also common and hard to distinguish if cancerous without doing removal and biopsy. From what I understand it would be safer to be calcified instead of non-calcified. But I have 3mm granuloma and have had for 10 years that has not grown so not all are cancer. If they are concerned they will do PET scan or other.Be sure to ask doctors all questions you might have, whether they sound stupid or not!And try sites like www.medscape,webmd or just google all words you dont understand to get understandable definitions and descriptions.Some doctors are better at explaining everything to you, if they dont ask,ask,ask!!!!Sites like this are good for support but use reputable medical sites to get facts and info. I've been living with paraseptal emphysema for 21 years now and since I'm a veteran in the VA Health system I've had to learn alot on my own.
Hang in there and take care of yourself!

I too have bilateral nodules--both lungs upper and lower. The nodules, although numerous, are too small to biopsy so my pulmanologist is going to monitor them for any change for the next two years. I also have arterial sclorosis and have to see a vascular surgeon for an arterial dopler next week. It seems the heart and lungs kind of go together. Anyway, I was as scared as you are when I first started all this 8 months ago. I smoked for 40 years and you talk about hard to quit WOW!! However, I have been smoke free for five months now. The first thing I did was go to a non smoking clinic and get on Chantex--although the pill gave me a bit of an upset stomach for the first hour after taking it--I could not have quit without it. Chantex works--not just for me but for many I know who have taken it. I hear the shot also helps--costs less than the chantex..something like $400 I hear and most only need one shot. As I say all this--I have not lost the urge to smoke and sometimes I just want to sit and cry. But, all I have to remember is not pick up another cigarette--just don't pick one up and you won't ever have to worry about going through the pains of quitting again :) I will say one thing--I don't cough anymore and this year I did not have pneumonia like every other year. I will continue for another 18 months to have CT scans every three months and see the pulmanologist every 6 unless they find significant change. I got a phone call yesterday telling me that my CT scan taken this month showed the nodules to be "stable" no change--that's a good thing :) Hang in there. There's a 90 year old woman who goes to the same pulmanologist that I go to--she has emphysema and continues to smoke--she's still alive and well. This disease is not a death sentence. My neighbor was diagnosed with emphysema 16 years ago, when she was in her 60's. She quit smoking and eventually had to use oxygen, but she still worked, drove her car, went to church, had dinner parties, functioned quite well. She died a couple weeks ago--of renal kidney failure--not emphysema. Stop smoking--that's your first goal--take walks (I walk about a mile a day). I chew on tooth picks that seems to help. Like you, I was scared, but I am ok now because I got very pro-active in my treatment--quit smoking took walks. And, when I looked at the traffic on the interstate the other day, I realized that daily life is much more scarey and much more apt to get you than lung disease.

Thank you all for sharing your stories and helping me with some of the translation.
I will google some words today, and am definately on the road to quit smoking.
Thanks again & good luck with your journey.
Mckenzie
One day at the time