CT Scan and Nodules

I consulted a family member who was a doctor when I had my first x-ray(taken because I had a bronchitis type cough that wasn't responding to treatment) with a "spot" showing on the right lung. She stated that a CAT scan was definately in order so that the spot could be examined in 3-D and because CAT scans could pick up more than x-rays could. She told me that the CAT scan would be repeated after a waiting period of about 3 months to see if the spot had changed in size or had company that hadn't been around from the first. Getting bigger or getting more was an ominous sign of course. However, she said that lots of things besides cancer can show up on a CAT scan. Some of those things are nasty and some aren't. Researching what else it could be was not always conducive to good sleeping, though the story of someone whose spot turned out to be dried-up mucous from pneumonia or another story (from my surgeon) who opened up a patient he was sure had stage 4 cancer only to find they had treatable TB was heartening. Um, I didn't get that kind of news. I was found early though, thanks to the x-ray, followed by 2 CAT scans, and a VATS biopsy. (VATS procedures for small nodules like yours are MUCH easier to recover from if you have to go that route). Well, anyhow, back to your situation. Take the cautious route and definately follow this thing up. Your nodules are very small and may just be scar tissue. If they don't grow, follow them up with a repeat look after a period of time recommended by your radiologist. But just in case they turn out to be trouble, start preparing now for possible surgery. They won't do surgery on someone with diminished lung capacity even if the surgery might be curative (which it can be in early stage lung cancer). So do all you can now to build your lung capacity. You probably know you should quit smoking. Do it now. Start a walking/exercise program now. You have a few months to get in shape. If the news turns out to be good, you can be glad that you started getting in shape. If the news is not so perky, you will be more ready for surgery and whatever treatment the doctors recommend. I remember reading an ovarian cancer survivor's account of trying to bounce into the doctor's examining room just so he would think she was healthy enough to endure aggressive chemo. Most of us would rather avoid it, but she knew what she had was serious and she wanted the best treatment out there for her problem. The book ended with her being one of the survivors. I try very hard to aim for the same.

We have three lobes on the right and two on the left. The nodules can all be different things.

Remember that it is not cancer until the pathologist sees it under a microscope.

Atherosclerotic vascular disease of the thoracic aorta was something I had to look up on the net. Here's what I found: Atheroma is the thickening of the arteries from the depositing of plaque on the artery walls. Arteriosclerosis is the hardening of the artery walls. Atheroma and arteriosclerosis lead to atherosclerosis. In other words, it sounds like you have a problem with your circulatory system that the CAT scan picked up before you had a heart attack. That is good. Knowing you have a problem gives you time to correct it. See your doctor for recommendations. They might suggest diet, exercise and medical interventions, depending on how serious it looked. Remember, knowledge is power. If you know you have a problem you can start solving that problem. That's a whole lot better than the guys out there with health problems that don't know it and aren't doing anything about it until it is too late. Good luck!