My name is Jim Marhevka I am a veteran. I had a cat scan done which showed a 7 millimeter nodule on my right lung and the start of emphysema. This is one of several cats scans I have had over the last 4 years but the first cat scan to come back with this diagnosis. I am certainly concerned because of the obvious but also because I asked questions like, 1. is it cancerous, 2. should I be doing something special, 3. can I get help stop smoking, 4. Is there a special diet 5. what would they suggest I do . The VA answered none of these questions, simply said for me to wait 6 months and do another CT scan. That in itself troubled me and if you know anything about the VA we only get interns and nurses and very seldom a doctor, which only added to my concern. I do have Medicare because I am on disability due to other physical and mental health issues however being on a fixed income I cannot afford that additional 20 percent for a regular doctor assuming I could find a doctor to start with that would see me. Any information or direction that can be given as to who I should turn to or where I should turn as well as ANY thoughts you may on this would be greatly appreciated. I know I'm not your patient but I am as any human being would be running down the negative road of mental confusion and concern because of not having any answers. What I think concerns me more than anything is that there has never been this diagnosis in any other ct scan as recently as a year ago and having been told nothing except to do ia ct scan again in 6 months is not something that set my mind at ease. I really want help to stop smoking which is going to be difficult alone, I have tried numerous times with no success but ultimately getting no answers to any of these questions didn't help. I know you can't and won't tell me anything definitive however I would be appreciative if you could guide me in the right direction & perhaps suggest what questions I should be asking or things I should be doin
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jimmarhevka
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Reply # - August 14, 2015, 09:10 AM
Hello, and welcome to GRACE.
Hello, and welcome to GRACE.
First of all, thanks for your service to this country, I hope the VA comes through for you, we owe a special debt to those who have given us the best years of their lives in order that we can be protected.
The initial diagnosis process (waiting, waiting and waiting) is very hard and frightening. You''ll find out that the odds are that it's not cancer, but you just don't know, and the mind takes off in the scariest direction.
1) They would need to do a biopsy to determine for sure if it's cancerous, and 7mm is a little small to do that. Biopsies have their own risks, and watching to see if it grows is standard procedure. This is hard, the waiting, especially when there's the stress involved. Been there, done that.
2) Should you be doing something special? You're already doing that by educating yourself.
3) I found the following link on VA assistance to quit smoking. http://www.publichealth.va.gov/smoking/quit/
4) You'll find various opinions on special diets, but I think the staff here just pretty much encourage a healthy diet.
Good luck, and warm wishes.
Tom
Reply # - August 16, 2015, 12:45 PM
I agree with everything that
I agree with everything that Tom has said. Though you might see only a nurse or intern, a doctor has seen and reviewed your scan so they only deliver the message. My brother is also a VET and gets great service from his local VA. It's unfortunate to have to wait but the good news is that you're showing only one nodule. So whether or not this could be cancerous, they can't tell anything from a nodule that small. If you're a smoker then you're bound to get emphysema, whether it's diagnosed or not. If the nodule grows within that 6 month period, a biopsy would be scheduled as only the biopsy can confirm it is or not. Try not to worry!
Take care, Judy