Hello! I just received my results from my lung cancer screening CT scan. I am 63 years old, started smoking as a teenager and quit smoking 8 years ago. While I am thrilled to not have lung cancer show up on the scan, this single sentence has me terrified and confused.
“Mild emphysema involves the bilateral upper lungs with bibasilar scarring.”
I walk 6 plus miles per day on average. The only time I really have any shortness of breath is when walking uphill during really high humidity levels.
I grew up with my grandmother who cooked on a coal burning stove and used coal to heat her home. Could this scarring possibly be from my childhood environment?
I honestly have no idea what that sentence actually means? I sent a message to my doctor asking him if this is something I should be concerned about but have not heard back yet.
Many thanks in advance to any insight anyone might be able to share