asbestos exposure, nodule on lung question??

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2003

You could ask your grandfather's doc if they are trying to rule out asbestosis.

EastCoast · Oct 11, 2003

Unable to find out too much with out a biopsy. Asbestosis can often take the form of COPD and is a liveable type of process. Given your granddads hx. and what not of course one has to think of a cancer. However, bear in mind he is 86 and could have been sitting with this same solitary nodule for the last 20 years and no one saw it. It could possibly be scar tissue. Does he have other symptoms:

SOB, hemoptysis, weight loss, or is he in his baseline state of health. Don't push any panic buttons until you see a good pulmonologist who can review the CT results etc. If it is something awful make sure that you all take the time to see what he wants. Sometimes our older people feel much more comfortable with end of life issues than we would like to think. He is lucky he has you. Good luck to you.

salvati08 · Oct 12, 2003

Thanks for the info, no they told my grandpa that he has definetly been exposed to asbestos sometime but they aren't sure exactly what the nodule is.

Erin RN · Oct 12, 2003

Mesothelioma??

salvati08 · Oct 12, 2003

See, mesothelioma is the worst case senerio. Some people who are exposed to asbestos live years with out anything ever developing into that. There are several different cancers that can be cause by asbestos and that's the worst. I was just wondering if anyone else had any suggestions to what the nodule could be.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2003

Only a biopsy can give you a definite answer.

lehua · Oct 13, 2003

Knowing if exposure is related to his occupation would be a give away because some industries either use asbestos in their products or is a part of manufacturing. Since airborne asbestos fiber exposure regulation is fairly new, (last thirty year), speaking with him about the industry he worked in, and exactly what he did, would help to narrow the time of potential exposure. Speaking with his coworkers and any problems they may have with asbestosis would certainly be a giveaway. There can be decades from being diagnosed with asbestosis and when exposure occured. Feel free to email me if you have any questions related to asbestos and I can forward you related info from epa, osha, niosh.