There is also a hereditary component to bronchiectasis in some people - my mother had it, I have it and my daughter was diagnosed at about 40. We do not fit the "profile" of being small and slender with low BMI - rather we are more the sturdy, muscular type. But we all had asthma, and a lot of exposure to noxious dust, gasses, and other lung-killers in our lives. We also all have/had rheumatoid arthritis.

My Mom had MAC near the end of her life, but with many other health challenges, we chose to only treat when she was symptomatic - no Big 3. I endured nearly 2 years of treatment, and am so far NTM free after 5 1/2 years off the meds. My daughter has avoided NTM so far.