I just returned from my first visit with the cardio/thoracic surgeon. He gave me good news that my ascending aortic aneurysm is 3.9 and technically not at the 4.0 stage for a true aneurysm. But I will get the echo cardio gram and another CAT scan in a year to see if it is stable. He assured me that there really is only a 3% chance of it rupturing at this level. And of course as the centimeters increase so does the chances. But they still do not do surgery until 6 cm because there is a greater risk of rupture than the surgery. So I am content to just get my yearly screenings and he said there is a great chance that I will never be operated on but you have to be vigilant with your check ups. And not lift over 30 pounds, but continue to do aerobic exercise !