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@emily10- I'd also like to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. Most people think that emphysema is caused by smoking. Most of the time it is unless it isn't. There are other causes, like pollution, genetic factors, chemicals and a lot of THC, or maybe second-hand smoke. It can creep up on you very slowly too and all of a sudden you are short of breath. I am a 22+ year lung cancer patient and have had hundreds of CT scans and Xrays. My emphysema is caused by 35 years of smoking. I have had many lung functions tests and hopefully, yours will tell your story. My thinking is that I question everything, even why didn't you tell me scenarios. I have made my doctors angry but they then understood that I don't read minds and need to be told everything! Will you hear soon?
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/emphysema/symptoms-causes/syc-20355555
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Thanks Merry. They asked me about second-hand smoke, and both my parents were nonsmokers and my husband of 29 years is also a nonsmoker. I've never used THC or any type of chemical. I have always used perfumes and things like hairspray - not too excessive, but probably a few times a week. I also have used a lot of cleaning products and smell-good air fresheners, etc. I do want to mention that my mother (who is alive and healthy at 87), was told at the age of 60 that she had emphysematous changes on a plain chest x-ray. I am not sure what all they can see on a chest x-ray, and it worried her for a while - but til this day she has never had any respiratory symptoms?My PFTs went pretty good. My follow-up is scheduled in three months, but the office will call me sooner if abnormal. Thanks again for the information and support, and I will post when I find out any updates! 🙂