Ground Glass - Scared

@scareddad46, It is not unusual to feel scared and overwhelmed in this type of situation. The waiting is often difficult. I'm glad that your doctor is following up with a CT next week, which shows that she is taking this seriously. I would also take into account that she notes that you are low-risk for this to be cancerous. Of course, low-risk doesn't mean no-risk, and honestly sometimes no-risk people get cancer too. The only way to know more is to start with the scan next week.
Take a deep breath and try to do some things that may help take your mind off of it. Think of things that you enjoy and may be a distraction; go for a walk in nature, go to a movie, connect with a friend. Try to focus on what you know today, IE. there is something on the initial scan that needs follow up, but we don't know that it's cancer. Try to keep your mind from going to the worst-case scenario. Please keep us posted.

What is a ground glass opacity? Those docs sure know how to scare a person! This doesn't mean there is glass, or anything else sharp or abrasive in your lungs. On an x-ray or CT, it is an area in the lung where the tissue isn't clearly visible due to what my pcp calls a "debris field." Typically, in an otherwise healthy individual with a recent history of a lung infection, it is truly that - the remains of fluid, mucus and infection cells that has not completely cleared.

Why a six-month follow-up? The body takes several months to eliminate all the residue - some is coughed out but you may not even notice it, it is part of your typical daily breathing cycle. The rest is absorbed into the bloodstream and eliminated through body waste. A small residue may remain as scar tissue, depending n the severity of the infection.

What is the takeaway? Your docs are right - if you are otherwise healthy, this is nothing to worry about. It is just a temporary remnant of your lung infection.

What can you do? Repeated infections can lead to lung diseases later in life. You know you have sensitive lungs, so you need to protect them from further assaults. Remember those N-95 masks on the shelf since Covid subsided? Use them! When there are Air Quality alerts due to the smoke. When you are doing dusty tasks. When you are cleaning rain gutters or other wise dealing with possible mold. When you are sawing or sanding. When your are raking, blowing leaves and debris, even mowing... Yes, they are hot and annoying (but you can use the ones with a valve to make it easier to breathe.)

So now, relax, take a deep breath, mark 6 months on your calendar for the followup, and get on with your life. Stay away from Dr. Google, too.
Come on back if you have more questions.
Sue

What is a ground glass opacity? Those docs sure know how to scare a person! This doesn't mean there is glass, or anything else sharp or abrasive in your lungs. On an x-ray or CT, it is an area in the lung where the tissue isn't clearly visible due to what my pcp calls a "debris field." Typically, in an otherwise healthy individual with a recent history of a lung infection, it is truly that - the remains of fluid, mucus and infection cells that has not completely cleared.

Why a six-month follow-up? The body takes several months to eliminate all the residue - some is coughed out but you may not even notice it, it is part of your typical daily breathing cycle. The rest is absorbed into the bloodstream and eliminated through body waste. A small residue may remain as scar tissue, depending n the severity of the infection.

What is the takeaway? Your docs are right - if you are otherwise healthy, this is nothing to worry about. It is just a temporary remnant of your lung infection.

What can you do? Repeated infections can lead to lung diseases later in life. You know you have sensitive lungs, so you need to protect them from further assaults. Remember those N-95 masks on the shelf since Covid subsided? Use them! When there are Air Quality alerts due to the smoke. When you are doing dusty tasks. When you are cleaning rain gutters or other wise dealing with possible mold. When you are sawing or sanding. When your are raking, blowing leaves and debris, even mowing... Yes, they are hot and annoying (but you can use the ones with a valve to make it easier to breathe.)

So now, relax, take a deep breath, mark 6 months on your calendar for the followup, and get on with your life. Stay away from Dr. Google, too.
Come on back if you have more questions.
Sue

I was diagnosed with ground glass opacity in left upper lobe. My followup changed from a year to 3 months! I have 5 lung nodules under 6 cm.
I'm a little scared. I had acute bronchitis during CT scan last week.

What did they say about how they looked. What exactly has been said regarding it?

Nothing basically. My GP didn't say much which pissed me off so I changed my doctor in the group. All I know is the Specialist Treatment Team changed protocol to CT scan at 3 months.

My cardiologist office called and said to take a baby aspirin every day. Lung cancer screening showed minimal calcification in my heart. I now have coronary artery disease.

I had pneumonia when I was 25. An x-ray afterwards showed a shadow on my lung. The doctor didn't say to see a pulmonologist. I'm sick of doctors.

Hi! I just saw my Pulmnologist today. All of the original GGO seen on the Calcium score are gone; however, there is one or two ones that were not in focus while doing the Calcium Score (since it only captures small portions of the lungs). She believes it was probably bigger and is shrinking probably (no point of reference.

It's all a game. Finding a great doctor is difficult. You got good news on GGO being gone. Sometimes they disappear spontaneously. I hope mine in gone when CT scan is done in November.

Maggie - Thank you so much! All the GGO's are not gone.

Calcium Score (Heart CT) - Incidental finding several GGO's found on 6/28. Note: the Calcium score is focusing on the heart, so it only has a 1/3 of the lungs in focus meaning when they did that scan the GGO's they saw now with the results from the new scan.

- CT CHEST SCAN (This Week) - It focused on the entire chest, so it picked up GGO's that were not in focus on the original Calcium Score (heart focus). The GGO's that were seen on the Calcium Score are gone. The doctor is very confident that the GGO's seen are inflammation and were probably much bigger and are now going away. We shall see. Good luck.

Maggie - Thank you so much! All the GGO's are not gone.

Calcium Score (Heart CT) - Incidental finding several GGO's found on 6/28. Note: the Calcium score is focusing on the heart, so it only has a 1/3 of the lungs in focus meaning when they did that scan the GGO's they saw now with the results from the new scan.

- CT CHEST SCAN (This Week) - It focused on the entire chest, so it picked up GGO's that were not in focus on the original Calcium Score (heart focus). The GGO's that were seen on the Calcium Score are gone. The doctor is very confident that the GGO's seen are inflammation and were probably much bigger and are now going away. We shall see. Good luck.