If I have a family history of lung cancer, should I request additional testing?
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Last updated: Jun 28, 2010
Q
My dad died with lung cancer at age 56. I have noticed more shortness of breath (my doctor attributed to asthma) with chest pain (attributed to MVP). I have a dry cough and wheezing. My physician ordered chest x-ray and EKG along with routine blood work. Should I request any other testing?
Answers
A
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I had a dry cough, severe shortness of breath and chest pain. After having a stent placed in a blocked artery the shortness of breath worsened and the dry cough persisted. I had several CT scans done along with 3 additional cardiac catheterizations with no detection of any additional abnormality. The lung specialist I was seeing said I was a mystery patient. After about 3 months, the lung specialist did a bronchoscopy and took some lung biopsies during the procedure. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis turned out to be the culprit of the persistant symptoms. I would suggest asking your doctor about possibly seeing a lung specialist.
