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Can COPD Mild Cause Lung Cancer?

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Posted on Wed, 21 Feb 2024
Question: Okay, I’m going to get a bit technical but for a pulmonologist that should be okay. I started smoking at age 17-32 at an average of one pack per day which would be 115,200 cigarettes. At age 33 I slowed way down to less than 90 cigarettes per month until I was 46. This equals another 15,120 cigarettes. If you average my smoking it would be 12 cigarettes daily for 30 years. At age 46 I totally stopped smoking and I’ll be 74 next month so I’ve stopped for nearly 28 years. What’s the likelihood I have COPD mildly and what is the likelihood I will get lung cancer? Should I get a CT scan annually and would that catch it early in all probability? I think if you catch it early you have a pretty good chance at a cure. Thank you
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Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (13 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) and CT thorax.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I can understand your concern.
First of all, you have to understand that 'Not all smokers develop COPD and Lung cancer. Similarly not all COPD and Lung cancer patients have smoking habit'.
So in short even if you are active or past smoker, you may not develop into COPD or lung cancer.
So get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) to rule out COPD and CT thorax to rule out Lung cancer.
If your PFT and CT are normal then no need to worry for copd and lung cancer.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
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Dr. Drkaushal85

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Practicing since :2008

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Can COPD Mild Cause Lung Cancer?

Brief Answer: Get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) and CT thorax. Detailed Answer: Hi, I can understand your concern. First of all, you have to understand that 'Not all smokers develop COPD and Lung cancer. Similarly not all COPD and Lung cancer patients have smoking habit'. So in short even if you are active or past smoker, you may not develop into COPD or lung cancer. So get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) to rule out COPD and CT thorax to rule out Lung cancer. If your PFT and CT are normal then no need to worry for copd and lung cancer. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.