Can TB meds cure Lung Cancer?

Ok, this might be a long shot, but I'm gonna ask anyway...I am taking Meds. for TB, even though I don't really have it, but I have all the symptoms. In November of 2006 had a CT Scan that showed only 2-3mm nodules, now about 2 weeks ago had an X-ray done and found a millary of nodules. I'm a smoker and I am 31yrs. old, I have a history of lung cancer on my Father's side, and High Blood Pressure on my Mother's side. Now going in Monday for another CT Scan, to see how bad it is. I'm having tightness in my chest and trouble breathing. I've been on Amoxillian, Albuterol, and Mucinex D, but nothing seems to help. I'm still smoking but I've cut back alot, and I just started the TB medicine. What I'm wondering is; if its Lung Cancer, will the TB medication help it out at all? Or if anyone else could help me, in figuring out what it could be, please help me. I also have a problem with Panic Attacks, and Anxiety, but I'm trying to over come that. Please can anyone help me?

Well, I really have no cough, and no red spots coming up with phlem. I do however, have alot of chest tightness, and pressure right in the middle of my chest. There's pain and pressure behind my breastbone. I have really bad panic attacks especially at night, feeling like I can't breath, and my heart races, but thats probably because of my panic attacks. I'm down to only like 5 or 6 cigarettes a day. On the left side of my ribs I usually get a sharp stabbing pain down towards where my elbow ends, when my hands are place to my side. I'm not sure what other information you need, but please let me know as soon as possible.

first of all, my concern is that you should stop taking the meds unless you are diagnosed with Tb, Tb drugs have adverse effects that can truly aggravate your sickness.....
the right thing to do is to seek a med consult, show your CT and xray results so that you can be treated with the proper medications.

second, stop smoking, i know it is hard, and there would be withdrawal symptoms that would hinder you from stopping but you see, you have two of the highest risk factors in any lung disease, more so in developing lung CA 1.smoking 2. family hx of lung cancer. continuous smoking even if you said you already tapered your use....wouldnt really help..

about your symptoms, and scan results... we can come up with the exact diagnosis if you tell me more...do you have hemoptysis, or do you see red spots on your phlegm when you cough? if yes, then we can rule in tuberculosis, and lung cA,weight loss can both be present,
presence of night sweats, & fever though diff tb from lung ca.

but to be more precise, lung CA presents with prolonged and progressive cough. plus the nodules, may really be indicative of lungCA, also, your personal history of being a chronic smoker points to a probability of CA.

but most importantly, you have to go to your doctor so that you can be treated soon befre its too late......

hope this helped...


panic attacks in your case are precipitated by smoking....
but
the chest tightness, the stabbing pain on the left side that radiates towards your elbow are suggestive of angina pectoris, which may be due to ischemia (a lack of blood and hence oxygen supply) of the heart muscle....and the panic attacks may truly be accmpanying symtpms of angina....

again, your smoking can be the reason for all of these.... and also the family hx of high bp...is a predisposing factor for heart Symptoms

I'm not a Doc, I'm a Respiratory Therapist. But I'm going to go ahead and vote no for the TB meds curing lung CA.

tb is a bacterial infection of your lungs. therefore, the tb meds that you are taking will only help to: 1) kill the bacteria, 2) open up your lung airways, and 3) get rid of any mucus that is blocking your airway.

cancer, on the other hand, is a mutation in your cells that cause your cells to grow very rapidly. eventually, they turn into tumors and if the tumors get big enough they can metastasize (spread to other tissues in your body).

the only treatment for cancer is chemotherapy or to surgically remove the tumors in your lungs. this is why it is very important to catch cancer in its early stages, before it spreads.

carcinogens are substances that cause cancer. unfortunately, there are many carcinogens found in cigarette smoke. this is why smoking is very strongly linked to lung cancer.

my advice is to talk to your doctor about your concerns. he/she can run tests to see if it is cancer or not. it is also a good thing that you are trying to cut back on smoking. hopefully, you will be able to quit. i hope that this answers your question. best wishes.