Solitary Pulmonary Nodule

[AngieL]

Last weekend I was having terrible pain in my chest and couldn't breathe normally, so I went to the Urgent Care to get checked out and the doc sent me in for a CT scan to check for a Pulmonary embollism. NO embollism but they diagnosed me with multiple pulmonary nodules. The largest one being 9.4mm and I also had swollen lymph nodes in my chest. The doc prescribed me an antibiotic for a suspected infection. None showed on the CT but since I was having pain and swollen lymph nodes why not, right? I was scheduled for another CT of my pelvis and abdomen every thing turned up AOK except for multiple accessory spleens, AWESOME!!! lol. I'm 27 and a moderate smoker (tsk tsk). As of right now I don't have a PCP but getting set up for one through the urgent care. I have a small family history of cancer but no lung cancer So my main questions are 1) How concerned should I be? 2) What steps are next? (quitting smoking is one) 3) Should I go straight to an Oncologist? I'm not a wait and see kinda person. I want to know what I"m up against and I want to take care of it now not later.

[Davy9]

Yeah, you would want to get this differentiated ASAP. Try to locate an MD who will accept and prioritize your case. You are at the beginning of a diagnostic journey and it is premature to guess its outcome based on just this information. But it is of enough concern to warrant expedient action.

[LungDoc]

The most rational thing would be to give you the Antibiotics and then repeat the scan in a few weeks. You did not mention if you were having fevers, weight loss, or night sweats. All are important to note. What part of the country do you live in? There are certain fungal infections that could present this way too. Antibiotics will not work on them, but most resolve on their own.

Your findings are somewhat concerning for problems with your lymphatic system. This could be something like sarcoidosis, but you also should be concerned for lymphoma, because you are young and this can sometimes be how it presents. Again, I AM NOT saying that is what it is, but it is on the list, and so I would see a hematologist/oncologist first. And see a good MD or DO.

You absolutely must quit smoking.