4 nodules and swollen lymph nodes

Indysilver

I've had a chronic cough for a couple of years, and my back always hurts (assuming from an old injury). I asked my Dr. for a chest x ray just to see if anything's going on. I've worked with asbestos 21 years. I'm not even 40 yet. When they called about my results everything started moving quicker than i'd ever imagined. They ordered an MRI the next day, and that's when they found 4 nodules within both lungs, and 3 swollen lymph nodes within my lungs. The largest nodule is 2.8cm. I go for my PET scan next week and i'm stressed out to say the least. As another person commented, 90% of nodules are non cancerous. I'm just worried with history of lung cancer in my family and my risk factors with work. Just asking for a little hope and cheer. Praying for all the current fighters and survivors out there fighting the fight.

eDivebuddy

Lung cancer is rarely hereditary in the genetic sense. While some families may carry genes that slightly increase susceptibility, most cases are not passed down directly through DNA. Instead, a family history of lung cancer often reflects shared environmental exposures and similar occupational risks.

For example, radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and can go unnoticed in homes for decades. Secondhand smoke is another major risk, especially for children growing up in households with smokers. There is also a well-documented pattern where children of smokers are more likely to start smoking themselves, which further increases their risk.

Children often follow their parents into the same types of work, which can mean exposure to the same hazards. Jobs like pipefitting, shipbuilding, construction, firefighting, and industrial maintenance have historically been linked to asbestos, silica dust, welding fumes, and other lung irritants.

So when lung cancer appears more than once in a family, it is often not due to genetics. It reflects a shared history. A history shaped by where people lived, how they lived, and the kind of work they did.

It is natural to assume the worst when lung nodules and swollen lymph nodes show up on imaging. But the truth is that most lung lesions are not cancer, especially in younger people. One of the most common non-cancerous causes is old infections.

When you get sick, even with something that seemed minor at the time, your lungs may respond by forming scar-like nodules or granulomas They can appear years later on scans, long after the illness was forgotten. And when found they can look very similar to cancer on a CT, MRI, or even a PET scan.

The PET scan will help clarify the next steps. Until then, I am sending good vibes your way, and hoping the results show that monitoring is all that is needed.

Indysilver

I wanted to give a brief update. My results are back from the PET scan this morning. An hour and a half after my appointment. It didn't go well at all. I have a bone lession in my chest, cancer in my lungs, and the right side of my neck apparently. They believe it to be Lymphoma but that's yet to be given the definitive name. There's a lot of big words on my doctors report, hopefully i'll get direction on Monday. They've already scheduled a consult at the Cancer Center for Thursday even before my results came back from the PET. ☹️

eDivebuddy

know this must feel overwhelming right now. PET scan results can sound scary, especially when you hear words like "lesion" and "cancer." But I just want to share a little context that might help.

A PET scan is not able to diagnose cancer on its own. It only shows areas with higher glucose activity, which can happen for many reasons. Infections, inflammation, and even healing from an old injury can light up on a PET. That is why a biopsy is always needed to confirm whether something is cancer, and if so, what type.

In fact, a biopsy is usually the very next step after a scan like this. It is the only way to be sure what you are dealing with and to guide the right treatment, if any is needed.

You mentioned there is a bone lesion in your chest. If that is in a rib, and you have ever had a hard impact there, like getting hit with a baseball or other blunt trauma, it is possible that spot is just an old injury or scarring. The body can sometimes keep remodeling bone tissue for years after an injury, and those changes can show up on imaging like this. Other non-cancerous causes like inflammation (costochondritis), benign bone growths, or even rare infections are also possible.

The same goes for the lymph nodes and lung areas that lit up. Yes, they could be related to something like lymphoma, but they could also be from a chronic infection or inflammatory condition. Some illnesses like sarcoidosis or even fungal infections like histoplasmosis can mimic cancer on a scan.

It is good that things are moving quickly and that you have a team looking at this already. The waiting and uncertainty are the hardest part, but I just wanted to say there are still real possibilities this is not cancer. Hoping for the best outcome for you as things become clearer.