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.