Hi jstarkman- I totally understand the place that you are in right now. First, take a deep breath, Second, are you near a Mayo Clinic or a Specialty place like it? You can always ask for a second opinion. That is what I would do. I never had a biopsy until after my surgery I had a nodule in my left upper lung that took 9 years to grow from ground glass to Adenocarcinoma. I was lucky because it was so slow growing but I was unlucky because I never got told about it being there. Long story. Anyway my Dr sent me for a PET scan after he saw that it had changed and I went straight to Mayo. Then Mayo decided the order in which they would do things. Pulmonologist first. Compared CT scans, because of shape and size and his experience he knew it was cancer without a biopsy. Set me up to talk to Thoracic Surgeon. I asked about radiation they said best to cut it out. Had a Bronchoscopy done, no lymph nodes involved. Had a PET scan, nodule barely lit. Had not spread anywhere else. Had segmentectomy (partial lobe removed). Clear margins and none of the numerous lymph nodes removed were cancerous. They said they caught it early, and I am so Thankful I didn’t wait to do the lung screening. That’s what caught it. I tell you my story because I have read where others have waited and it had spread. Please get a Second or even Third opinion. Be comfortable with what and which doctor you choose. It has to make sense to you. Stay OFF of Dr. Google! It’s unnecessarily horrifying! Research your questions on Mayo clinic, Cleveland clinic, or any of the . Orgs. Shy away from anything that is a .Com.
Good Luck and God bless you!
Cindy