Hi @julie67, I need to preface this with a reminder that none of us on Mayo Connect are doctors. We speak from our own experiences and research. I agree with @denzie, removing lymph nodes is not something that is normally done for lung cancer, at least at this step. They are currently on a fact-finding mission, not a curative/treatment mission. They need to know what they are up against before taking further action. That's smart. I've had lymph nodes biopsied and resulted (while I was still under anesthesia) before the pulmonologist went deeper into the lung. Taking fluid from the lymph node is less risky.
If it is positive, I would question, "if it's positive, then it's chemo". I would ask your doctor about biomarker testing. That can provide the team with additional information about what may be driving your cancer and may allow them to better match your specific cancer to a type of treatment. All treatments, including chemo, have advanced in recent years. Also, the drugs to combat side effects have greatly improved.
Try to take things one step at a time.