Is it lung Cancer?

Welcome to Mayo Connect @burdyblue. As others here have mentioned, your primary doctor is recommending a pulmonologist because they may be able to perform a biopsy. Those results should tell you if you are dealing with a benign nodule (quite common), lung cancer, or breast cancer that has spread to the lung. All of those three would be treated differently.
A PET scan will show the level of activity within the nodule, which is also helpful in determining the next steps.
Try to focus on what you know to be true, and not letting your mind wander.
Has a PET scan been ordered and scheduled?

I agree with @jonijean, you need to see a Pulmonologist, and be sure it is one with focus on lung cancer...because Specialists have subspecialties...one needs the professional with real knowledge.
Your situation illustrates the importance of following one's test results and advocating for ones 'self. Medicine is a broad subject, no doctor has knowledge of it all, it is up to the patient to be sure that there is follow-up in the right directions.

@burdyblue, not knowing is the hardest part of being a cancer survivor. Try not to let your imagination run away with you. After 7 years, my policy is that if my doctors do not definitively tell me that I have cancer, then I'm still cancer-free. I've had 2 times where my doctor saw something suspicious that turned out to be benign.

The only thing a PET scan will tell you is if the area is absorbing sugar. The body absorbs sugar locally for only three reasons: inflammation, infection, and metastasis. Except for the brain, which is using sugar all the time, which is why they don't bother doing a PET scan of the brain. So, in answer to your first question, no, a PET scan will not tell you what type of cancer. But it WILL tell you whether the nodule warrants further investigation. If they see a "lot" of sugar being absorbed, they'll investigate further, which could be a biopsy.

Your primary doctor is right. Your next step is to talk to a pulmonologist. If your primary did not give you a referral, ask her to. Try to hold on to the fact that, at the moment, you don't have cancer!

Full disclosure: I am a doctor, but not a medical doctor. I can only share my and others' experiences, what my doctors have told me in my last 7 years of having lung cancer, and what I'm learning as a patient research advocate.

Good luck, and let us know what you learn.

First, you need to get a lung doctor. I'm guessing by "1 1/2" you mean inches? Because results are usually in mm or cm's. Nodules can be infection or inflammation. While a PET scan doesn't diagnose cancer 100% it helps the doctor determine next steps. First, make an appointment with a lung doctor. He can discuss the scans and determine a plan for you. Let us know what he/she says.

Thank you for emphasizing the need for a pulmonologist with a specialty in lung cancer and for the kudos on advocating for one's self. Navigating the health care system in itself produces angst for me, all the "waiting." Will do my best. Many thanks vic83.

I am having a PET/CT with my primary doctor in 2 weeks since a recent non contrast X-ray shows a 1 ½ by ¾ spiculated mass or nodule in my upper left lung that grew in the last three months from a low dose -ray I had last February. I'm not optimistic that is is benign. I am a 2-time breast cancer survivor but smoked also, so I would like to know, please, will a PET/CT be able to tell me if it is breast cancer spread or from smoking? Will there likely be other kinds of tests I will need for that, such as what? My first breast cancer was a lumpectomy with no positive nodes and radiation only. The second time, 12 years later, a mastectomy with one positive node. My last MRI of the breast recently was totally okay. I am anxious because I also don't know what kind of doctor to go to for answers. M.D. Anderson Cancer lung people here tells me they only receive patients with a positive cancer biopsy, so that's out. Do I go back to the surgical oncologist who did my mastectomy, or maybe my breast oncologist? My primary first said I need a pulmonologist. I'm anxious. and I would feel more at ease if I understood what the next steps are supposed to be and what doctor would be the fastest route to diagnosis and treatment since there are two possibilities as to what the source of this mass might be. Alls my primary did was sent me my results on a patient portal stating the lung mass is suspicious--no call, no specific dr. recommendation, so I was disappointed. I had to tell her get me the PET/CT that the radiology report recommended as the next step. Thank you.

Welcome to Mayo Connect @burdyblue. As others here have mentioned, your primary doctor is recommending a pulmonologist because they may be able to perform a biopsy. Those results should tell you if you are dealing with a benign nodule (quite common), lung cancer, or breast cancer that has spread to the lung. All of those three would be treated differently.
A PET scan will show the level of activity within the nodule, which is also helpful in determining the next steps.
Try to focus on what you know to be true, and not letting your mind wander.
Has a PET scan been ordered and scheduled?

Hi again, Lisa.

My PET scan with contrast shows a 2.7 x 1.6 mass that spans 3.3 cm when accounting for a groundglass component which is how important I don't know. No cancer seems to show up elswhere in the body, so this mass looks to be a "developing second primary of pulmonary origin" it was noted in the report , so I think it indicates it's not from my previous breast cancers from a good while ago. I smoked and have mild emphysema, too. I had a breast MRI recently with nothing there. My next step is a pulmonologist who will do a recommended biopsy of the nodule or mass. My primary told me she did the referral, but the pulmonologist got no referral, so I have to bug the primary once again. A call to a multidisciplinary center at UT also says it's booked through November!

My primary says the mass is big. (??) On a former CT w/o contrast, the mass was said to be spiculated which is not good, but on this PET scan, no mention of that, only groundglass is noted. What is groundglass, please? Next step, pursue a pulmonologist and biopsy ASAP I hope. Thank you for the support.

Oh, thank you very much for the encouragement. Great idea to work on a list of questions for the appointment. My spouse is able to go with me for support, yes.

What do you mean, please when you say anything over 1 cm is up for discussion to be biopsied? They might not biopsy something?

Thank you.
burdyblue