Lung nodules found: I smoke and vape and I'm worried

Should I travel to Mayo?

They found the nodule incidentally on a CT following a back surgery

Yes, I had a fall within 6 weeks of having a back fusion with hardware placed. The ER doctors were afraid I needed surgery again

If I never had the fall, who knows when the nodule would have been detected. Im grateful for that, yet Im still really scared...

I was walking rather trying to without my walker when I lost my balance. Im really scared. I can't stay off the internet and Dr Google.
Im to have a CT with contrast at my local clinic. But, I dont know that I will trust their recommendations. F/U.
Im so nervous. Am, I over reacting? If you were me, what would you do??
Thx in advance

@joyb1975

I'd wait to see what the CT scan says. If it's serious be glad it was discovered early. There are a lot of things discovered in a serendipitous manner like your's was. My hypercortisolism and ground glass nodule on my right lung were found by luck/accident. Not sure you need to see Mayo for help tho.

@joyb1975
Take a DEEP Breath, now, take another one. I understand your panic. It was a good thing that this was found. A nodule does not equal cancer. As already said, you want to wait for the results of the CT. I have had lung cancer. Mine was caught early and I am still running around and doing All the things I used to. Had surgery 3 years ago to remove a section of my lung. I still have a lot of nodules, but they are benign. I have 2 solid tiny nodules they have been watching that so far haven’t changed. I was also a smoker from age 16 and then switched to vaping thinking it was better. It’s not. None of it is good but no one is here to judge you, nor thinks that smokers deserve this. It’s ok to do research on the internet, but just make sure you research reputable sites like clevlandclinic.ORG or mayoclinic.ORG, or Harvard medical, etc. just make sure they end in the .org as these are peer reviewed findings whereas .com sites are a lot of anything and everything and anyone can put stuff, including pure nonsense, and no one checks it. I am now 61, I was 58 when I had my surgery, I also had cervical spinal fusion of two layers in my neck at 52. I’m still here, strong and happy to be living and seeing my kids grow up and now my grandchildren are graduating high school and I am still working full time and traveling etc. I was petrified to hear the Cancer word, but there are so many great doctors and medicines out there now that can help. Try to relax and heal up from your surgery. Concentrate on that so that you are strong in mind and body and can fight the next fight. Hopefully there will not be one, and I hope you get good news. God Bless You and watch over you, Amen!🙏

hi @joyb1975 - it's always scary having something unexpected show up on a scan, especially if you don't know exactly what it is. finding things early is always better than later. many nodules are not cancer, but given your smoking history (increased risk) it's good that your dr is following up on it. a CT with contrast sounds like a reasonable next step. let us know what the results are. in the meantime, I recommend checking your thyroid levels. when they are low (very common, especially as we age) it can make you feel fatigued. nicotine is a stimulant - so if you can improve your energy level (without nicotine), I think it could help you quit. keep trying - your health is worth it!

@joyb1975, With the back surgery, and now this finding, you've been through a lot in the past couple of months. Like @cmcguire10 mentions, take a breath. It's easy for our minds to spin and jump to the worst-case scenario. Nodules are usually not cancerous. Your doctors are doing the right thing, taking the next step of a more detailed CT (with contrast). They'll be able to get a better look at the nodule this way and then can offer a recommendation. Be ready for this process to take some time.
How is your recovery from surgery? Did you have a previous CT, prior to surgery, or just XRays? I'm wondering if the nodule is new, or if the previous scans wouldn't have picked this up.
I have stage IV lung cancer but also have a non-cancerous nodule that appears on my CT scans every 4 months. It's not growing and not shrinking. It is/was from a fungus, by this time it may be scar tissue. Our lungs react to all sorts of irritants. Nodules are usually not cancer.

I’m in a similar situation! Lung Cancer stage 4. Been smoking for close to 50 years. Can’t seem to lay them down! Very scary indeed! I’m gonna pray for both of us about this!