Hi, Nothing is rare. I'm now 85, I was exposed to asbestos from 1955 to 1974, while aboard US Navy ships, I also smoked some of that period. After retiring in 1974 I stopped smoking. In 2000 I had my 1st chest X-ray ever followed by a CT scan; plural thickening, scarring, calcification, and many nodules, had a needle biopsy of the largest one, negative for cancer. My pulmonologist sent me for CT scans so often I refused for several years. They now use a low-dosage scan so I continued scans at least every 6 months, in 2018 a nodule in my upper left lobe became cancerous resulting in a lobectomy . Mesothelioma., cancer of the plural I believe is caused by asbestos only. My cancer was determined to be caused by asbestos more likely than by smoking.

I do like your idea of a second opinion, or Merry's idea of a different doctor all together. If you aren't getting your questions answered, or you aren't feeling heard, then that isn't helpful. It can be so frustrating as the concerned patient. It sounds like it's been 4 months since your last CT. The pulmonologist seems to be taking a wait and see approach, and they haven't determined that the nodules are cancerous for sure, but you aren't risk free. I do agree that a year is a long time to wait for the next scan. If the nodules were showing no change scan after scan, then I personally may be more comfortable waiting a year, but not this early in the process. Everyone has a different comfort level.
Depending on where you live, it can sometimes be difficult to change health care locations. There are many great healthcare systems across the US. I'm not deterring you from trying to come to Mayo, I just don't want you to rule out another good facility that may be right in your back yard especially if this is cancer, and you need repeat visits. The National Cancer Institute maintains a list of centers: https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find. These are all very good, very well known, health care facilities.
This is the link to start a request for a Mayo Clinic appointment: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
The 'help' link in the upper right displays a phone number for the various location Appointment Coordinators. This team would be able to guide you through the process of becoming a Mayo patient.
Please keep us posted and let me know if you have other questions. The group may not have all the answers, but unfortunately most of us have felt that we've been left to advocate for ourselves through the process.

I also have pleural based tumor. Was noticed in 2018 & nobody did a thing about it. Now they are concerned. Please use your gut instinct & get to someone who does this stuff for a living. Nobody on here talks much about pleural based tumors or masses, so feel left out also. I know they are hard to treat. Guess I am in for a ride. They did biopsy & mine is cancer. I don't care if you smoke or not. People can be so judgmental. I used to smoke, worked in building & remodeling for yrs. Who know what we were exposed too! Take care, run don't walk for further help.