6mm nodule in pleura

Hi,

I am 38 year old male. In 2022 I had orchiectomy that removed my right testicle. All blood and cancer markers were normal before and after the operation. In the pathologists PAD, they say that the morphology of the neoplasm fits adenocarcinoma. I had extensive tests with PET/CT, CT, colonoscopy, gastroscopy and laryngoscopy and they found nothing. I was then given diagnosis "possible adenocarcinoma of rete testis". Official ICD-10 code is C63.7.

Since then I have been on followup every 3 months where they repeat the CT scan and do blood tests. Up until last November 2023 everything was fine. Doctors said there is nothing wrong up until May 2024. In May they said that there is a small nodule in my pleura which has been growing since 2022. It was 2mm in size in 9/2022, 4mm in 11/2023 and now it was 6mm in 5/2024. They said that they want to wait for it to grow to 10mm in size before they remove it.

However I started looking back at my test results. All tests were normal but my attention was drawn to my CEA results. Before 11/2023 it was < 1 microgram/liter. On 11/2023 it was 1.2ug/l and on 2/2024 it was 4.2ug/l. For some insane reason my doctors chose not to measure it in 5/2024 so I went and had it measured personally at different lab and it was 8.7ug/l in 6/2024 !!!

Im now incredibly worried and scared that Im going to die, possibly within next 12 months. Im supposed to be getting married in 3 weeks and the doctors drop this 6mm pleural nodule bombshell on me out of nowhere. And they are saying that they need to wait until it grows to 10mm before they resect it. The nodule is attached to the pleura periphery, anteriorally next to right side top lobe.

In 11/2023 I had gardnerella vaginalis infection which was treated with antibiotics. I had swollen painful lymphnode in right side of my groin. They did biopsy and it was declared non cancerous. The swelling also went down pretty quick, but it was shown in CT in 11/2023 checkup.

I also had my wisdom teeth pulled in 4/2024 and I had a really long, 3-4 week cough which subsided just before the next CT scan in 5/2024.

Im certain that nobody in this forum has had "adenocarcinoma of the rete testis" because it affects approximately one person every year. But Im hoping to get some thoughts and insights about the 6mm nodule in my pleura.

Do you think that it needs to really grow to 10mm before it can be resected? I was told that they cant see it before its larger than 10mm, which in hindisght sounds like shitty excuse. Even I can see 1mm objects with bare eyes.

What about the pleural nodule itself and CEA? Should I be concerned? Doctor said its uniform and smooth with sharp margins and no spiculation.

I also have started to get chest pain to my right side. Sharp and burning kind of pain which doesnt go away with pain medication. Only exercise helps with the pain.

Thanks!