Mass on lung and lymph nodes

@skm101, welcome to Mayo Connect. I'm sorry that you are having to go through this, but I'm glad that you found us. Feeling scared of the unknown is expected. Having more information from the results of the scans and tests will only fill in the gaps and help you to know what to expect.
My cancer was identified at a late stage, with spread to the liver and lymph nodes. The lymph nodes in the center of my chest were enlarged and were placing pressure on my windpipe and esophagus. The largest lymph node at the time of diagnosis was 1.2 cm. Different radiologists will describe enlarged lymph nodes differently, but they usually include an approximate measurement. I had a recent scan that showed lymph node at 2.5cm, but it was confirmed to be fungal, not cancer! Enlarged lymph nodes can mean your body is fighting an infection or fungus, or simply inflammation. It doesn't always mean cancer.

Take a deep breath and try to relax a bit. I'm glad you are having a PET scan this week. Do you have a nodule along with the lymph node activity? Did this show up on a routine screening exam, or were you experiencing symptoms?

May I ask the process you did to be a patient of Mayo?

May I ask about your diagnosis? Specifically how were your lymph nodes characterized? Swollen? Size?

Your words about your life are very helpful for me, thank you.

May I ask the process you did to be a patient of Mayo?

After meeting with radiologist it was decided that I would do chemo first and radiation after. This is because my lung cancer has spread to lymph node in my neck and too large of an area to do radiation on. I’m trying to remain hopeful but this does not sound like good news to me. I’m terrified to start chemo, having heard so many horror stories. Anyone else have to start with chemo first ? How did your chemo treatments go?

I know it’s hard, there will be support to help you through if needed. In the early days I tried to focus on what I knew TODAY and what I could do about it, if anything. That helped me to stay focused. IF it is cancer your doctors will generally only talk prognosis when a patient is ready or asks about it. Some won’t ever make a prediction. No one has an expiration date stamped on their forehead. 🙂 Myself included!
I do have stage IV lung cancer with metastasis to the lymph nodes and liver. I was diagnosed almost three years ago, and I’m doing great. I just finished a 3 mile snowshoe. I’m on a high-tech targeted therapy that stops the cancer from growing, hopefully for years to come. I know that eventually my cancer will find a way around the treatment, but until then I have a good quality of life, and I try to do what makes me happy each day.
Take care, hugs, Lisa

I went through the same. Primary clinic thought I had bronchitis, did not treat me for cough, had eye inflammation for two months, was treated for pneumonia three times, eventually different physician ordered a ct scan and found nsc lung cancer. I am 70 and am in clinical trial with Mayo.

Surgery would be a great treatment if it could remove the cancer and be done with it. But for me, and many others, surgery is not an option because of the location(s) of the cancer. Once they tell you that you cannot have surgery, then the other treatments start looking better.

I had a ct guided biopsy and it was very quick and easy, same day ordeal usually. They will give you some pain meds. My nodule was at the very top of my right lung. This was in 2021. Im still here fighting the good fight!