multiple nodes of various sizes found in my right lung

My Dr found these 6 months ago and said to wait and see, i also have latent TB but she says that the tb isn't the cause of these, 6 months later with a new cat scan there is yet another node of a remarkable size, she didn't say how big it was and the others, of all of them found one was of a remarkable size but she said to wait, yet again 6 more months to see if they grow or if i develop more, with all of these 6 month time frames that pass and not knowing what they are i think back when my dad was diagnosed with C and he lived only a year, i just feel that time is not on my side here and wait and see can get you dead before the time frame comes back around for the wait and see attitude...
What exactly are nodes and what can cause them? I have latent TB, hep c, fatty liver disease, perifreal artery disease, under active thyroid, osteoarthritis and its been suggested several times that i have RA as well but the blood tests they have done didn't show it, i have the eye issues that would typically be associated with RA, the twisted blood vessles, etc. I have had multiple strokes, all of them small but left lesions on my brain and i have been told that i may have MS, Fibromyalgia and a sleep disorder that ranges from insomnia for days to sleeping for days without waking up day and night for days, a blood coagulation disorder and clotting disorder, severe spinal issues which comes with a closed spina bifida. I have severe pitted edema in both feet most likely from the PAD and blockages in my legs passed the illiac artery and the bifenoral appliance that they put in a year ago along with the intestinal aortic bypass that was done at the same time. I have many health issues that could effect the node growth particularly the edema. I am just worried that my dad passed his cancer gene on to me along with the other issues he passed on (thanks mom and dad) LOL, any help in this would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

[David S. Wilson, MD, FCCP]

Sorry to hear of your many health issues.  Nodes are lymph nodes but by your description i take it to mean that you have nodules in your lung tissue.  Nodules are present for many reasons including cancer.  Multiple nodules are generally less concerning for cancer.  Nodules greater than 8 to 9 mm can now be biopsied by Navigational bronchoscopy very easily. Rheumatoid disease can cause nodules as can fungal infections and it sounds as if the littany of continued CT scans would be best interrupted by biopsy to definitively understand their existence