Not sure yet, but pretty scared anyway....

dagit · New User Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Hi All

I came across this site whist browsing the internet today to look for advice on my current condition. I would really appreciate some assurance from you guys if you have time. here is my story:

About 1yr ago i returned from a fun filled holiday in the states with my family to find a swelling under my left armpit (im a 37 yr old male, quiet fit, not usually unwell). Initially (and for the 1st day only) a lump the size of a golf ball came up, naturally, i started to panic about it. The next day, the lump had completely gone, but the swelling was still there so i booked an appointment to see my GP.

After the inital meeting with my GP he told me to keep an eye on it as he had done a check for lumps etc and hadnt found any.
About 3 weeks later i keep complaining to my wife that at night, when my arm is above my head under the pillow, i kept waking up due to a "lumpy feeling" inside my armpit, however, when i examined it, there was nothing to be felt (except the same swelling). Let me point out that the swelling is not hard, nor does it hurt in anyway - it just looks - well, swollen.
So anyway, i returned to my GP and this time he sent me for a chest xray and a scan. Both came back completely normal (thankfully)!

That was about six months ago - yesterday, completely out of the blue i felt an enlarged gland (im sure its a node) in my neck on the left side (same side as my armpit swelling). Now the swelling in my armpit is still there, but now there is something else too. Its not a "lump" per se, its not hard and doesn't move, it definitely feels more like a gland.
I went to see my GP this morning and he immediately checked me over and sent me for a blood test.

This is where i currently am. Naturally im really scared of what this could be - and the wait for the test result is going to be a long one for me.

I hoping that others in this forum could shed some light, give me some advice? suggestions? Am i paranoid about this? (after reading on the internet) or is there a genuine reason for concern?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Don

It is good that your Doctor appreciates your angst and is doing tests to rule out lymphoma or other cancers. Keep in mind that we are NOT doctors on this forum, just patients. If the lumps come and go so fast, I would suspect that it is NOT cancer...most of the time, swollen lymph nodes are NOT cancer.

With that in mind, blood tests do not necessarily mean it is not lymphoma. My blood tests are still all negative, yet I have Stage IIIA NHL and am receiving chemo right now.

Here's hoping that it is nothing to worry about.

Don
_________________
Don B
Dec 07 Dx Follicular NHL, Grade I (Indolent)
Stage IIIA - No Symptoms
Watch and Wait - 6 Month Checks
Jan 09 Scan shows Progression - no symptoms
May 18, 09 - Started R-CVP
After Third Round, CT scan showed some tumor shrinkage
July 31,09 - Completed 6 Rounds R-CVP

dagit · New User Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Hi Don

Thanks very much for your response. I think that i had almost convinced myself that the swellings were cancer. (i think that the internet can convince you quite easily if you let it).

Throughout the day there have been changes with me - the initial swelling has gone down, almost disappeared. It seems that the other side of my neck has a large gland now - it doesn't make sense to me. These glands are not very large and not noticeable from outside (only the inner feeling of knowing that they are there), neither do they appear hard.

I do feel a lot calmer than i did when i posted the initial message, so thank you for pointing out that sometimes we can get carried away with our emotions.

I would like to keep posting here to update on my situation - especially once i get the results from the GP.

Don, i really appreciate your feedback and i do wish you the very, very best with your plight to get better.

Don

You will more than likely get more responses from around the world based on the time zones. There are several more points I would like to make:

1. DON'T try to diagnose yourself using the internet; you will drive yourself crazy and will probably be wrong.

2. The only way to get a definitive diagnoses is with a biopsy of the node itself; and then they have to get enough tissue. If you can feel the lumps, then I suppose that they are easy to get to if they want to do a biopsy, so that should not be a problem.

Best wishes...Don B
_________________
Don B
Dec 07 Dx Follicular NHL, Grade I (Indolent)
Stage IIIA - No Symptoms
Watch and Wait - 6 Month Checks
Jan 09 Scan shows Progression - no symptoms
May 18, 09 - Started R-CVP
After Third Round, CT scan showed some tumor shrinkage
July 31,09 - Completed 6 Rounds R-CVP

ChemoMan

Hi dagit

Sorry to hear of your disturbing symptoms and sorry to hear it is causing you stress.

As Don rightly pointed out most cases of enlarged nodes are not caused by Lymphoma. That being said your story sounds very similar to mine so you are right in pushing for something to be done. Don't panic there is no need and at this point it is likely that nothing serious is wrong. Your doctor seems to be on the ball and has followed the prescribed course when presented with a case like yours. The usual thing to do first is watch and wait, which has been done. The next thing is blood tests to rule out infection, blood tests do not detect lymphoma. If your nodes are still up and no infection is found then a biopsy is required. A full excisional biopsy is required to accurately diagnose Non hogdkins lymphoma.

Try and keep your mind off your issues by immersing yourself in some activity that you really enjoy. Stay away from internet sites that deal with cancer this will only worry you needlessly.

Good luck with the tests and keep up the good job of looking after your health Smile

_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... Don't forget Rule number 1

Don

What did I tell you dagit! I KNEW that ChemoMan would show up...he is from Austrailia, is ubiquitous, and is a virtual encyclopedia. Don't get him started on beer or motorcycles!
_________________
Don B
Dec 07 Dx Follicular NHL, Grade I (Indolent)
Stage IIIA - No Symptoms
Watch and Wait - 6 Month Checks
Jan 09 Scan shows Progression - no symptoms
May 18, 09 - Started R-CVP
After Third Round, CT scan showed some tumor shrinkage
July 31,09 - Completed 6 Rounds R-CVP

joepet · Senior User Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 286 Location: Japan

Hi Dagit,

I had lumps appear and disappear in my armpit for years. It coincided with extended use of antipersperant (not regular deodorant) that seemed to irritate it. Stopping use usually caused it to go away within two or three days.

Whether anything like that actually _caused_ the lymphoma I would eventually be diagnosed with or not I'll never know, but my doctor discounts the possibility.

Don't know whether or not any of that applies to your case, but lymphoma is rare enough that I've never seen anybody here write _thinking_ that they might have lymphoma actually come back and say they were diagnosed with it, so I believe that when the dust settles, you too will continue that trend.

Good luck!
_________________
Age 37 (36 at diagnosis)
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 1AE (localized in colon)
Began six cycles of R chop 21 3rd Dec 2008
Finished R chop 21 Apr 2009
Complete remission as of May 2009

ChemoMan

Hi dagit

I agree 100% with joepet and forgot to mention our stats here Smile

I am also wishing you will keep the trend going. good luck
_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... Don't forget Rule number 1

dagit · New User Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Hi All

Firstly, thank you all ever so much for taking the time to respond and the advice that you have given me. Simply by being on this forum has helped immensely deal with even the "possibility" of what it could be. I appreciate the advice on staying clear of the internet - had i not have "googled" it all that time ago, id have no idea what NHL was and i guess as a result i wouldn't be in half the state that i am now! So good advice to steer clear of it.

I do feel slightly embarrassed that i am worrying myself silly before actually finding out if it is anything serious, but the worry is such that i think hearing from people that actually KNOW is much better than the advice id been given from elsewhere, so again thank you all for that.

Joepet - You know, i think i may have the same issue - for a while now ive thought that my deoderant may be causing me some issues, i switched to a new brand just about the time when this started to happen, and come to think of it have been using it daily ever since - i never actually put two and two together - so the first step for me is to stop using it (and stand up wind of anyone i meet for awhile).

Situation on waking today for me is that the glands in my neck are definitely getting smaller without question. Although i can definitely still feel them, i had to "look" for them initially. Did anyone else notice really bad breath? Perhaps thats just me!

Guys, once again, thanks for all of your advice, it really is making a huge difference for me and without question is helping to stop my worrying.

I do have one quick question:

On the internet (which i will avoid from now on, but for example purposes), if i type into google, swollen armpit and glands in neck, all it comes up with is NHL - is there anything else that it could be? I think the main source of my worrying is that im yet to find out what else it could possibly be, which is kinda making me lead myself to think that it could only be NHL based on the symptoms.

All the best to all of you

Dagit

ChemoMan

Hi dagit

The most likely reason for swollen nodes is infection. This is true no matter where they come up. Lymphoma is rarely a cause of enlarged nodes, as strange as this may seem.

Don't feel bad about being worried, your not being silly just cautious, but do try and keep things in perspective. Lymphoma can be cured these days anyway so even if it was the worst news you could think of, its not all doom and gloom.

Good luck and we are here if ever you need us.

Cheers
_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... Don't forget Rule number 1

dagit · New User Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Hey Chemoman

Thanks for your comments once again.

It really is an enormous help to know that there are people like you guys out there.

I am waiting on my blood test results so i can find out more, but the more i think of it the more i am beginning to understand. I think the main reason that ive panicked is because it was armpit and then neck. If the glands on my neck were up only, id properly not give it half the worry as i am.

Thanks again for all of your support - it really is appreciated.

Dagit

dagit · New User Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Hi all

Quick update. It's been a few hours since my lAst post and now the glands on Both sides of my neck are up.

I'm really confused now. I'm told the blood results won't be available for a week, by which time the worry would have done for me!

Does it seem at all likely based on my story that it could be cancer? Is there anything else it could be? I don't feel I'll at all, perhaps a little tired in the evening but that could be just down to lack of sleep through constant worry.

Any advice would be greatly appreicated.

Thanks

Dagit

Don

Dagit,

No being a doctor, I can't say; but it just does not make sense that any kind of cancer would just grow and shrink as fast as that. It could be a lot of things...but I would think it would NOT be cancer.

Best of Luck...God Bless...Don B
_________________
Don B
Dec 07 Dx Follicular NHL, Grade I (Indolent)
Stage IIIA - No Symptoms
Watch and Wait - 6 Month Checks
Jan 09 Scan shows Progression - no symptoms
May 18, 09 - Started R-CVP
After Third Round, CT scan showed some tumor shrinkage
July 31,09 - Completed 6 Rounds R-CVP

ChemoMan

Hi Dagit

I agree 100% with Don. Relax everything is on track. FYI constant prodding of the nodes can cause them to swell, not that I am saying that is what is happening, just a word of caution.

Good luck and post back with the results of the blood tests if you like.

Cheers
_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... Don't forget Rule number 1

dagit · New User Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Hi All

Its been a week now since i first discovered the raised node on the left side of my neck - after a week of ups and downs (which this forum has helped with immensely - so thank you all for that) i still have an enlarged node - only now it appears to be on the right side of my neck. Im still really worried about what they could be - the worst part of it is that i don't feel ill at all.

Do nodes usually move around the body enlarging in different places? I could understand if the left side was still enlarged then the right - but the left side has now returned to completely normal size. The right side of my neck feels like the node is trying to burst out - however, having said that, i really have to "dig" to find it. It just "feels" like its the size of a ball.

Im still waiting the results of my blood tests - but i cant help but worry.

If i was ill, sore throat, etc then i wouldn't be quite so concerned. However, i don't have any of these symptoms - only enlarged glands.

Any advice / reassurance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading again

Dagit

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