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AnnaLea
New User
Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:04 pm Post subject: I could use some help please |
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Last Monday my husband noticed his glands on the left side of his neck were enlarged. Thursday he got in to see the NP and she started freaking. (His father passed away 11-23 from cancer) anyway, she ordered a CT scan and blood work. (he also had blood work back in October and it was all normal)
Anyway, Friday his neck was so swollen it looked terrible, but he had started his antibiotic and everything was finally kicking in on Saturday and the swelling went down a lot. So yesterday we went in for the CT and the tech says everything looks fine, but yesterday afternoon the RECEPTIONIST called and said there was something "slightly abnormal on the scan" and he needed to see this other doctor Wednesday. She also said his liver enzymes were high and she said the NP wanted a liver ultrasound.
So, I am naturally freaking. Why do we need to see a general surgeon, exc? So I call and they won't tell me anything and the won't tell him anything, finally we go to the office and demand to see a doctor and the doctor sit us down and said that he has a swollen lympth node on the left side that is over an inch swollen in size and that they want a biopsy, because it could be possibly lymphoma. He also told us that in two weeks he wants to retest his liver enzymes.
Okay, so here we are now. Freaking out. Anyway, he has not lost any weight and does not show ANY signs that are listed for lymphoma. He has a really bad sinus infection that finally started to go away probably starting today really good. Could that cause an abnormal CT scan and his glands to swell? Is this cancer? |
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AnnaLea
New User
Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: I could use some help please |
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Oh yeah, here is his stats from his blood work
Neutrophils are low at 36, should be 40-74
Lymphs are high at 49, should be 14-46
AST (SGOT) are high at 114, should be 0-40
ALT (SGPT) is high at 195, should be 0-55
Everything else is normal. |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3787
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 9:54 pm Post subject: Re: I could use some help please |
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AnnaLea, first, I am not a doctor. One of the doctors on the list may have better answer. However, I do have a cancer? different? but still a cancer. I can understand your ?freaking out? just at the possibility the your husband has lymphoma. What I can offer is only based on my personal experience and my experience of working with other who have cancer.
First, the CT Tech should not have told you that it looked ?fine.? Only a doctor can diagnose. So I am halfway angry at the Tech for speaking out of turn 
Second, it has been my experience that ALL doctors would prefer to err by making a worst case diagnosis and be proven wrong than the other way around.
I am sorry this is all the help I can give you. My heart and thought go out to you and your husband during this time of anxiety. If you need to ?talk?, I check the board at least once a day and there are many other caring people to reach out to you. There are also some (at least one that I know of) doctors on this board who can help you interpret what you have been told.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/
Last edited by brainman on Tue Dec 20, 2005 11:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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AnnaLea
New User
Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 10:35 pm Post subject: Re: I could use some help please |
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Thank you!
I know we shouldn't have been shown the CT scan. It was like being busted twice you know? We relaxed because she said it was fine and then boom, it wasn't.  He's so young (23) It isn't fair. He's still dealing with his father's passing. That came so quickly. He was told in September and like I said, passed away the night before Thanksgiving.
I'll update tomorrow after his doc. app. with the general surgeon. Thanks a lot again!! |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3787
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 11:48 pm Post subject: Re: I could use some help please |
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[quote="AnnaLea"]Thank you!
I know we shouldn't have been shown the CT scan. It was like being busted twice you know? We relaxed because she said it was fine and then boom, it wasn't. He's so young (23) It isn't fair. He's still dealing with his father's passing. That came so quickly. He was told in September and like I said, passed away the night before Thanksgiving.
I'll update tomorrow after his doc. app. with the general surgeon. Thanks a lot again!![/quote]
Not to retract my previous statement about the Tech, but I am sure she thought she was been comforting. And until you have the biopsy done, she could be right. I look forward to hearing back from you after your visit with the surgeon. The proof is in the biopsy, as they say.
Some further suggestion:
1. Start keeping a journal, including questions you have for the doctors. It is easy to forget questions and latter remember.
2. Read. As you find out more about what is going on, do your research. Don?t play doctor, but at least know what the doctor is saying. For example: what does is a Neutrophil and how significant is it that his a 4(?) below normal.
3. When you come across probabilities, help your husband to place himself on the survivor side. Only 10% of people survive more the 10 years with my type of cancer (or at least that was the stats back in 1992). Low odds, right? Well, here I am!
4. There is a dedicated thread on this board about lymphomas. Post your questions there. Others who are dealing with or know more about lymphomas can answer your questions.
I am so sorry about your father-in-law's death the day before Thanksgiving! I can not even imagine how much more stress that must be putting on you and your husband.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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AnnaLea
New User
Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:02 pm Post subject: Re: I could use some help please |
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We seen the general surgeon today. He said that since the swelling is going down and that he's had a cold, that he wants to want on the biopsy. He said that he didn't think there was any need right now and that he didn't need to see him again, unless something else comes up. Anyway, he said that the liver enzymes are up probably because of my husband's tylenol usage lately, with having a cold and exc. The doctor called our regular doctor and they both agree to hold off on the biospy.
So, I guess it's a good thing.  |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3787
Location: Tennessee
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MarkS
Experienced user
Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 69
Location: NW Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 11:07 am Post subject: Re: I could use some help please |
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That is good news AnnaLea!
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When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. |
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