Cyndi713
New User
Joined: 12 Apr 2008
Posts: 1
Location: Pennsylvania
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 Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:05 am Post subject: NO DX! Lymph node shrunk BUT night sweats and fatigue worse! |
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My 31 yo husband has been experiencing night sweats for a year now. They started about once a month for six months. In the past six months they have gotten worse over time exponentially. The more time passes, the faster his symptoms worsen. He is now having severe, debilitating night sweats at least every other night, sometimes 2-3 times per night. We are going through sheets and pillowcases faster than I can do laundry. Also, he stopped working (due to isthmic spondylolisthesis) in December. Despite his decrease in activities/exercise from working in a factory, his weight dropped to 153 after 2 months although his intake remains the same (he is 5'11" and his avg weight is between 165/175). He is also easily fatigued, which is getting worse as the weeks pass.
During a c-spine MRI 30 Jan 08, a mass measuring 2.3 x 1.3 cm was found just anterior to the left sternocleidomastoid muscle. We were able to feel it ourselves, and it was the firmness and lumpiness of a piece of chewed gum. When I brought it up with his back doctor at Univ of Penn, he said the night sweats were not associated with the back pain and to follow up with our family doctor about that and the mass. Our family doctor referred us to a general surgeon for a biopsy.
The general surgeon told us he was "nervous" to biopsy it as it was located right near a major nerve. He ordered a CT to "see if we can find another lymph node that's easier to biopsy." He also ordered tests including ESR, CBC, CMP, CRP, LDH, WBC, Mono, etc. The labs came back normal. The CT showed a "structure" measuring 8 mm, and just superficial to this region "some soft tissue which is somewhat indeterminate in nature", both at the superolateral aspect of the left submandibular gland.
He takes no medication for anything at all, though for about 3 weeks now I have been giving him one-a-day vitamins and B12 (1000mcg) supplements in an attempt to do SOMETHING for him. Also, he has no history of drug use and only socially drinks a few glasses of wine about every other month or so. He had smoked for about 15 years before quitting about 3 weeks ago when this all came to light.
Our follow-up visit to the gen surgeon was frustrating. He suggested that since it appeared to have reduced in size, wait 3 months and perform another CT scan. He also called our local small-town cancer specialist who suggested he also perform an ECG to rule out endocarditis (although the CT scan showed all thoracic and abdominal organs as completely normal), a thyroid function test, and an HIV test. You'll need to trust me when I tell you the HIV test is just precautionary. My husband and I have never led a lifestyle that would be conducive with contracting HIV, and I was tested when "we" were pregnant as normal procedure. We are awaiting the results of all three tests, although he has no other symptoms of any of these conditions.
Last night when he woke up to use the bathroom, he had three night sweats in rapid succession. He had to crawl back into our room, as he didn't even have the strength to call me loud enough to wake me (my bathroom is only about 15 feet away). When I woke and the hall light was reflecting on him, he was so drenched that it looked like someone basted him in baby oil. I had to sponge him down with a wet wash cloth for about 15 minutes before he could gain the strength to get back into bed. He said the three episodes felt as if he was on fire for about a minute or so, then he was immediately drenched with sweat. My husband - like most men - is a proud man who doesn't like to ask for help. I know it must have been extreme for him to wake me and see him in that helpless, weakened, and sickly state. I honestly thought I was going to have to take him to the hospital!
I am just not comfortable sitting on my hands for 3 months to see how worse things get. I want a second opinion, but I was told an oncologist won't take an appointment until cancer is diagnosed. I know there is something wrong with him. People are starting to comment on his weight loss and appearance, as he always looks tired. I also noticed his once very muscular thighs are now just average as he has lost muscle mass there. My two questions are this:
1. Is it possible that the CT scan separated the MRI's 2.2 x 1.3 cm mass into two separate masses, the 8mm "structure" and the "soft tissue"? If so, should either be biopsied?
If not:
2. Is it possible that the 8mm structure, still being larger than normal, increased to the larger size due to illness and went back to 8mm? If this is the case, I would think it should still be biopsied?
I just have this feeling that the doctor didn't want to biopsy the smaller 8mm structure because, in his own words, he was "nervous" to do so!
Should I wait or seek out a second opinion? I don't know what to do.
Thank you for you time.
Last edited by Cyndi713 on Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:34 am; edited 1 time in total |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3457
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:13 am Post subject: Re: NO DX! Lymph node shrunk BUT night sweats and fatigue worse! |
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Cyndi, I am so sorry about your husband's health concerns. Wow, what a complicated situation! Keep working with his medical team to try to sort out all of these issues.
An MRI is more sensitive than a CT. If it only should one mass, then there is only one mass... at least at that time. If the 8mm "structure" was a lymph node, it is possible that it responded to an infection and enlarged to the 2.2x1.3 cm mass which then went away once the infection cleared. The "wait and see" approach is often what the surgeon will suggest if he/she suspects that it is a swollen node... especially when the node is in a dangerous location.
You and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers. Keep us updated.
_________________
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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