swollen glands for 4 years?

daughters advocate · New User Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 5

I'm just wanting your opinion on if I'm on the right track here. My 14 YOD has had swollan submandibular glands for at least 4 years. They gradually have begun to hurt - a shocking type pain she says, about 5-10 times a day, from a few seconds to several minutes. Brought her to tears once. First the right, then a year later, the left.
We've tried antibiotics 4 times, no help. Anti-inflamitorys, no help.

A CT scan in March showed "multiple enlarged glands in the posterial cervical chain, up to 1.8cm". These are not the glands bothering her!
This is my first ??? - The day after the CT was done, she started a cold, runny nose, sneezing - no fever, occasional cough, no fatigue(went dirt bike riding all weekend)
Could the cold explain the chain of glands in that location? should I demand a repeat CT prior to biopsy?

The ENT who ordered the CT wanted to do a biopsy right away. The ENT we went to for a 2nd opinion says the biopsy could wait. this is where we are now - a chest xray and labs done today. (cbc, and a bunch of autoimune stuff)She is having us see an infectious disease Dr. next Tuesday.
The ENT still says we might need the biopsy, but I hate to put my daughter through that unless absolutely necessary.

Due the the fact that my duaghter has had the large glands for so many years, and has none of the other symptoms, I was also wondering if this is still a possibility for Lymphoma? That long?!
???Have you ever heard of lymphoma so slow???

Thanks for your time, I hesitated to bother all of you, but after reading so many posts, I see how compassionate you all are. Thanks for taking time to help me advocate for my daughter Alexia, my oldest of 5, one who has multiple disabilities and has taught me how to advocate! Smile

_________________
Daughters advocate

Orange Agent · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:26 am Post subject: Re: swollen glands for 4 years?

Hi daughters advocate.

I congratulate for taking your responsibilities so seriously.

First off, recoginize the fact that I am a patiet and not a doctor but my comments are from the heart. Sounds like your daughter has some mixed symptoms .....l some typical of Lymphomia and others perhaps not so typical. I think the bottom line is that you must get a bioposy before you can devise and deploy a return towards normalacy. I understand your hesitentancy towards puting her thru a bioposy (as a man in my late 60's I was scared s...less also) but it's actually not too bad and I relatively painless. More important, it critical to defining what actually is wrong, and if negative should be a huge load off of your mind.

I send you love and luck,

Burt
_________________
Burt

daughters advocate · New User Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 5

Thank you Burt, by the way, I forgot to give my name, I'm Shannon Wink

. I'm afraid you have confirmed what I knew to be true. Here is another question though...The submandibular is the gland that is hurting, yet the Drs. are saying they want to remove one in the posterior area. Should I press to have the bothersome one removed, or is it a more risky area?
Good grief, so many choices, It would be so easy to just robotically follow the Dr.s . When my 4th was diagnosed with her disorders, they wanted to put her on 6 meds, and told me she wouldn't see her first birthday. She is 7, never had more than one med at a time and healthy aside from her physical and mental lacking. anyway, sorry for the ramblings...

Have a great day all and please, keep the input and suggestions coming!!!
_________________
Daughters advocate

Orange Agent · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:16 am Post subject: Re: swollen glands for 4 years?

Hi Shannon,

I definately am not qualified to answer your all important question, but here's an approach you may consider. Talk over your concern with your doctor (I ammume he/she is an Oncologist) and if you still don't feel comfortable, ask for a 2nd opinion. Any doctor worth his salt will be happy to do this and will not feel it an affront at all.

Please keep us posted Shannon. Everyone on this forum is on your side.

Burt
_________________
Burt

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Lymphoma - Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others