frightened of lymph node

weston · Regular Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 20

Hi all, it is my first time using this site and reading through the posts I feel that you are all probably the best people to give me advice although you all have so much to deal with yourself I would understand if you didn?t.

This my all be unimportant but the doctor isn?t really telling me an awful lot and I wonder if I am over reacting. I feel so silly when I go to him.

Have had and enlarged, matted hard non tender but mobile lymph node right under my collarbone (left side) for 1yr approx (at least that?s when I noticed it). Went to docs in July who sent me to have blood work and chest x ray also noted another lymph node further up my neck . All came back clear. Sent me to hospital to see a consultant in the field of general medicine?? And he done exactly the same tests, this time LDL cholesterol cam back low. Was told it was a cyst (collarbone) with no mention of neck node, and to come back in Jan. Although two other GPs are positive it?s a node.

I now have four lymph nodes all on the left side of my neck that are visible to look at, and I think I have one on my left side rib cage beside my breast, this too is hard but moves and is quite small but there aren?t any on the other side.

I have a cough that returns every few weeks and my back hurts, as does my belly. I have had two laps for endometriosis.

Are these nodes normal and should i stop being worried or should i demand some answers from the GP. The GP seems to be asking questions but not actually saying anything. what should i be asking my GP and have any of you ever experienced the nodes i have and how did they turn out? i just need to if im going crazy or not.

Carwy · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 10:14 pm Post subject: Re: frightened of lymph node

weston,
I would be asking a lot of questions and wanting to know just what it is. The one I had that you could feel was Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Request they do needle core biopsy on one of them.
Carwy
_________________
Stem Cell transplant Aug. 17, 2005 for Cancer
Hodgkin's Lymphoma

weston · Regular Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 20

Carwy,

Im assuming that was the collarbone node you were diagnosed with?? How long did it take for your diagnosis or were your symptoms obvious??

Thank you for responding to me, im back at the docs again on monday for more bloods........... i dont really see the point in them taking any more!! my GP is also writing to the consultant at the hospital to inform him of the new node on my chest and to ask if he wants to see me again!! Its all just so frustrating. I wish someone would just say what they are thinking.......... good or bad!!

I hope your treatment goes well and i wish you all the very best for the future!!

Please stay in touch and let me know how you get on. You are with me in my thoughts!!

Weston

Carwy · Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 4:28 pm Post subject: Re: frightened of lymph node

No it was in my groin and it just felt like a small lump under the skin and it never hurt. I had this lump for some years can not remember how long.

My left leg was what got to hurtting so bad it would wake me up at night. They did an xray of my leg and found a 7" tumer eating away at the femur form theoutside in.
_________________
Stem Cell transplant Aug. 17, 2005 for Cancer
Hodgkin's Lymphoma

leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

We can't tell you what it is, but it is important that you follow up on this. The concerns of lymphoma would be #1 on my mind, but without a biopsy there is no way to know for sure.

regards,
Dr Leo F
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Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

weston · Regular Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 20

Thank you both for your reply.

Have had more blood tests and currently await the results, though i dont expect to have any sort of conclusion from the results. Its just so frustrating that it has taken so long already and still no one knows why they are enlarged, or hard.

One more thing, which could be just because i have been working so hard is that i am finding it increasingly difficult to get out of bed in the morning, phoning in to work sick when im not sick at all im just really exhausted. Not sure if this is connected.

Did i mention that i am only 26..... dont know if this will make any difference in my symptoms.

Good luck and i will keep you guys posted as and when i hear anything.

many, many thanks to you and i will be thinking of you.

weston · Regular Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 20

hey, i just thought i would update you on my current situation. Went to Consultant today (general medicin) in relation to my "lymph Nodes" he was 50 min's behind schedule and gave me a whole 5 mins of his time! He didn't seem interested in the "lymph node" under my collarbone however he did check out the one at the side of my breast and told me it was a cyst and you don't get lymphnodes there. I then reminded him of the collarbone one to which he replied it was a cyst. He then gave me antibiotics for my chest infection and told me to come back in three months.

At this point i couldn't face waiting another 3 months so just left the hospital without making the appointment.

My questions are:
1) if 3 GP's emphatically told me that the lumps i had were lymph nodes and 1 consultant told me they were cysts who do i listen two and why would four they differ in their opinions?

2) why would he want to keep seeing me in 3 month cycles? (refer to first thread on this discussion).
3) should i get a second opinion or should i be happy with them being cysts?
4) as i said, i left the hospital without making my appointment, should i accept that these are cysts and need no further action or should i request a second opinion? or should i go back to the same consultant in three months?

J3ss · New User Joined: 08 Feb 2006 Posts: 5

If you are still worried I would ask for a second opinion. I am young and some docs did not take me seriously at first as well. I finally found a very good doctor who listens and explains things very well and you get all the time you need. Demand a biopsey even if it is just to ease your mind that way you will know for certain. I hope all goes well.

J3ss

weston · Regular Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 20

J3ss,

Thanks for your reply. To keep you updated, I was given a thyroid test by my gp which came back normal so I have demanded a biopsy, it’s in may so I have quite a while to consider all of the scenarios in my head!! lol, I think I go full circle twice a day.

How long did it take for your diagnosis??

My lymph nodes have changed somewhat, that is to say that they have started to ache some times; not excruciating pain, just a dull ache, my hip also hurts.

Do you have any ideas why this might be?? Could this possibly contradict lymphoma??

Thank you again for your response and I will keep you posted. I hope all is well with you.

brainman · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 10:26 pm Post subject: Re: frightened of lymph node

Hi Weston,

I can think of many scenarios where your lymph node might begin to hurt… but few are critical. If all other tests are normal, then do not worry. Yes, I encourage you to continue to consult with your doctor. But if your doctor is not worried, you can relax at least a little. If you are feeling the node with your fingers, that could cause the area to become sore.
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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/

weston · Regular Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 20

Thank you for your reasurance Brainman,

I have valued the advice i have received on this site to date and i cant wait for my biopsy so i can laugh at my self and tell my self how silly i have been!!

My daughters teacher has recently had words with me about me not being able to get her to school on time!! i cant tell her that im too tired to get out of bed in the mornings!!

I took two weeks off work at christmas to try and catch up on some sleep and im still exceptionally late for work every day!!

I was really hoping that the thyroid test would come back positive because then atleast i would have a reason for feeling like this.

I have had a continuios cold since xmas now, not a very strong one but i get shivery and goose pimples then cold sweats, I now have a husky voice (i always wanted one, lol) and a chest infection every week or so, when i say every week or so i mean that what i produce from my chest never actually clears up but it changes colour regularly. (nice, i know!!)

I have tried to stop smoking a few times now and cant. i have started getting occasional nose bleeds in the middle of the night......... (i have never had a nose bleed in my life before these!).

I get an itchy neck and itchy leggs........ not all the time, maybe say.... 3/4 times a month which when i scratch i dont get satisfaction until i either draw blood or leave what looks like a love bite type scratch on myself!!

does any of the information above sound like a possible infection??

my thoughts are with those of you who have responded to my manic messages and everyone else who needs to come to this site!!

xo

weston · Regular Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 20

Hi all,

Well, I haven’t been back to the doctors since Feb. as my biopsy is scheduled for the 18th may. I seem to have developed some new lymph nodes, one just behind my left ear, not very big but hard and one under my chin also a small cluster on my right side groin. As well as the existing two on my neck and one on my collarbone. One is quite high up my neck on the side and the other one is quite low in the triangle part between my shoulder and my throat. The itching in my neck and leg seems to be getting worse and the pain in my hip wakes me at night.

i guess this is kind of just an update with the hope that someone out there will have some advice for me. i think its pointless going back to my dr's as they just keep sending me to the same dr at the hospital who doesnt tell me anything and asks me to come back in three months. I was meant to go back and see him in feb but instead went to my gp and asked for a biopsy as its so frustrating just going back to a dr who doesnt say anything, has a poke around and then tells you he will see you in another 3 months!!

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