A little terrified... Need advice from the community!

hypochondriac88 · New User Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 2

Hey guys -

I just joined the community hoping to receive some knowledge and/or support from anyone.

I just want to start off by saying that for those of you afflicted with any form of lymphoma, you are in my thoughts and prayers and I hope that you can battle through your disease and defeat it. Best of luck to all of you!

About me: I am a male who just turned 20 this week. I come from a background of diabetes (paternal grandmother and maternal grandfather) and cancer (paternal grandfather and maternal grandmother). I realize lymphoma can happen at any age but is common in young adults (15-35) and older members of the population (over 55), and I'm very well-educated and read a lot!

I'm beginning to worry about myself. Early this year, I developed a small, painless swollen lymph node on the left side of my neck. Some nodes later began to swell in my right groin area, and I think I have some swollen ones in my chest that came up recently. I've been suffering from major flank and neck pain, rare pain in my testicles, have had some noticeable hair loss since the beginning of this year, excessive daytime sweating, breathlessness, petechiae, fatigue, constant bodily itching and some friends noticed that I lost a lot of weight after not having seen me in less than three weeks! I'd say the first nodes came up around February/March and have remained swollen ever since. They are all painless and under 2 cm in size, so they're pretty small. I've noticed some flat red patches of skin come up in my right hip area, as well as a few patches on my back. Checked with my dermatologist and she said they're not consistent with rashes.

I've been too terrified to see what my problem is. What do you guys think I should do?

In all honesty - do my symptoms sound like lymphoma? I don't care how brutal the answer is, I just want to hear what you think and what course of action you believe I should take!

I hope to hear from anyone soon.

Thank you!

ChemoMan

Hi There
You need to get that looked at as soon as possible. It does sound rather suspect. Don't panic because lymphoma is curable these days but you must catch it early. If it gets to stage 4 it is very difficult to treat and certain types will get to stage 4 very quickly.
Once again don't panic as swollen glands are common and lymphoma is not so there is every chance it is nothing, but you MUST get it seen to as soon as possible....tomorrow if you have to

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
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620

brainman

Hi hypochondriac88. I am very sorry about your health concerns but not about you being a "hypochondriac". I agree with ChemoMan... you need to go to a doctor. I have no idea what is causing all of you symptoms but they do sound like something that needs proper testing.

Keep us informed. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
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/

hypochondriac88 · New User Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 2

Thank you for your responses, ChemoMan and brainman.

I also forgot to mention that I have these strange sensations such as paresthesias (burning sensation in different parts of my body, such as my face and limbs). I've also noticed that my skin breaks a lot easier than before and I'm very prone to bleeding. My gums bleed easily, I still have petechiae, and I also bruise far more easily than before...

I'm getting tests done this weekend... I feel that it's serious. What do you think? Hodgkin's or overreacting?

I hope to hear from you all soon.

ChemoMan

Hi hypochondriac88

Well I think its good that you are going to get it looked at. As to what it is the doctors should find that out for you Smile

All the best and 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
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620

RobertK · New User Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 7

I would seriously push for a lymph node biopsy.

It took me two months to convince my doctors to do my biopsy and many of your symptoms are very close to mine. I've also met other lymphome patients that all say it started with the lymph node in their left shoulder including myself.

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