Slightly worried

dm38 · New User Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Posts: 2

I'm 26 and have had the following symptoms for about 3 to 4 months now and beginning to get a little worried and hoping someone with either first or second hand experience/ expertise may be able to shed some light on what is happening to my body.

Persistent low white blood cells (neutropenic) and low hemoglobin levels (regular tests since September 2008 show low wbc and low hemoglobin - never really improving much)
Continuous colds all summer - I seem to catch everything, chills in the height of summer my body is like an ice block, night sweats which come and go can last a week then disappear for a week or two - my clothes get damp - whenever I get night sweats I also have a really deep itchy down my thighs which I can't seem to locate.
Swollen neck glands under my chin - about 3/4 size of golf ball and smallish lump maybe the size of a kidney bean on the right side of my lower neck.
Random painful bruising and pain which radiates from my left elbow up my arm and spine pain. My arm also kept swelling at one point and I lost feeling in one of my fingers - but that seemed to have resolved itself.
Fatigue, pressure headaches and nausea
Left side flank pain just under ribs which spreads up on the side of my breast bone, shoulder blade, under my arm pit to my upper chest area (not anywhere near my heart but just below my shoulders region) - it's a throbbing/shooting pain plus pretty painful to touch and worse when I breath. -this pain has been reoccuring about every month for the last three and each time it does the outside of my armpit slightly closer to my breast also swells up.
Yellowish tint to my skin
Irregular periods - maybe one every two or three months
I've lost about 30 pounds since january but about half of this was intentional but the other half was just because I couldn't eat much as it effected the pain on my left side and under the ribs - feels like everything I eat gets stored there (odd description but the only way I can put it).

I don't smoke or drink alcohol, until about 3 months I go I did a lot of training for marathons and long distance cycling tours so I am not used to feeling this way and not been as active as I used to be. My doctor is considering a referal to a hematologist but I have to go back in two weeks time and then wait another few weeks for a referal. I am just wondering if these symptoms are anything to be concerned about as my grandfather died of a blood cancer or whether it could just be a viral infection which will sort itself out in due course.

aisha1 · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject: Re: Slightly worried

Hi there,

Well, you seem to have a wealth of issues! I'm thinking that you may not have told your doctor some of these symptoms - or have you?

I have had (and still have) a lot of the symptoms that you have described. I never had night sweats though! The bone pain is a distinct pain and you might had had it in other long bones? You will not have to think about whether you have had it or not, because you WILL KNOW if you get it!!! I'm guessing you may have felt it.

I think you need to book another appointment with the doctor. When they tested your blood, did they run other markers as well? You should find out what they have looked for.

Write all of your symptoms down, go back to your doctor, tell him/her everything that has happened to you. Just be quietly persistant with the doctor, you will eventually get somewhere.

Hope you start to get some answers soon. There seems to be a lot more young people presenting with these problems recently! I'll keep looking at your post to see if you have any updates, and take care!

Aisha.
_________________
Diagnosed Hodgkins lymphoma, nodular sclerosis, grade 2.
Stage II/IIIa.
Chemotherapy ABVD started August 2009.
Still looking young Wink

ChemoMan · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: Slightly worried

Hi dm38

So sorry to hear of your debilitating symptoms. I can not add much to what aisha has said already except to say don't panic even if you do have lymphoma, it is curable these days. That being said your chances of actually having a blood cancer are pretty slim so there is a good chance you have something benign.

No one here can help you get the answers to your questions other than to reiterate Aisha's sound advice . Write down every symptom that you have and also any questions you might think of. Go back to the doctor and convince him/her to do a biopsy on one of those nodes, as that is the only way to put your mind at rest. Once you have done that, and if you do have a blood cancer you can come back here for some support in your fight. Chances are if you see a hematologist a biopsy will be done anyway, but do write down any questions that may come to mind.

Good luck in your quest. We are always here if you need our help.
_________________
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
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... Don't forget Rule number 1

dm38 · New User Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Posts: 2

Thanks for the replies. I went back to my GP today and have been referred to a Hematologist, she asked about my family history of blood disorders of the bone marrow and lymphoma (of which I don't know due to the intense secretive nature of my family and their health) but I did mention my grandfathers leukemia but she ruled that out as my white blood cells are low which are opposite so thats a relief. Yes you are right Aisha I haven't told my GP everything - I previously had a GP who wasn't too great but by accident I switched to a new one who is brilliant and was the one who spotted my enlarged lymphnodes but I haven't mentioned the ones on the side of my neck as they are only the size of a pea/kidney bean at the moment and I don't want to be alarmist. Yes I do get other bone pain - both arms, legs from about the lower part of my shin bone up to my thigh/pelic bone - I did think it was muscular at first but it's an intense throbbing/shooting pain and I can usually feel it in my knee or elbow joint - same as my spine. I hope the wait isn't too long but I'm trying not to worry as I'm sure the odds of it been cancerous must be very slim but this has been going on since this time last year. And while none of my problems have been totally debilitating they generally come and go constantly and I just want to feel normal again.

ChemoMan · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 4:29 pm Post subject: Re: Slightly worried

Hi dm38

Well it sounds like your doctor is onto it. You are right the chance that you have cancer is slim. I hope you have your answers soon.

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
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... Don't forget Rule number 1

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