I am 20 years old and have had a swollen lymph node in my groin are for at least 5 months. I also have a swollen lymph node on the back of my neck which has been there for years. These nodes are hard and fixed they never get smaller or go away. I have horrible night sweats to the point where I wake up and my sheets are soaked. I also itch so bad that I scratch until I break the skin. I am extremely tired all the time, no matter how long I sleep I never feel rested. I rarely feel like eating. I wasn't even able to eat on Turkey Day (so unlike me). I also have a hard time fighting off infections that I have had in the past.
I went to the doctors about 2 weeks ago and she was concerned about lymphoma and sent me for an ultrasound on the node in my groin area. I also had blood work done which came back fine so no sign of any infection. Her assistant called me the day before Thanksgiving and informed me that my results were in but she didn't want to tell me the results over the phone and would rather discuss it in person. This has terrified me, as I'm sure you can imagine. I do think I have lymphoma based on my symptoms and the way I feel, but I am very hopeful that even if it is lymphoma that I am strong enough to pull through!
PLEASE respond and give me any information you may have. Could you also let me know how you came to get diagnosed and what your signs and symptoms were?
Thank you for your time! I hope all is well for everybody!!
Hi Ashlym
1st I would give your doctor one hell of an earfull in reguards to the total irresponsiblity and lack of proffesionalism and compassion of his associate.Now onto the important stuff.My brother was diagnosed with the same thing about 18 months ago with the same illness.After a lot of worrying and rough nights and stuff it all turned out just fine.He is now doing just fine after a treatment of only medications and a healthy diet.he has been back to work for some timeand even found a REAL HOTTIE that he is seeing regularly.I can understand your concern but rest a little easier knowing that there is someone out there that is very familiar with the disease and its treatment having had a family member go through it a I also had a malignant brain tumor removed in 1992 and am just fine today. Relax it will be ok. when you get to that office make sure your doctor is well informed about that idiot of an associate of his and take care of yourself and please keep in touch,I would like to know how you are doing.
Take care.
Night sweats are certainly indicative of Lymphoma (B symptoms they call them). The only real way to know is to Biopsy the tumor. I had stage 3 Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma, complete with night sweats, etc. a little over a year ago, and today (so far) I'm in remission. B cell Lymphoma is one of the more treatable cancers, and your age is a huge plus in your prognosis. The chemo treatment is effective and isn't as bad as depicted in the movies (I never threw up once thanks to the drugs they have now to help with those sorts of side-effects). I know exactly how you feel as far as worry and fear, and hopefully you'll get some answers soon and a plan in place to deal with what ever this is? Just remember that there is a good chance even if it's Lymphoma, that you will be just fine.
I went to the doctors today and was told that the node was enlarged but because my blood results were normal there was no need to biopsy the node! Should I get a second opinion or would have something showed in my blood???
You should get a second opinion and let them do a scan on you, The blood work will always show normal. After all my blood test being negative by the time I did the scan I was already at stage 4. Don’t wait too long. Good luck…
Ashley,
I'm with Donette...demand a CT scan. If that Doc wont do it, find one that will. It's the only way to know for sure.
Let us know, I'll be praying for a good report for you.
I had a CT Scan for an ear ache which couldn't be explained. Somehow, the CT picked up a spot in my spleen. The doctor suggested another CT in 3 months. When I went for the next CT the spot had grown and a new one had started growing. I went for 2 different biopsies and they were unable to get enough tissue to biopsy. After discussing another attempt at a biopsy, I asked the doctor to remove the spleen as opposed to going through my stomach wall to try again and not succeed. My spleen was removed and I was diagnosed with indolent follicular non hodkins lymphoma. I was refered on a oncologist and he started tests right away. I had blood studies, bone marrow biopsy and PET Scan. I have been on WATCH AND WAIT since Sept. 2009. I went fo my 3 month check up today and I will be having a CT scan of my neck, chest, abdomen and pelvic area in 4 weeks. My doctor told me today that my blood work was good and there was no indication that there is any bone marrow involved.
By all means, if your doctor isn't doing any scans, get a second opinion!! If you doctor doesn't welcome a second opinion, you had better run to another doctor. I am an almost 60 year old female, I am not that scared, but if I was diagnosed at your age I would be petrified. I was diagnoses with melanoma at ge 28 and I am still here. The melanoma was caught early and never got into my blood stream.
The main thing that you need to remember is that it is your life and you need to take charge of it. Don't be afraid to question your treatment and demand answers, take an older person, perhaps a parent, with you to your appointments, sometimes the other person can think of things to ask that you might not think to ask. Make a list of questions to ask.
I am a grade 2 and somewhere between stage 3A and 4 and still haven't required any treatment other than the surgery.
God Bless you and give you peace an peace of mind. A good oncologist will refer you to a psychiatrist or a ttherapist for help with anxiety if you need it. Let me know how you are doing and how your next appointment goes.
Mary
Hi Ashley,
definately get a second opinion. My husband found a small welted area on my chest a little over a year and a half ago, and another on my back. I had ct, and a mamagram, and ultra sound all showed nothing. So I left it alone. The area on my chest continued to grow, but not a tumor just a welted bruised looking area. All my blood work is always normal. I found another area on my shoulder so I did finally get a dr to remove the area on my chest, and it is B cell marginal zone NHL. I had pet scan it showed it all over my bones like paint splatter. I had a bone marrow biopsy that was negative so were doing watch and wait for 2 months then will redo the scan in April. they're pretty sure it is in my bones, so it's stage IV. Always get another opinion when your not confident in the results doctors are just practicing medicine. I would get the biopsy demand it, I did and I'm glad I did, now maybe I can get treatment and start to feel better. I also have lupus, so the 2 make me feel terrible, but I'm a fighter and now that I know what it is I'm fighting I can beat it. Good luck....Jo
I am just so distraught over all that I have been reading. I came to this site to get information on Stem cell implant.My 38 Yr old niece was diagnosed with Lymphoma 9She has 3 Teenage boys and her husband left her,(She is such a Wonerful Mother) She has had Stem cell implant---Did not work and now has just finished a round of many Chemo treatments. They will be giving her another stem cell treatment and they check her blood every other day, They have to wait now as her blood count is low and they can"t get it up.She has to have another stem cell implant and then a Pet scan to see what the results are and what is going on. I am wondering If anyone from our Family would be able to help her with either" Blood" or "Bone Marrow".Are they using "Human Stem Cell Implant as I heard they could not use it?Does anyone know about what I am talking about?This is very new to me and I am sure that I will be comming back with more Questions as well as any Support ---I could give someone.My Prayers are out to eveyone here!May God watch over you All.
I think the term is stem cell transplant. The stem cells are harvested bone marrow stem cells and either come from the patient herself (autologous) or from a donor (allogeneic)
Does this sound right to you? Is stem cell implant something else altogether? Can you get more info on this?
Hi Jib,So sorry to read about your niece and her family.I myself can only offer you support as I'm not well versed on transplants.I've read many stories about them through others but don't really know all the ins and outs.Sending you and your niece hug and a prayer.Wishing her well,Michele
To anyone concerned about the diagnosis of lymphoma
There is an excellent article to be found on the website of the New Zealand Leukemia and Blood Foundation. This article is co-authored by two doctors with expert knowledge and is directed toward the General Practitioner - the local doctor-I don’t know what the term is in America, and will provide information about the pursuit of a differential diagnosis by a GP in relation to the often disparate collection of signs and symptoms associated with lymphoma. You may get ideas about what to ask your local doctor. You may even want to print it and take it to your local doctor.
www.leukaemia.org.nz Early Diagnosis and Referral of Lymphoma is Critical - Kenneth Bradstock and Peter Browett found under Health Professionals
Hi Ashleym... you don't post to tell us what you did. Did you get a second opinion?? I hope you did and that all was ok. I also have had cancer 3 times and each time my blood work was all very normal, this is not an indicator for cancer, you need it removed and biopsied. Good luck.