8months of waiting.... Do i have cancer or not?!

sillysam · New User Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 5

Well... an update on my situation....I went to the doc's 1st time in NOV 2007, (when i first posted here) got 1ST blood test to check for infection, which came back clear (no infection).

I went to doc's again in JANUARY (different 2nd doctor) because lump was still there and i wanted to know why. Doctor said to keep an eye on it and to take my temperature and come back if i noticed anything out of ordinary.

I went to the doc's again late FEBRUARY (different 3rd doctor) lump still there, this time i wanted something more done! I plucked up courage to ask for scan/x-ray/something/anything more to be done! Doctor was reluctant, but eventually put me in for an ultrasound of the neck.

7weeks later (APRIL)....... finally got my ultrasound on neck done.
2weeks later (APRIL)....... got results of ultrasound - 2.7cm lump on side of neck. Doc says he wants another blood test done to check for infection again.
1week later (MAY)........ got blood test results, clear (no infection). Now wants me to go for biopsy (finally!) He suggests Fine Needle biopsy. Am booked in to see specialist at hospital.
6weeks later (JUNE)...... see specialist at hospital, in 'Blood diseases clinic', which might sound obvious, but freaked me out a bit, as i was initially told to go to Haemotology dept... Have 3RD bloodtest to check for infections. Specialist go through symptoms and check's all areas for other enlarged lymph nodes. She decides an excisional biopsy would be best and more accurate, but because of the nature of my lump (closely fixed near my neck tendon/muscle) she wants a CT scan done to check if surgery would be easy enough. Also wants CT scan to check for other masses in body.
2weeks later (JUNE)..... on monday i will have my CT Neck/Thorax/Abdo/Pelvis
in another 2weeks.... will see specialist again to arrange biopsy.

SO..................... (sorry for huge long post) I have a large swollen lymph node, which is usually painless, but every few days/weeks, it really aches and the surrounding area (upper shoulder/ jaw) has been aching recently too. For the past few months, i have been getting random upper abdominal pain's (usually upper left side - spleen?). I get itchy quite a lot, usually on legs, but i don't know if this is enough to be concerned about.

This is really starting to effect me mentally/emotionally. I just want to KNOW.......... i've started getting very irratable, very stressed and unfortunatly my lovely boyfriend is getting the effects of this on him. Im trying my hardest to stay positve that this is nothing, but after nearly 8months, its seriously taking its toll and hopefully i will know either way soon.

Any thoughts/ similar stories would be greatly appreciated. Don't worry about scaring me, in my head i think i've already got cancer (SOOO WRONG I KNOW!) but i just don't wana be shocked if/when they tell me.

brainman

Sam, I am so very sorry about how long it is taking the doctors to find out what is wrong. I am not sure this a normal for a lymphoma. I do know that my father had leukemia for over a year before they finally said it was leukemia. Unfortunately, sometimes the diagnosis is not right there on a scan.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.
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Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
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My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
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shuggy1972 · Regular Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 28 Location: New York

Sam

You are not alone.

Since Feb 08, I've seen 2 urologists, 2 dermatologists, 3 ENT's, 1 Infectious Diseases specialist, and an orthopedic surgeon. I've had 2 MRIs (left knee, without then with contrast), 2 ultrasounds, a CT scan of my neck, tests for HIV, TB, thyroid function, Complete Blood Count, biopsy of a mole on my left toe, etc etc...

I'm currently waiting for the results of a CT guided core needle biopsy of two enlaged lymph nodes in my neck. The CT scan showed a number of enlarged nodes on both sides (submandibular and one in the paratracheal area), the largest of which was 1.2cm...which is not huge for a lymph node, but over the size to generate 'suspicion'.

They also found what looks like a small (1.4cm) cyst on my thyroid gland, so I have to have an ultrasound guided fine needle biopsy on that in a few weeks.

I still have a 'tight' feeling behind my left knee (despite the two MRI scans showing up nothing) and now I have some small lumps at the back of my right thigh which the infectious diseases guy says could be enlarged lymph nodes. I also have a similar 'tight' feeling in the right groin area, although I can't feel any nodes there. I was having night sweats, although those seem to have stopped in the past couple of weeks.

I'm getting a bit fed up with seeing doctors and having no answers (as is my health insurance company!). Alternative explanations I've been given so far - ' maybe just some low level virus' or 'maybe you're allergic to New York City' - seem pretty weak.

Part of me thinks 'sod it, if the doctors don't seem too worried why should I be' and yet I'm normally a very healthy person, and all of a sudden I have these lumps and swellings appear, not resolving over time and not responding to antibiotics...

Anyway, sorry about the rant...but just wanted to say that I totally understand the stress you are under. My wife is currently 6mths pregnant, and I'm supposed to be looking after her and giving her support...but it's been very tough to focus on anything other than worrying about the fact I may have some type of cancer that's getting worse by the week while I see various doctors in search of an answer.

Reading the posts on here has been helpful, but it has also brought home to me the number of people who are misdiagnosed or who have delayed diagnosis, despite some fairly obvious symptoms. I would say that we both need to keep pushing until we are given a definite answer.

So best of luck with your excisional biopsy of the lymph node - that at least should give you a definitive answer and let you get on with whatever needs to be done next.

mortz · New User Joined: 11 Aug 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Texas

Hey Silly

Your post hit me close to heart. I myself have been where your at, now mind you I am not a doctor, but it sounds like you may have some type of lymphoma. I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, which is a cancer of the lymphnodes. I too had swollen lymphnodes, but they were located in my right armpit. Some of my symptoms included: sever night sweats, I had a chronic cough that I couldnt get rid of for about 8 months, and VERY ITCHY LEGS.
I had also gone to see the doctor about some of the symptoms, like the cough and the itchy legs, but the doctor I went to go see treated to cough like a regular cough, took meds to try to get rid of it never worked. Then I went to take a look at my legs because my skin started to get spots. Well the doc treated that like a mild case of egcema gave me some cream, which seemed to make it worse when applied. Well Finally one day at work I found a large lump underneath my arm. I went to see a different doctor and told her all my symptoms, went for a chest xray that same day and before I even got home there was a message waiting for me telling me to call back the doctor and she informed me that it looks like I may have lymphoma. Sure enough it was H.L.
I hope by now you have been able to find out what is going. I dont want to scare you, I just wanted to inform you that I had similar story. Please if you have any questions feel free to ask. I have been treating this for the past year, I was diagnosed back in April 07 went through chemo and radiation went into remission for about 5 months, but had a relapse April 08. I just finished chemo on Aug 12 and under went a stem cell transplant the 13th and should be getting out the hospital this weekend. I wish you the very best of luck and remember to stay positive!!!

sillysam · New User Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 5

Hi guys,

Thankyou so much for your replies...

Another update... it has almost been a year now. I had a fine needle biopsy this summer and only now.... 1 YEAR ON, am i getting my excisional biopsy. Tommorow, i will find out the exact date of this operation, which will be done under general aneasthetic because of the deep nature of my lump.

[size=18]Is it normal to wait this long??? Im in UK, under NHS, not private unfortunatly... [/size]

I pray that whatever this stupid lump is, i will find out soon and either deal with the fact it is lymphoma or i can forget all about it get on with my life.

Sorry for the moan. My thoughts are with all of you who are dealing with Lymphoma at the moment. x x x
_________________
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Age: 25
Female

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

Wow, my time to diagnosis was about 2 months. This is exactly why government health care could be very bad for the US.

I really hope everything goes well for you. A few months can make a difference between advanced stages.

ChemoMan

Hi Sam

I'm glad to hear you are going in for a biopsy finally. Try and stop worrying if you can because it won't do you any good, I know its hard but for your sake and those around you you should try. Things should start to move now and I hope that the biopsy will give you the all clear. If not don't panic as the medical profession has been successfully treating Lymphomas, in particular Hodgkins, for many many years now. I am sorry I haven't posted to your thread before, but you seemed to be well served by the help you received.

My best wishes Sam here's hoping all is OK.
_________________
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

kkumgul · New User Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Posts: 2

Hello guys,
I want to share my story here. If any of you can suggest me something it will be great.
Around 6 months back i am getting tinnitus (noice in my left ear). went to a ENT and he took brain MRI and it was negative so just simply told me that nothing to worry it may go off itself. But it didnt. After a month i went to my family doctor because feeling weak. He did all blood tests and everything normal except cholestrol is border high. So he asked me to do some exercises and prescribed crestor for cholestrol.
But my tinnitus is still there. So i went to second ENT and he asked me to go for neck MRI and MRA. MRA was normal and MRI says some lymph nodes are swollen. from then i am a bit worried of lyphoma. My largest lymph node size is 1.5 cm and is located digastric lymph node chain (is it tonisil?), which is just beside my chin. To followup with ENT i got an appointment after 1 month. And today i went to ENT and he told me simply nothing to serious in your reports lymph node swelling is very normal.
And i insisted regarding lyphoma and he simply told me no its not. But as i asked repaetedly he refered me for second opinion to a university hospital. And i got an appointment after 1 month in nov 2008.
I am 30 years old male. And my lymph nodes are not visible from outside. but i can feel when i press heard on my neck.
I dont have any night sweats or fever except feeling weak and some times a bit pain in my chest area on right side when i put car seat belt for long time. i dont have any cough or ichhing.
I am too much worried if it is lyphoma i am loosing time as it was already 6 months i started going to doctor. I asked my family physician what to do. He says "dont worry, even if it is lyphoma we cant do anythign now as there are some protocols for us to follow. lymph nodes swell very commonly that too in neck. worry and thinking too much is making you all these, just keep calm. And in my 40 years of experience i saw only one lady who got lyphoma, so it is very rare and why you want to worry before anything diagnosed.". Can you please suggest me what to do? can i go directly to ER or wait for 1 month and see how it goes with university college doctor?
Every day i go home and check temparature and my neck in mirror and start surfing all cancer forums. My wife is getting irritated for this, she also feels i am worrying too much. Please suggest me.
I am also read somewhere acidity also causes lymph node swelling in neck. I get too many burps all the time. i feeling i have acidity. But all your suggestions are appriciated as you can understnad my worry.

ChemoMan

Hi kkumgul

I posted a reply to this over here

http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9715
_________________
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

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