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Worried about lymphoma
Hi guys,
Feeling a bit scared about lymphoma.
Over two weeks ago-ish I noticed a lump on my neck. It's sort of hard and moveable, and pretty big - you can see it sticking out. It doesn't hurt.
About a week later, a similar one came up in the submandible area. This one was a bit more tender and perhaps even bigger.
I wasn't that worried but my mum was concerned by the size of the lumps so I went to the doctor.
She was a bit surprised by the size too, but said "well, they feel like normal reactive lymph nodes" and said she'd expect them to start going down now. She wrote down that one was 1.5cm, which doesn't sound that big.
They haven't gone away, so I'm going for a full blood count.
So yeah not feeling great about this one.
I don't have any other symptoms at the moment, apart from a bit of general malaise.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
You're doing the right thing by getting them checked out, so often it's nothing other than reactive, unfortunately it's going to take a little time before you have answers and that van be hard.
How are you doing?
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NancyW
You're doing the right thing by getting them checked out, so often it's nothing other than reactive, unfortunately it's going to take a little time before you have answers and that van be hard.
How are you doing?
Thanks Nancy, I'm doing ok.
The doctor wrote: "reactive LN R side neck 2wks,not unwell
Examination: mouth nad,ears ok, R sn LN sl tender & larger one 1.5cm beside SM m,well in self
Diagnosis: expect to settle,blds if persisting next wk"
I'm going to have full blood count, CRP, and plasma viscosity.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
I want to add a photo but I don't know how!
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
O_O
I want to add a photo but I don't know how!
Probably best not to post a photo per admin but that said, based on what the doctor said, sounds like CYA medicine to me.
Positive thoughts
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fishmanpa
Probably best not to post a photo per admin but that said, based on what the doctor said, sounds like CYA medicine to me.
Positive thoughts
Thanks Fish, and I hope you're right. I know that you really have gone through ENT cancer, so appreciate your input.
I really wasn't worried about it at all, but now it's been over two weeks and I still have these big lumps - one of which is visibly protruding from my neck. Today it's really sort of hit me and I'm kind of freaking out. Mainly the thought of how it would affect my parents. My mum only has me. It really does destroy me to think of that.
I hope it's nothing, for my parents' sake.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Also, not sure why the doctor wrote 'tender' because they're not. The one under my jaw was a bit, but barely at all now.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
O_O
Thanks Nancy, I'm doing ok.
The doctor wrote: "reactive LN R side neck 2wks,not unwell
Examination: mouth nad,ears ok, R sn LN sl tender & larger one 1.5cm beside SM m,well in self
Diagnosis: expect to settle,blds if persisting next wk"
I'm going to have full blood count, CRP, and plasma viscosity.
"Well", "NAD" "OK" "Expect to settle"..These are the positives from the GP's report. Please don't catastrophise and think about your imminent death..You've done this before.
You will have to wait for the blood test results but I take it they are routine bloods and not urgent? It's always awful waiting but you must take it one step at a time and see what the results say? No point in needless speculation when you have no proof that anything awful is the matter, just horrible uncertainty because you don't know.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
pulisa
"Well", "NAD" "OK" "Expect to settle"..These are the positives from the GP's report. Please don't catastrophise and think about your imminent death..You've done this before.
You will have to wait for the blood test results but I take it they are routine bloods and not urgent? It's always awful waiting but you must take it one step at a time and see what the results say? No point in needless speculation when you have no proof that anything awful is the matter, just horrible uncertainty because you don't know.
Thanks Pulisa - I'm having the bloods tomorrow so I might even get the results this week. I guess they'll be looking at white blood cells and platelets mainly. And we'll take it from there.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Well done. I know it's hard but one step at a time.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Change of plan, and I just had my blood tests. Now the wait for the results. I'm not feeling good about this, guys.
One problem I have is that if I start feeling anxious I just stop eating. It feels almost physically impossible to eat. When I had my breakdown a couple of years ago I barely ate for months and lost 2.5 stone. I'm now just about back up to a healthy weight, but today I've only managed half a sandwich, a packet of crisps, and a fruit smoothie so far. And lots of tea. I'm not sure how I'll manage dinner, but I'll try to eat something. I'm going to have some warm milk now because I can drink ok, and at least that has calories!
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: Worried about lymphoma
Attachment 4974
Here's the offending lump! Photos are ok, right? It's pretty visible as you can see. The other lump can't really be seen as it's buried in my jaw.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Know what? I hate lymph nodes. I've been dowm this road and it's absolutely miserable.
My youngest son had a whole string of them pop out in the exact place yours is.
What I learned was once they are up, they'll go down when they damn well feel like it. (I was given a time frame by the dr that was clearly wrong)
In the end, I also learned once they are up, they may never go back down as small as they were. They can scar and stay permanently enlarged.
Also learned the way they function is not exactly a 2 way street. They can swell quick but the draining system in them is poor so they take for ever to go down.
I just hate them.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NancyW
Know what? I hate lymph nodes. I've been dowm this road and it's absolutely miserable.
My youngest son had a whole string of them pop out in the exact place yours is.
What I learned was once they are up, they'll go down when they damn well feel like it. (I was given a time frame by the dr that was clearly wrong)
In the end, I also learned once they are up, they may never go back down as small as they were. They can scar and stay permanently enlarged.
Also learned the way they function is not exactly a 2 way street. They can swell quick but the draining system in them is poor so they take for ever to go down.
I just hate them.
Really? I'm glad your son's ok. Did they find out what it was in his case?
I know I just have to wait for the blood results anyway. Either they'll say something bad, or they won't. Even if they don't, I guess they'll still do a biopsy if the nodes stick around? Idek.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
He's fine.. all the drs said was they were up due to "some virus"
I can still see them today and they were originally up 20 years ago. Just dumb.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
O_O
Really? I'm glad your son's ok. Did they find out what it was in his case?
I know I just have to wait for the blood results anyway. Either they'll say something bad, or they won't. Even if they don't, I guess they'll still do a biopsy if the nodes stick around? Idek.
These days they U/S suspicious lymph nodes and they can see by the thickness of the wall (outside lining of the node) whether it needs to be biopsied or not. If the wall is a consistent thickness all round then the nodes/s are fine. I learned this from a ENT specialist when I had a persistent submandibular node come up. It was a bit bigger than yours, but harder to see under the chin and it was sore. It resolved within 12 weeks.
My bloods were all fine but I was quite rundown at the time, it was Winter! Good luck with it all.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
WiseMonkey
These days they U/S suspicious lymph nodes and they can see by the thickness of the wall (outside lining of the node) whether it needs to be biopsied or not. If the wall is a consistent thickness all round then the nodes/s are fine. I learned this from a ENT specialist when I had a persistent submandibular node come up. It was a bit bigger than yours, but harder to see under the chin and it was sore. It resolved within 12 weeks.
My bloods were all fine but I was quite rundown at the time, it was Winter! Good luck with it all.
Thanks Wise. Glad yours turned out to be nothing. I actually kind of wish mine WERE sore... I'd probably be thinking less lymphoma more infection, then! The one in the photo was never sore at all really. The one in my jaw was tender when it first came up but now the tenderness has basically gone and the lump is still there... if anything, it's got bigger.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
I had two lymph nodes come up in my groin 1 each side, one was a quite small and sore and one was probably the same size as yours maybe even slightly bigger, the tenderness only lasted a day, I went to doctors and they said one was quite big but he checked my legs and I had a minor scratch which he said could be the course of it, went back in two weeks as it hadn't gone down and he done blood tests but all came back fine, the node has never come gone down and that was over 2 years ago and nothing ever came of it!
I also have one above my colar bone which can been seen, this was pre HA days so I never worried about it just assumed it was due to illness and that was years ago!
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ShaunRyder
I had two lymph nodes come up in my groin 1 each side, one was a quite small and sore and one was probably the same size as yours maybe even slightly bigger, the tenderness only lasted a day, I went to doctors and they said one was quite big but he checked my legs and I had a minor scratch which he said could be the course of it, went back in two weeks as it hadn't gone down and he done blood tests but all came back fine, the node has never come gone down and that was over 2 years ago and nothing ever came of it!
I also have one above my colar bone which can been seen, this was pre HA days so I never worried about it just assumed it was due to illness and that was years ago!
That's good news Shaun, I'm glad all was fine with you 🙂 I guess it goes to show that inexplicable swollen nodes can just be idiopathic sometimes. Hoping for a similar result in my case. I'm not feeling at all good about it, but... that's how everyone feels when they're anxious about their health. Just when it's you, you feel like you're unique. To me it just seems logically and statistically most likely to be lymphoma, and I also just sort of feel it, but I could be wrong. I hope I'm wrong.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
My coworker's son who did have lymphoma had a lump right where the neck and shoulder meet.. she described it as a "fist" sticking out of his neck.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
O_O
That's good news Shaun, I'm glad all was fine with you 🙂 I guess it goes to show that inexplicable swollen nodes can just be idiopathic sometimes. Hoping for a similar result in my case. I'm not feeling at all good about it, but... that's how everyone feels when they're anxious about their health. Just when it's you, you feel like you're unique. To me it just seems logically and statistically most likely to be lymphoma, and I also just sort of feel it, but I could be wrong. I hope I'm wrong.
The waiting part is the worst, I know there is nothing anyone can say or do to make you feel different until you get the results, but try and keep yourself occupied as best as you can and if you ever do feel the anxiety getting too much just drop a message on the these boards, there is always someone online who will chat!
Something that has helped some of my nodes over the years has been heat, I always use a hot bottle 10-15 mins few times a day on them.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NancyW
My coworker's son who did have lymphoma had a lump right where the neck and shoulder meet.. she described it as a "fist" sticking out of his neck.
Ah, well mine definitely doesn't seem like a fist at the moment - so that's something!
It seems strange that somebody would wait until their lymph node was that big before seeking help, though! I can't imagine it just grew to that size overnight - it must have been gradual? At some point I'd have thought it would only have been a couple of cm like mine.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Sometimes people are afraid to seek help, though. I neglected what I knew damned well was a skin cancer for half a decade.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ShaunRyder
The waiting part is the worst, I know there is nothing anyone can say or do to make you feel different until you get the results, but try and keep yourself occupied as best as you can and if you ever do feel the anxiety getting too much just drop a message on the these boards, there is always someone online who will chat!
Something that has helped some of my nodes over the years has been heat, I always use a hot bottle 10-15 mins few times a day on them.
Thank you, yes, I keep checking the online portal for the results 😣
Although actually I don't feel too bad today. Better than yesterday. Maybe it's helped talking on here 🙂
It's certainly not like when I went fully mental two years ago, and every single moment of every single day for about six months was absolutely unbearable, beyond words. I just stayed in bed for six months, basically. I really, really hope I never return to that.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BlueIris
Sometimes people are afraid to seek help, though. I neglected what I knew damned well was a skin cancer for half a decade.
Yes, I can understand that. I hope you're ok now.
I'm glad that at least I've gone to the doctor pretty much straight away with this. I think the initial two weeks won't affect the outcome too much, if the results do turn out to be bad.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
O_O
It seems strange that somebody would wait until their lymph node was that big before seeking help, though! I can't imagine it just grew to that size overnight - it must have been gradual?
No, it grew fast.
That said, he's fine now.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
I think the lump under my jaw is getting bigger. It is also feeling a bit tender again, which I guess is a good sign. Also, I'm feeling some pressure in my right ear (the same side as the lumps) which maybe means... there is some kind of sinus / ear infection? Hopefully?
I've cast my mind back a few weeks, and I did have some mild cold symptoms. I felt exhausted and had a slightly blocked nose. It wasn't that bad, though - I've certainly had far worse colds and ear infections and I've never had swollen nodes like this.
Something else weird - the skin on the back on my hands has become extremely dry. I noticed the skin felt rough and when I looked at it I thought they were covered in tiny white spots. Then I realised it was slightly dry/cracked skin. It doesn't itch or hurt or anything. It's just weird. I've never had anything like that before.
What's going on guys :'(
I've created a sort of timeline of events.
Late January / Early February - exhausted, some mild cold symptoms (slightly blocked nose), some stress over ongoing fertility problems following some tests.
1st February-ish - not sure of exact date when I first noticed swollen node on neck because I was so supremely unconcerned that I barely registered what size it was or whether it was tender.
10th February - first date that I know for sure I was like wtf is with this node, and also around the time the second one under my jaw started appearing and felt tender.
14th February - went to doctor, neither node tender at this point, she thought they were reactive nodes but said they should start receding now so would have blood tests next week if not.
18th February - nodes no better so had blood tests.
19th February - weird dry skin on back of hands, some pressure in ear, node under jaw seems bigger and more tender, jaw on neck not tender and not sure if bigger but definitely not smaller.
I'm pretty bothered by all this.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
How often are you feeling the nodes?
When I had mine I was constantly checking to see if they were better, they would stop being tender and sore but I'd go and irritate them and make them worse, lymph nodes can get bigger very very easily if they are irritated.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ShaunRyder
How often are you feeling the nodes?
When I had mine I was constantly checking to see if they were better, they would stop being tender and sore but I'd go and irritate them and make them worse, lymph nodes can get bigger very very easily if they are irritated.
I'm really barely touching them... and I didn't touch them for like a week and they still got massive. Ugh I hate this.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
I know that when we get super focused on certain things with HA it can be extremely difficult to turn our minds off. Whether this will help or not, I don’t know. But my sister is currently battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. And her symptoms did not present with any of the things you’re describing. I’m not going to go into any details really as I know with myself, if I’m stressing over a particular disease/disorder, and I read symptoms, I miraculously develop said symptoms lol. But, It’s very possible they’re just reactive nodes left from a cold or whatever and sometimes they just take a crazy amount of time to get back to normal. Will send positive vibes your way!
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
glassgirlw
I know that when we get super focused on certain things with HA it can be extremely difficult to turn our minds off. Whether this will help or not, I don’t know. But my sister is currently battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. And her symptoms did not present with any of the things you’re describing. I’m not going to go into any details really as I know with myself, if I’m stressing over a particular disease/disorder, and I read symptoms, I miraculously develop said symptoms lol. But, It’s very possible they’re just reactive nodes left from a cold or whatever and sometimes they just take a crazy amount of time to get back to normal. Will send positive vibes your way!
Thanks so much for commenting, Glass. I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. How scary for you all. I really hope she's doing ok, and that you and your fam are doing ok.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
O_O
I've created a sort of timeline of events.
Doing so illustrates the rabbit hole you're digging for yourself. You did the same thing previously and its a very familiar pattern on the forum. I get that you're concerned but taking a step back from documenting everything will serve you better in the long run. Hopefully, what I'm saying will resonate and you can act on it and deprive the dragon some morsels of reassurance until you get the results.
Positive thoughts
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fishmanpa
Doing so illustrates the rabbit hole you're digging for yourself. You did the same thing previously and its a very familiar pattern on the forum. I get that you're concerned but taking a step back from documenting everything will serve you better in the long run. Hopefully, what I'm saying will resonate and you can act on it and deprive the dragon some morsels of reassurance until you get the results.
Positive thoughts
Yes, you're right, I'm getting a bit obsessed. I just wish I knew what was going on, and I don't want it to be anything bad. I'm really hoping for just some sort of infection.
No itching / sweating / rashes yet, but the lumps definitely aren't getting smaller. They might even be getting bigger.
I'm functioning normally, at least. Going to work and acting like I always do. Comparatively, I don't feel too anxious - like, two years ago I couldn't eat, couldn't work, couldn't wash myself, couldn't even have a conversation. For six months! But right now I just ate a huge McDonald's (veggie) 🙂 So that's got to be good.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
No urgent recall following the bloods either..?
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
pulisa
No urgent recall following the bloods either..?
Well, I don't know if my doctor even has the results yet. I had the test Tuesday afternoon... if I don't have the results today I'll call up tomorrow!
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
O_O
Thanks so much for commenting, Glass. I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. How scary for you all. I really hope she's doing ok, and that you and your fam are doing ok.
thanks for your kind words, I appreciate it! Unfortunately she’s had a pretty major setback this week so for now we just continue praying. They live about 14 hrs from me so it’s very difficult to not be able to be there as she goes through this. So much harder on her to be the one going through it though. Praying is all I can do so I’ll do it!
please try (I know it’s hard) to not worry too much. If your doc has done bloods and you’ve gotten the all clear (not sure if you have yet?).
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
glassgirlw
thanks for your kind words, I appreciate it! Unfortunately she’s had a pretty major setback this week so for now we just continue praying. They live about 14 hrs from me so it’s very difficult to not be able to be there as she goes through this. So much harder on her to be the one going through it though. Praying is all I can do so I’ll do it!
please try (I know it’s hard) to not worry too much. If your doc has done bloods and you’ve gotten the all clear (not sure if you have yet?).
Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that. What an awful, stressful time you must be having. I'll think of you and your sister.
I haven't had my blood results yet. It's hard to see through the fug of anxiety whether I'm being rational or not. On one hand, I don't really have any symptoms other than the lumps. On the other hand, I have the lumps! Two quite big ones on my neck which aren't going away! I really don't know what to think at the moment.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by
O_O
Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that. What an awful, stressful time you must be having. I'll think of you and your sister.
I haven't had my blood results yet. It's hard to see through the fug of anxiety whether I'm being rational or not. On one hand, I don't really have any symptoms other than the lumps. On the other hand, I have the lumps! Two quite big ones on my neck which aren't going away! I really don't know what to think at the moment.
i can definitely understand the stress and uncertainty. I deal with that when I have symptoms and not sure what’s causing them. As difficult as it is to “wait and see”, with the lack of any other symptoms I’m sure you’ll get your bloods back and all will be well!! They say not to stress until you have a definitive result - which I know is easier said than done sometimes. Just keep moving on with your days and try to distract yourself as best as possible. Will send positive thoughts your way!
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
I have my results. My doctor texted saying everything was normal.
I think my results look... ok. But to be honest I'm not entirely comforted. My white blood cell count was 5.6 (range 3.6 - 11). I've had my white blood cell count done on three other occasions throughout the course of my life, and it has always been above 7.
So to me, it looks as though my white blood cells are dropping. Coupled with the lumps, I'm a little concerned. I know my doctor won't have compared this result to my previous results - she'll just have seen it's in range and given it the ok.
I could really do with others' input here. Am I right to be concerned? Should I go back to my doctor?
At the very least I still have these big lumps, which aren't going anywhere, and I'm starting to feel a bit ill now. If nothing else, I must have an infection?
I'd really appreciate people's thoughts on what I should do now! Thanks guys.
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Re: Worried about lymphoma
If it were me, I truly wouldn’t be immediately concerned. If there were something sinister going on, your WBC would be WAY out of whack. You’re very much in the proper ranges. Many types of infections can cause lymphnodes to become reactive, many of which can’t be resolved with medication anyway. I would personally wait a week or two and see if the nodes go down. And definitely do not touch, poke, or prod at the nodes as that will just make them either swell more, or refuse to go back to normal size once the infection is done.