Coud I please get a direct answer?

I have posted several times before but I keep getting the same answer, (to have a lymph node biopsied) which is not an answer to my question at all. All I am asking of the doctor who addresses my question is this....Have you ever seen a case where antibiotics reduced the inflamation (inflammation) of lymph nodes in a case where cancer was the cause of the swollen nodes? It's my understanding that nodes can swell due to the cancer actually being in the nodes, or swell because cancer is somewhere else. IF THE CANCER IS SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEY ARE SWOLLEN DUE TO CANCER IN ANOTHER LOCATION, WOULD OR COULD ANTIBIOTICS REDUCE THE SWELLING TEMPORARILY? This is what is happening in my case. I'm on my 6th round of antibiotics and they go down with each cycle, but swell again once I'm done. This has been going on for several months. Please give me your personal opinion as to whether you have seen this before or if it is possible? I will not act on your answer or hold any liability, I would just like someone to say "yes I have seen that, or no I have never heard of that". Thank you very much for your time. I hope I am not percieved as being too direct, it's just that I cannot seem to get an answer to this question anywhere.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

If enlarged lymph nodes are regressing in size in response to antibiotics then the cause most probably is infective lesion and not a cancerous one.

What antibiotics have you been taking?

Any antibiotics would not reduce the swelling of cancerous lymph nodes - whether the primary cancer is in the lymph nodes or elsewhere.

Couldnt it be kept as a possibility that you are having enlarged lymph nodes due to repeated infections -which respond to the course of antibiotics?

Let us know if this helps. But also discuus this with your specialist.

Regards.

[scubaman]

Thank you very much for your time, I really appreciate your response and help.
The antibiotics I am on now is AVELOX. They are 400mg for 21 days. I still have 7 more days to go,and like the other rounds of antibiotics, they have reduced the swelling, but they are still painful and I'm still feeling terrible. What is an "infective Lesion"? My swollen lymph nodes are in my neck, and have been swollen for about 3 months.Then this past week a lymph node in my lower back swelled and I've had some pain under my arm pits, which I assume are lymph nodes too. Is there another specialist beyond an ENT that would be better for this condition? Thanks again for your help.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

Glad that the post was of some help.

You could see a surgeon for the enlarged lymph nodes and he/she could advise further management after a clinical examination and relevant investigations so that a confirmed diagnosis can be established.

Keep us posted on how you are doing and any other doubts that you have. Also let us know what your doctor tells you.

Regards.