swelling of lymph nodes near elbow bend

[pwilson]

I have some discomfort and swelling in the lymph nodes on the sides where my elbows bend.  Do you think that this could be an indicator of some type of cancer?

[tidbitliz]

It says if tue r larger than twi centimeter thqts not good especially when hard. I am worried I have cancer and also have liver cysts of 4.3 which have grown from 1.3 in less than three months. At 2.3 the dr. Told me not to be concerned unless they multiplied and increased in aize. Well they have and the drs do nothin. I have vright red blood in my stools as well as little black specks although I do have hemeroides and a new growth of polyps in my colon.  They removed those six months ago and they r now also back. My doctor primary will only see me every three months and the symptoms and the tests that show all of this stuff. Are not followed thru on so in three months between dr. Visits they just keep piling up and nothing is taken care of. I can not go to another dr. As they wont allow a change with medicaid saying I would be considered doctor shopping and wont cover me anymore. I feel like I am just a disposable person at this point.

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  Aside from the selling of the lymph nodes, do you have any other symptoms, like fever or weight loss?  Do you have a wound or any inflammation around the area (e.g. hands, shoulder, armpit)?  Lymph nodes are aggregations of white blood cells that usually become swollen when there is an infection (e.g. infected wound) or an inflammation in the surrounding area.  Lymph nodes may also become enlarged because of cancer, but infection and inflammation have to be ruled out first, since these are a lot more common conditions at your age.  How large are the lymph nodes, by the way? Swollen nodes due to infection or inflammation rarely get larger than 2 centimeters, so any node larger than this may probably need a biopsy to see if it's anything serious.