Opinions Please

[Totie]

Okay about 3yrs ago I noticed a small hard bump behind ear, did the going to the PCP who sent me to the ENT, who said there is not anything to worry about. I did not worry about it because I had PLENTY of MRI, head & neck ct scans for other issues & ironic part was I had to have my submandibular gland along with two enlarged lymph nodes removed , and I am assuming it did not show up on any of those tests, or I would have been told. That is how small it was apparently. Did not worry about again. About 3 months ago I noticed it had gotten bigger. It is hard, so I went back to my PCP who at first thought it was an abscess & he could cut & drain it there & then, I held off because I was already scheduled to see a surgeon (follow up for fistula's), so my PCP told me to ask the surgeon his opinion on the bump. Long story short, had ultra sound, ct-scan & yes it is a 2cm hard fixed lymph node that has grown slowly. The surgeon said, that a FNA would not really help him much so he recommended I get it surgically removed. I really NOT worried about it being cancerous because I know I have had the blood tests to test for cancer when I lost 30lbs in like 3-4 months & developed night sweats (3yrs ago). I am female so I do assume it is from hormonal changes after all I am 41; I still get night sweats & still under weight, BUT I don't feel like there is anything else wrong, I am not fatigued, HOWEVER, I do take B12.

Okay my question is should I get it removed? He already told me the 2cm is NOT normal & that a FNA would not be a definite diagnosis if there is anything to it. the reason I am hesitant is because he would have to shave some of my hair..Yes I know shallow....sorry, that is my only worry....cancer does NOT run my family.

[Ken_PA]

quote: "Again, thank you for replying. I don't feel like I have cancer, nor do I believe I have it. I just have a weird metabolic system. "

I tend to think that you are right.

It can be useful to get copies of all test reports, for the future. If it's not too much trouble, you might post back with your results. Good luck :)

[Totie]

Thanks for replying.

Yes , the surgeon did do an ultrasound & ct scan, but other than saying it is a 2 cm enlarged node, he did not give me details of the tests.

I did end up having the surgery, this past  Thurs. we won't  know anything until about a week it comes back from pathology.  I go back in a week to get stitches out so hopefully will know something then/

Again, thank you for replying. I don't feel like I have cancer, nor do I believe I have it. I just have a weird metabolic system.

[Ken_PA]

Hi, a needle biopsy is prone to a false negative. The reason is that it only takes a little bit here and there.  So there might be cancer cells at a place that the needle didn't hit.

Also, when a pathologist can look at slices of a whole node, he can see if the architecture of the node is wrong. A normal node has a structure to it, just as an orange does with  sections, etc. But a cancerous node is eventually homogenous, all the cells are the same as a potato is.

So, if you had a needle biopsy and it shows positive (there are cells that are clearly defined as cancerous), then the biopsy results are accurate. If a needle biopsy shows negative, you can't be sure that is accurate.

Blood tests would be more useful for leukemia, but a person with lymphoma can have normal CBCs.

But if the weight loss was years ago and hasn't continued, that is likely not cancer.

Did the US and/or CT show a "fatty hilum" on the node? That shows close to 100% that it is benign, AFAIK. There are other characteristics that show up on scans that tend to show whether it is cancer or not. Do you have those reports?