small b cell lympoma

okay a little detail here ... but i am in limbo status at the moment until my next doctor appointment feb 3rd
(i am coming over from the ovarian cancer forun so this is a little detailed)

Hx:
43 yo fem G4 P3 Ab ! married 23 yrs same guy hx of sporadic infertility
hysterectomy 7/31/08 (TAH/BSO) 1C serous borderline Cancer of the Ovaries
Numerous complications in post OP including 60 - 80 O2 sat for 7 days (spent in ICU)
diffusre air space disease secondary to aspiration pneumonitis .. i wasnt clotting well
during the operation either termed as "oozy"
liver an sesum were "socked in" (visual observation) due to presumed prior inflammatory process (that i never knew i had)
watchful waiting for follow up no chemo indicated CA-125 repeated every 3 months, scan as indicated

My gyn onc at a cancer treatment center ordered a blind path after my final diagnosis
In passing he "mentioned" a possible small b cell lymphoma (i had never heard of a b cell before) and to return again in 3 months ... i was happy as a clam  and drove (almost three hours home) and started to wonder ... "what the heck is a b cell and why is he looking at it" so i looked it up .. in this case knowledge can be frightening but it spurs us into action ..

I need to ask my primary care provider to follow up on this (appt is feb 3rd)
any ideas what to ask for ?
my guesses are cbc, full chem panel with creatinine, prothrombin test, and as we all would like, a full pet/ct scan that they are hestitant to do at theis point

i have had tsh test (normal)
nurmerous chest ct's (non contrast)
two normal echo cardiograms
my last bld chemistry was not a full chem so i dont knwo what to think of that
hepatitis was negative

current symptoms (some could be hormonal related)
I AM LOOSING MY HAIR post op and i didnt have chemo (i wake up and find it on the pillow)
pain in RUQ (possibly in the liver) for many years
i lost 1 mm thickness im ALL of my fingernails
drenching night sweats and hot flashes
dark (but not alarmingly dark) urine best to describe it as much darker than normal but not weird

so .. anyone in the know of what to intelligently ask my pcp on the third ??
any other things i can thro in there that would be helpful
i would appreciate all opinions from surviivor/caregiver/professional
and take them all to heart

i pray u are well
sharon

[Sharon2714]

title should have read "lymphoma"

[Beau1961]

I just want to say hi, and my prayers are with you. I was diagnosed back in Oct 2005.
Its been a hard battle, but I think I'm winning. I hope you are winning to. I go back to the Cancer Clinic Feb 19th for a follow up of a CT Scan I am getting Feb 10th. I had shown signs of the NHL returning. Keep staying positive.
Ron

[Dnmh]

This is from AARP since I haven't had a chance to write up the lymphoma info page yet.  "White blood cells called lymphocytes are found in lymph tissues. Most lymphomas start in a type of white blood cells called B lymphocytes, or B cells. Symptoms
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can cause a variety of symptoms. Symptoms depend on what area of the body is affected by the cancer. Symptoms may include: Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarms, groin, or other areas, Fever, Excessive sweating, especially with night sweats, Unintentional weight loss, Severe itchiness, Coughing or shortness of breath may occur if the cancer affects the thymus gland or lymph nodes in the chest, which puts pressure on the windpipe. Some patients may have stomach pain or swelling, which may lead to a loss of appetite, constipation, nausea, and vomiting.
If the cancer affects cells in the brain, the person may have a headache, concentration problems, personality changes, or seizures. "

The darker urine could be related to your "prior inflammatory process"

Questions you can ask that you didn't mention would be
1. an explanation of prior inflammatory process - what that means and does it relate to your darker urine?
2. What can you do about it?
3. Why did your gyn suggest/think lymphoma?

Usually, lymphomas are not detected in blood work, unless there is major involvement because lymphoma is not a blood cancer. A CT scan would show enlarged lymph nodes in lymphoma, and then the doctors may decide to biopsy the largest one. And it needs to be core needle biopsy, not an FNA. The needles used in FNA are usually too small to pick up the cancer cells. A biopsy is really the best test for lymphoma.

It's also my understanding that B Cell is better than T Cell.

Sorry I couldn't give you much more info! I hope this at least gave you a jump start. Please post any other questions you may have and do keep us informed. I know Feb 3rd seems a long way off, but it's less than a week!
We're here for you!
Dnmh

[Sharon2714]

w0w .. i pray u continue to fight the good fight .. u are both in my prayers and i thank u for ur response

to follow up today, i saw my pcp
we went thru my records together and there is a significant portion missing
... i filled out the release of information forms for the fourth time .. mebbe this times a charm:)

i got in for my blood work up on the sixth and perhaps then i could get the scans ordered
(she was reluctant to order a pet/ct without the full report)

i will definitely let u know what gets ordered or what turns up

love
sharon

[Dnmh]

Do keep us informed! Hope it all works out for you!