worried about lymphoma

[carisa]

I'm being a worrier here.......So, I have had night sweats now for about two years. I am a 28 yr old female. I have never found any large swollen lymph nodes, yet I could feel my lymph nodes in my neck area and my groin area. Is that normal? They are not big or anything, but I could feel them and they move around when I push on them. My doctor has given my several complete blood count tests and they are all normal except for my white blood cell count which is usually a little low, usually in the high 3's or low 4's. I don't know what to think. Any suggestions?

Thank you!

[elainemc1110]

How did things come out with your test?
My son's did not show up in his bone marrow.  The full body scan showed that it was in his breast plate and fluid around his heart.  They said that was indicative of stage 2 Hodgkins.  I consider that good news.
Hope yours was good too.

[elainemc1110]

What all did your husband have to go through, and what were his symptoms?  I have a 26 yr. old son who was diagnosed with Hodgkins.  Swelling on left collar bone.  Biopsy and pathologist did not diagnose immediately.  Has had heart and lung tests, bone marrow test on both hips.  He goes tomorrow for pet scan, and Tuesday for his port.  When he wakes up they will give him his first chemo treatment.


ElaineMc1110

[carisa78]

All I've ever had is an exray and that was of my chest area about a year ago, it showed nothing. I've never had a CTscan.

[Murphy98]

Hang in there--I know this is a difficult time!  

Did you have the CT-Scan or any other scans first?  If so, did they reveal anything?

It will all work out.

All the best.

Murphy98

[carisa78]

Thanks, I'm acutally just now getting a bone marrow biopsy done in about a week and a half. I'm really freaked out about this. I always fear the worst. My symptoms are still the same. My wbc is even lower now. Down to 3.0. My doctor said it could just be the way my body runs, but with all these other symptoms it does make me worry.

I have noticed a strange smell when I do have bad night sweats. Scary. I guess I'll find out in a couple of weeks.

Carisa

[Murphy98]

If you are still feeling this way, ask your Dr. for a whole body or chest CT-Scan to check for lymph node swelling through out your body.  I was diagnosed with Hodgkins earlier this year and had similar symptoms as you.  My blood work through out never showed anything abnormal and no cancer markers.  I had the night sweats on and off, fatigue and eventaully a little short of breath. Nothing overt, it felt like a flu.  We did a week of antibiotics, but did not respond.  Dr. wanted to rule out infection or cat-scratch fever.  I felt a lymph node over my collar bone, but was not sure if it was normal and it went down after a month. Whenerver I had a cocktail, the lymph node became tender.  I went to my Dr. and he immediately sent me to a specialist Otorologist (ENT Surgeon) who ordered the Ct-Scan and Biopsy.  The CT-Scan revealed what we could not see or feel--4 lymph nodes in my chest, as well as, both sides of neck.  The CT-Report indicated a constellations of nodes over 2mm consistent with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  The biopsy confirmed the finding.  Important to follow-up to see if anything is going on that you cannot see especially since it may not show up in blood work and you still aren't feeling well.  You know your body--listen to it and if your Dr. is not listening to you, go to another one.  It is your life and nothing wrong with speaking up or getting a second opinion.  

All the best and good luck to you.


Murphy98

[cajunlady]

Hi there,
Does your night sweats have a pungent smell to it. Before my husband was diagnoised with Hodgkins we kept smelling this weird smell in our bedroom.  All that week I  was throwing out shoes, the laundry basket, and searching every crack and corner of my bedroom to find what was causing this smell. It about drove me crazy, then I went to change the sheets on the bed and when I picked up his pillow to pull the case off, there is was, so I started to smell the sheets on his side; BINGO.  I guess he was starting to have extreme night sweats and it was producing this smell. He never noticed his lympnodes swelling or anything; then one day he coughed and a good size lump popped up in his neck.  I made him go to the doctor, because this was not normal.  He is now going through recurrent Hodgkins after 3 1/2 years of remission.  I knew before they diagnoised it the second time because I started to smell that horrible smell again, just a little and as the sweats got worse so did the smell.  Went to the doctor and here we go again.
Maybe check to see if you have any odd smell in your bedding, you may or may not, but I would go have this checked out.  The sooner you catch this the better.  And, don't be afraid, they say it is one of the easiest to treat.

Cajun

[Debbie0222]

My husband has been sweating with this odor for 3 years s night sweats, and low white blood cell count the doctor finally had a CT has gallstones two swollen lymph nodes and two hernias he’s a perfect picture of health except for these symptoms and findings. He also feels full after half his meal he does not drink or smoke and is not over weight I’m dumbfounded please someone help me as we are waiting on an appointment with a specialist.  @ ***@****

[Enoch Choi]

Yes, they're enlarged if you can feel them.

Enoch Choi, MD

[carisa]

Thank you for responding, I was curious if because I could feel them, does that mean they are swollen? I don't know if they are swollen or not, but I could feel them if I look for them. Does that make sense? What do you think?

Carisa

[Enoch Choi]

Night sweats and swollen lymph nodes for 2 years is abnormal, but the right tests are a complete blood count and repeated physical exams.  It's most important that you keep your appointments and get the lab tests recommended.  If you do, you have nothing to worry about.

Enoch Choi, MD