Swollen Lymph nodes

[TLC2008]

In need of answers, I've had a fixed hard swollen lymph node on the left side of my neck for about 3yrs, I have just been going through ultrasounds, I've had 4 ultrasounds already now I have 2 under each arms, 2 under the chin that are swollen which I was not aware of I am not sure how long they have been swollen for I've also had night sweats, I lost 10lbs then I gain 2 or 3 lbs then I go back down, I was at 130lbs now I am 120lbs, I usually go up about 2 to 3 lbs then I lose it, I am trying to gain my weight back but the moment I do gain 2-3 lbs & then I lose it! I've had my uterus removed several years ago since it had dropped & was very large, I was given a shot of Lupron to shrink it a month before the operation, I do still have my ovaries, I thought I was getting night sweats because I was hitting menapause, I'm 41yrs od age...I've been told by 2 physicians that it seems that I am dealing with Lymphoma, no further testings have been done at the moment all I know is that my lymph nodes are still the same size, they haven't shrunk nor have they gotten any bigger, the one on the left side of my neck is hard & fixed, the other ones I don't really see them to be honest with all of you, no pain in any of them but the 4 ultrasounds that have been done between Dec 2009/ Feb 2010 shows different...I was going in for a lump on my right breast which was just a cyst this is when the technician spotted the ones under my right arm, then back for more ultrsounds this is when they found the other swollen ones...I am now seeing an internalist which he also sent me for an ultrasound which showed the same results 2 under each arm, one on the left side of my neck & 2 under the chin one on one side one on the other side. I heard that I will need a biopsy on atleast one of them which might be the one on my neck (left side) but still awaiting for my physician to decide...Does it sound like lymphoma? As they say? or might it be something else? Please let me know you're thoughts on this issue, I would truly appreciate any answers..Thank you

[TLC2008]

I will let you know, they haven't done a biopsy yet, I am still waiting...I do sweat at night, yes drenched nights were getting common for me which I never use to sweat at all...I don't know if it's lymphoma but they think it might be one of them, not sure which one until a biopsy is done, I looked up an illness that I have which is R.S.D. & it seems to me that night sweats are possible as well when you are diagnose with this disease...It's affecting my right arm to my hand, discoloration is really bad in my right hand, from dark red, blue & sometimes black..Severe pain from shoulder to hand, muscles are weak at times my arm shakes with my hand, it's also causing pain in my left leg at times discoloration in my left foot as well, it's affecting limbs...No cure yet, I did have a nerve block done by taking a needle into the neck area (in the front) close to the windpipe, it didn't help any, lost my voice from it for at least a month or so..That was done several years ago to relieve the pain in my right arm to my hand...I'm stubborn though, I don't want to lose my independence at all...I was told that I will lose all functions in my right arm in time, then my left leg but I won't give up the fight! The only medication I am on is codeine contin 75mg at night only, I will not take more nor will I take it during the day! I will not accept any other medications anymore, too many side effects, I cannot take anti inflammatory medication due to stomach issues...I will let you know when they look further into this medical issue due to swollen lymph nodes...It might have something to do with my Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy...Since it also affects the immune system which I found information on this disease...The one on my neck (left side) is fixed & hard about the size of a small marble, doesn't hurt at all...I agree about the cyst on the breast as caffeine causes cysts as well, I'm not worried about the cyst at this point..I look at all this & laugh about it since I state that laughter is the best medicine around...I was asked by a friend of mine if my medical issues scare me, I told her no it doesn't, I live day by day with a smile on my face, stubborn as a mule not giving up the fight..No other tests have been performed on my 7 swollen lymph nodes at the present time, just 4 ultrasound to see if they shrunk any or have gotten any bigger, they remain the same size no changes...Hope all is well with you..& thank you for taking the time to reply to my question..I appreciate it..

[Ken_PA]

hiya, just some thoughts/guesses:

- if you'd like to explore an alternate diagnosis, maybe look at "calcified lymph node" (or maybe even calcified granuloma)

- do you have to change clothes in  the middle of the night? night sweats from lymphoma are usually drenching

- I take it that your weight loss is not progressive, that instead you just have a new 'set point' which is lower than before -- i.e. not cachexia

- no change in size for years would = not cancer or a very indolent form; but then aggressiveness can change, so you would want a biopsy anyway if you  are worried

- I don't think a doc would conceal a diagnosis in our litigious age

- I would check into what hormonal associations exist with calcification

- are you in the Ohio River Valley? (histoplasmosis link)

- anything out of range in your CBCs?

- it seems really wacky to me for a doc to say they think it's suggestive of lymphoma yet not do an immediate resection. I'd call and confirm if that's in your chart. It'd normally be:
A) it doesn't seem like a neoplasm so a biopsy isn't justified
or
B) it does seem like a neoplasm so the biopsy is done ASAP. I'd look at the language in the sono reports to see why they may think it is lymphoma - but still I don't think that's conclusive.

- a breast cyst is so common that I wouldn't group that together with the other signs - IOW, no Law of Parsimony for that. (You might be aware of the move to discourage breast MRIs because the many false positives lead to problems.)

- did you have Doppler US? IOW, if there was blood flow then that tends against calcification

- did you get copies of the US reports?

- what about a needle biopsy instead of surgical? they are known for false negatives when looking at cells (because the sample is limited), but what about when looking for calcification?

- when considering location, hardness, border, etc these are just relating to averages and only a biopsy tells for sure, AFAIK

- the nature of the sono images are more telling

I think you have reason to believe it's not lymphoma (or CLL or whatever). I'd suggest looking up forums where people talk about the calcified nodes, lipomas and sebaceous cysts so that you can get a more concrete sense of how often it turns out to NOT be cancer.

Anyway, lots of terms there to look up if you're not familiar already :)  It's always best to  become your own expert.  Good luck.

[TLC2008]

Thank you so much for your information, you're right, they're so much more advance now in technology since the 70ies...One thing about me is that I'm the type or person who is always happy go lucky, no matter which type of cancer it is, I will fight it...Laughter is the best medicine ever...The only thing that puzzles me is that they haven't sent me or made arrangements to get the biopsy done, my physician & I spoke about it 2 months ago & I'm still waiting...I think my family & friends are more concerned then I am, they want to know what we're dealing with, I have to admit it would be much easier if we knew what I was fighting..That's awesome that your grand father is doing great, & that your co-worker is doing great as well, they are fighters & they kept the faith just like I am..The only thing is some make it & some don't which is sad, one of my uncles which was my Godfather was going through medical issues & 3 physicians told him that they couldn't find any explanation on why he was sore all over, they thoughts it might be because he was working too hard on the farm, they had over 200 milking cows, heifers & calves as well, he was only 54yrs old, then they thought maybe he was starting some type of arthritis, he decided to go seek another physicians who started tests, my uncle got a call from his new physician, my aunt started to worry, they went into the physicians office he asked them to sit down he then looked at my uncle & I quote I am so sorry to inform you that you have cancer you only have 4-6 weeks to live..By the second week he ended up in the hospital, by the third week he couldn't even sit up, couldn't feed himself, couldn't move, by the fourth week he asked everyone to be there, he sat up ( it was like all the pain was gone, he was just like before the cancer hit him ) & said no crying, told them all that it was his time to go, he mentioned to my cousin that if he didn't want to take over the farm he didn't have to, told my aunt that if she couldn't deal with all the work to sell the cows, heifers & calves plus all the other animals, my parents were present & he told them all that he loved them all, then said everyone is waiting it's time to go,I see them, he laid back down & past away!...I think the physicians knew but didn't want to tell him since they wanted him to live longer, moral of all this is he was fighting it but didn't know what he was dealing with then once he was told the truth it hit him hard & he gave up the fight as he was told he only had 4-6 weeks to live! We all miss him dearly but we all know that someday we have to go but know that the person who past away lives in our hearts & in our memories.. I'm so glad that I have my family & friends right by my side! No matter what I have I will fight it with laughter & a smile from ear to ear, cause I know someone loves me! Thanks..Hope all is well with you! Take care & smile cause someone loves you too! :)

[thejoker9]

Of course, there is a possibility that it is lymphoma.  But there are other possibilities as well.  Sounds like your doctor is on the right track.  My doc calls it the Willie Sutton rule.  He was a bank robber from a long time back and they asked him why he robbed banks.  his answer was: "Because that's where the money is."  Your doctor is following this rule and wants to take a look at the lymph node after a biopsy.  The biopsy and the workups that follow should give you the answer.  Remember that in the unfortunate event that it is cancer, this isn't the 1970's.  Some types of Lymphoma have cure rates of 95%.  Also remember that miracles happen everyday.  my grandfather had lung cancer from asbestosis and got 2/3 of his lung tissue removed 6 years ago!  They told him he would be dead in 2 years or less and he is still with us.  One of my co-workers was diagnosed with stomach cancer that had mestasticized 20 years ago.  Her prognosis was poor.  She is still alive, healthy, at work, and has been cancer free for 20+ years!  Keep to your faith.