Lymph node biopsy question

[redroks2]

I have a lymph node biopsy coming up and I am wondering, will any node in your body show lymphoma?

I have had lymph node swelling from my ears to my waist for eight months but only on my right side. It varies in severity from day to day and isn't always in the same spots. I've also had a sharp pain around/under my ribs on the right side as well. A tumor was found on the left lobe of my thyroid and despite its removal, my symptoms continue.

Pathology says Papillary thyroid cancer BUT, it makes no sense that the cancer was on the left, and the lymph swelling is on the right. Both the surgeon and the endocrinologist agree it is unlikely it would spread to the opposite side first. Lymphoma makes much more sense and fits all of the symptoms. One lymph node that was attached to my thyroid was removed but so far, the preliminary path report shows no lymphoma. They will biopsy a couple more nodes while I am under, having the other half of my thyroid removed but, I can't seem to find any information so I am asking you all...would lymphoma show in every node?

Thank you!!! :)

[july297]

hi I just saw your post, my daughter recently was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer , it is on her right lobe of thyroid, she has a cancerous lymph node on left side of neck, they said it is uncommon. she is due for surgery in 2 weeks. have you gotten any more information as to yours? was it lymphoma also? , I would appreciate any info. thanks

[redroks2]

That's my plan! I definitely plan to ask for a PET scan but I also have to have Radio-Iodine treatment for the thyroid cancer so I'm not sure how close or far apart those tests would need to be seeing as how they both use different forms of iodine. My lymph swelling is not limited to just one node and it is different everyday. Some days there will be one or two in my neck that cause headaches or ear pain. Other days my arm pit will be twice the size and my hand will be cold and tingly the whole day. I've even had the lymph nodes around my elbow swell. This has been going on for 8 months with no answers so I'm beyond tired of the "one thing at a time" line my doctors keep giving me.

[Mochadelicious]

No, lymphoma would not show up in every node.  Lymphoma tends to settle in  one node but can spread to several more if not caught early.  You might inquire about having a PET/CT scan if you haven't already.  With this scan, they inject you with radioactive sugar that cancer cells are attracted to.  The scan picks up where this radioactive sugar has settled, lighting your scan up like a Christmas tree, indicating where the cancerous cells are located.  It can also measure how much radioactive sugar has been taken up in any particular area (called SUV's).  High SUV's = lots of cancer cells.  From there, they would know what lymph nodes to biopsy.