Quick question, sort of out of the blue: was there any doubt about the diagnosis of thyroid cancer? IOW did anybody think it might not be malignant, that it just seemed to be close to malignancy but was really just an odd node there?
Yes, there is an association of EBV to cancers, but I don't know the probability figures. E.g., if you buy TWO lottery tickets, you have doubled your chances ... but the chances are still only 2 out of a billion :)
LOL! You're right about me being complicated. The doctors I worked with up north said that I am a case for the AMA journals. lol!
Anyway...the hip pain I experienced before seem to stem from the joints and areas where there are lymph nodes, but there were no palpable lymph nodes back then. Now..there are palpable lymph nodes accompanied with bone pain from my left hip where the bone protrudes and my right collar bone in the medial end. It also feels like it is being pushed out. I've had that sensation for at least 2 years.
Yes I worked in the medical field and hope to again someday. I was an ER Tech, Lab Tech,MA. Was going to school in the RN program when I got sick. This last year when I was in remission...I was working for PPH as a lab tech. Then I started getting sick again and my husband thought it was best that I not work and focus on my health so I could go back to school. Just finished nutrition and looks like I'm gonna have to retake some of my science classes as they don't quite line up from the last college I went to. Oh well, I really liked A & P anyway.
I have been tested for MRSA,hep series,ana,.lupus - all negative. Although I do have a chronic cough. Get pneumonia at least once a year. (Ever since I got thyroid cancer)
My mother reminded me today that I had Mono when I was a sophomore in high school. I was bed ridden for a month. She thought that I should let my doctor know this as some cancers have been linked to mono. Have you heard of this?
I'll let you know how the pcp appt goes. Hopefully we can figure some things out. Trying to stay positive in the interim has not bee easy for me. But I realize...I have no choice.
Happy Christmas Eve!!! Therese
Yes, I'd think that's a big clue about the new nodules. I'd certainly tell the PCP. I'll let you know if I think of any reason that might explain everything. You're complicated :)
You're also quite right about thinking over what to say. The more you have things organized in your head, the more productive your visit will be.
For instance, one would first think of bone pain as metastisized cancer. But if it went away on its own, without chemo, that'd be very unlikely. Maybe very unlikely even with chemo.
I know that an infection like MRSA can cause bone pain... hey, wait a minute!! Don't you say somewhere that you work in a hospital?
Over the last few days...I have felt tenderness in my left breast. Every time my left arm would touch my breast...it would feel like I hit my breast and there is a bruise there. In the shower this morning I found a bee bee sized lump in my left breast and another one to the left of my breast. There are also more little ones (superficial) on the top of my left thigh and around the hip bone. The bone itself really aches. It's kinda dull but it aches. Especially if there is any pressure placed on that area like I explained before.
There is something else I forgot to mention before. I thought about it this morning. Back in 2003 when the thyroid cancer metastasized to my lymph nodes...I was having pain in my left hip. I never felt any swollen lymph nodes. But there were times when I had to use a cane to walk around. I haven't used a cane since 2004. Do you think I should tell my pcp about this? I'm always afraid of overwhelming my doc with info. I need him to focus on what's wrong so I can get better.
Thanks again for responding! Merry Christmas to you and yours also!!! :) Therese
Yep, so there is that pressure thing at work causing the pain. That should actually be a relief to know. Still, the way you describe the feeling as "pressing on nerves"? I don't know about that, having never experienced it.
Yes, I'd think it's wise to wait and then go full guns on Monday. The way your thoughts can go negatively are completely normal and natural and understandable, given your past experiences. I've seen it happen in others more than once. BUT, negative doesn't seem to be that accurate this time around. Merry Christmas to you and yours, Therese :)
Thanks! That's really good info.
The lymph nodes themselves do not hurt. It's when one gets pressed on by leaning over or lifting my leg. Underwear, jeans, anything that applies pressure is a problem. It doesn't seem like they themselves hurt it's almost like they are somehow pressing on nerves.
I like the idea of waiting until after Christmas to deal with this. I have asked for my pathology report and hopefully I'll get it before my appt on the 29th. I would like to see what you think.
An infection might explain the night sweats. I'm not drenching everything. I just get really hot and sweat in the upper torso and head and neck area.
Anyhow...I'll keep you posted. Thanks again. Getting a logical look at things really helps. My mind tends to jump to the worse right now with everything I've been through and I know it's not the healthiest thing for me to do. Your words are encouraging!
Therese
If I were you, I'd get a copy of that path report asap. The adjectives might be revealing.
Also, there a pathologist who put up hundreds of videos on youtube, showing specimens while giving descriptions. He also now has a website somewhere. Once you understood everything, I'd try a call to the pathologist who did your report.
Are you familiar with why flow cytometry would be done? (the antibodies, etc)
As far as the hip/thigh nodes, I guess they are simply reactive (i.e., doing their immunity job).. Have you had thrush? Burning eyes? Do you get a bad reaction a day or so after consuming sugar? Have you taken yogurt as an anti-candida measure?
As for your C) needle quoted above, I don't quite follow - since it says it was ostensibly taken from a node yet only blood was in the sample. Even so there is no mention of deranged/abnormal shaped lymphocytes.