Had a Biopsy today

I had a byopsy on one of the lymph nodes in my neck today. I went with the needle asperation, but he did it twice to make sure he had a good amount of tissue. I did not expect to be so sore. The proceedure wasn't too bad, just really sore now. Is there anyone else here just waiting to find out whether or not they have cancer. 

Comments

  • illead
    illead Member Posts: 884 Member
    Thinking of you

    Hi Fae,

      There is a young girl who you might like to read about.  She's posting under "new clinical trial for lymphoma"  You both sound like you are going through the same thing.  You may big a big support for each other.  We of course wish you well and will continue to monitor your progress.  We know how difficult and scary this is.  Many lymphomas are very treatable and curable, so until you find out for sure, try to stay calm.  We care, Bill and Becky

  • anliperez915
    anliperez915 Member Posts: 770
    Hi Fae

    Hi Fae,

    Just wanted to drop by and let you know that I will keep you in my prayers. I really really do hope that its not cancer but if it is, you know that it can be very treatable and curable. Please try to stay calm and keep yourself busy...I know its hard but the stress can only make things worse. Sending you lots of positive thoughts and please let us know what the doc says. (((Hugs)))

    Sincerely,

    Liz

  • lianadw
    lianadw Member Posts: 72
    Wishing speedy results!

    Hi Fae,

    I'm glad you had the biopsy and will know soon just what or what isn't going on with you. I hope it's not cancer, but if it is, just as everyone says, it's very treatable and curable. I was diagnosed with Mediastinal large b-cell lypmphoma last oct. my first symptoms were itchy skin that turned into a terrible rash, the docs aren't sure that was related to the lymphoma, but I believe it was. Then in august I had chest pains when I'd take in a deep breath, and i thought i'd pulled a muscle working out. Stopped having those and they came back in sept, was told to get a chest x-ray which I waited a few days to follow through with. Went in for it when my heart started racing and i'd developed a fever. The x-ray showed a 15cm mass in my chest. It's down to 7cm, but is still active. But I will kick this to the curb soon. Like you, I have not three but two beautiful children who need their mom to be alive and healthy. Even through all the treatments i've had so far, I've been able to be there for them and do a lot. I'm hiking, biking, went snowshoeing for the first time last month. I slow down a little after the chemo but bounce back qickly. My doc says I'm more active than him. And he's younger than me.

    I'm thinking of you and wishing you the best.

    Warmly,

    Liana

  • Fae
    Fae Member Posts: 22
    lianadw said:

    Wishing speedy results!

    Hi Fae,

    I'm glad you had the biopsy and will know soon just what or what isn't going on with you. I hope it's not cancer, but if it is, just as everyone says, it's very treatable and curable. I was diagnosed with Mediastinal large b-cell lypmphoma last oct. my first symptoms were itchy skin that turned into a terrible rash, the docs aren't sure that was related to the lymphoma, but I believe it was. Then in august I had chest pains when I'd take in a deep breath, and i thought i'd pulled a muscle working out. Stopped having those and they came back in sept, was told to get a chest x-ray which I waited a few days to follow through with. Went in for it when my heart started racing and i'd developed a fever. The x-ray showed a 15cm mass in my chest. It's down to 7cm, but is still active. But I will kick this to the curb soon. Like you, I have not three but two beautiful children who need their mom to be alive and healthy. Even through all the treatments i've had so far, I've been able to be there for them and do a lot. I'm hiking, biking, went snowshoeing for the first time last month. I slow down a little after the chemo but bounce back qickly. My doc says I'm more active than him. And he's younger than me.

    I'm thinking of you and wishing you the best.

    Warmly,

    Liana

    Thank you so much. I don't

    Thank you so much. I don't even know what is wrong with me yet and you are all still so supportive. I feel bad to be here so worried when I don't even know, it could be nothing(hopefully)... I do have another question. The surgeon said if this came back negative, I may want to do a chest x ray. I think he was concerned with the night sweats, my main symptom I guess. When I told him I have had them for 6 months if not more and they went from around 2 nights a week, to now, every single night without fail. He did seem a little concerned. Why, if this comes back negative would I need a chest x-ray? Just because of night sweats, which from what I understand could be many things...??  I was nervous and have questions now I wish I had asked him there. Also, I am a small framed person, eat healthy, I have ALWAYS had low blood pressure. At the appointment, it was very high, the nurse took it another time, and it was even higher. In my entire life, I have never had high blood pressue. Is that just anxiety or another symptom??? 

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
    Fae said:

    Thank you so much. I don't

    Thank you so much. I don't even know what is wrong with me yet and you are all still so supportive. I feel bad to be here so worried when I don't even know, it could be nothing(hopefully)... I do have another question. The surgeon said if this came back negative, I may want to do a chest x ray. I think he was concerned with the night sweats, my main symptom I guess. When I told him I have had them for 6 months if not more and they went from around 2 nights a week, to now, every single night without fail. He did seem a little concerned. Why, if this comes back negative would I need a chest x-ray? Just because of night sweats, which from what I understand could be many things...??  I was nervous and have questions now I wish I had asked him there. Also, I am a small framed person, eat healthy, I have ALWAYS had low blood pressure. At the appointment, it was very high, the nurse took it another time, and it was even higher. In my entire life, I have never had high blood pressue. Is that just anxiety or another symptom??? 

    ANXIETY

    Hi Fae:

    I take my blood pressure at home.   It is always normal.  But over the years when I have been very anxious about a doctor's visit,  it goes up.  I know this because, of course, they always take your blood pressure.  This goes back way in the past, nothing to do with cancer.

    Do you take anything for anxiety? 

    I hope everything goes well for you.  Keep in touch with us.

    Nancy

  • lianadw
    lianadw Member Posts: 72
    Fae said:

    Thank you so much. I don't

    Thank you so much. I don't even know what is wrong with me yet and you are all still so supportive. I feel bad to be here so worried when I don't even know, it could be nothing(hopefully)... I do have another question. The surgeon said if this came back negative, I may want to do a chest x ray. I think he was concerned with the night sweats, my main symptom I guess. When I told him I have had them for 6 months if not more and they went from around 2 nights a week, to now, every single night without fail. He did seem a little concerned. Why, if this comes back negative would I need a chest x-ray? Just because of night sweats, which from what I understand could be many things...??  I was nervous and have questions now I wish I had asked him there. Also, I am a small framed person, eat healthy, I have ALWAYS had low blood pressure. At the appointment, it was very high, the nurse took it another time, and it was even higher. In my entire life, I have never had high blood pressue. Is that just anxiety or another symptom??? 

    High blood pressure can be from anxiety

    Hi Fae,

    While I'm not a doc I know that anxiety can cause elevated blood pressure and increased heart rate. (I'm a marriage and Family therapist and work with anxiety a lot.) Also, if your doc recommends the chest x-ray, I would do it. Your lymph nodes may be free of cancer, but something may be going on somewhere else, and it's good to rule everything out. I'm a strong believer now in doing all the tests to rule out and figure out what is behind any symptoms we have.

    Dont' feel bad about sharing your anxiety here. That's what we're all here for, to get and give support. So share as much as you need to. I find it helps my anxiety to reach out and to hear other's experiences. It's helped me realize that what ever were faced with, we can do it. And it's good to know that we're not alone in this.

    Wishing you peace of mind and all the best!

    Warmly,

    Liana

  • Folks24
    Folks24 Member Posts: 106
    Biopsy

    I must depend on "where" they stick. I've had two needle aspirations in my neck and did not have pain or soreness afterwards. With me it was sore when they did it because they didn't use anestetic as it would "mess up" the findings.

    The "dr" had to hold the lymph node between his fingers in able to "hit it".  I just kept imagining the needle missing, hitting his finger, and him cussing a blue streak. Smile  That got my through it.

  • Fae
    Fae Member Posts: 22
    Folks24 said:

    Biopsy

    I must depend on "where" they stick. I've had two needle aspirations in my neck and did not have pain or soreness afterwards. With me it was sore when they did it because they didn't use anestetic as it would "mess up" the findings.

    The "dr" had to hold the lymph node between his fingers in able to "hit it".  I just kept imagining the needle missing, hitting his finger, and him cussing a blue streak. Smile  That got my through it.

    Inconclusive!!!

    Waiting and waiting to hear back on my results and the doctor calls this morning and says they could not get a difinitive answer either way and they will have to remove the lymph node. I go in on thurs for that biopsy. I can't believe I have to wait longer. I just want to know either way, I need to just know...  Its making me think since he had done 2 of them, 2 needle aspirations, that he's not telling me something, hiding something. He said they did not get enough tissue to give me any answer but that day last week, he specificly said he did it twice, had 2 samples, to make sure he did have enough tissue. I am thinking they see something of concern and want to take it out for diagnosis...  any thoughts, am I paranoid, has anyone had their doctor do this? 

  • Fae
    Fae Member Posts: 22
    Fae said:

    Inconclusive!!!

    Waiting and waiting to hear back on my results and the doctor calls this morning and says they could not get a difinitive answer either way and they will have to remove the lymph node. I go in on thurs for that biopsy. I can't believe I have to wait longer. I just want to know either way, I need to just know...  Its making me think since he had done 2 of them, 2 needle aspirations, that he's not telling me something, hiding something. He said they did not get enough tissue to give me any answer but that day last week, he specificly said he did it twice, had 2 samples, to make sure he did have enough tissue. I am thinking they see something of concern and want to take it out for diagnosis...  any thoughts, am I paranoid, has anyone had their doctor do this? 

    Also, new symptom, of what,

    Also, new symptom, of what, I'm not sure:  I started having an eczama rash on one of my hands about 2 months ago or more. The rash comes and go's but it always in the exact same spots, between my fingers and over my thumb knuckle. I am having a flair up now and its a pretty bad one, this time and for the 1st time it had tiny little blisters throughout all the red rash areas. Has anyone had anything like this?

  • anliperez915
    anliperez915 Member Posts: 770
    Fae said:

    Also, new symptom, of what,

    Also, new symptom, of what, I'm not sure:  I started having an eczama rash on one of my hands about 2 months ago or more. The rash comes and go's but it always in the exact same spots, between my fingers and over my thumb knuckle. I am having a flair up now and its a pretty bad one, this time and for the 1st time it had tiny little blisters throughout all the red rash areas. Has anyone had anything like this?

    Sorry Fae

    Hi Fae,

    Really sorry for everything that you're going through! I seriously hate the waiting game, it can be so stressful. I had a rash on my hands last year, it looked like little clusters of blisters and would itch at first and after they would burst would be painful. This went on for several months, I thought it could have been shingles...but not sure if they were. Just hang in there and please let us know what the doc says. Take care 

    Sincerely,

    Liz

  • Cole74
    Cole74 Member Posts: 23
    Fae said:

    Also, new symptom, of what,

    Also, new symptom, of what, I'm not sure:  I started having an eczama rash on one of my hands about 2 months ago or more. The rash comes and go's but it always in the exact same spots, between my fingers and over my thumb knuckle. I am having a flair up now and its a pretty bad one, this time and for the 1st time it had tiny little blisters throughout all the red rash areas. Has anyone had anything like this?

    So sorry Fae

    Hi Fae,

     

    I am really sorry that you are going through all of this right now. I have always found the waiting the hardest! I feel that once I know I can deal with it anything is better then not knowing what you are facing. I too am waiting for results on a punch biopsy in the center of my chest. So I hear the fustration! I have had a number of biopsies throughout the years, and generally they always end up removing an entire node , generally in my experience FNA (fine needle assperations) don't seem to give them enough information to detemine what is going on. I few years back I had one removed from my stomach which turned out to be a reactive gland and was fine! The rash you talk about on your hands sounds similar to the one I have in the center of my chest, however it flairs up goes down, but now I have a perminate area which they call a plaque. It still flairs itchies and blisters then it is just smooth and feels slighlty waxy. I hope that the gland they remove is simply a "Reactive Gland" like the one they found on me. Please keep us informed. 

     

     

    Nicole

    HD Survivor 1987

    ABVD treatment

  • FNA

    Fae I am sorry to hear that the FNA was not able to definitetize your status. I have heard the same from a lot of people including my brother. His ended up being a benign fatty tumor. Handg in there! As far as the rash, i had them too but on my legs. They went away when I started Rituxan in Nov. 2010 and have had none since. Also a nagging back ache I had for years stopped. All one can do is take it easy and try not to worry. As they say in Vegas - "Stay calm and party"

  • Fae
    Fae Member Posts: 22
    I am waiting to find out the

    I am waiting to find out the big if, if I have Cancer. I'm not sure what the 1st type of biopsy they did on me was now, the sergeons assistant told me today that it had not been a 'fine needle', but another type that takes larger chuncks out...  not sure of the difference. Probably why I was so sore after. That was a week ago and the area is still sore to the touch. Makes you wonder, why if they had 2 good chunks they couldn't tell me more, the assistant simply said she did not know why. So off I go in the morning to remove the node, and play the waiting game again for the results. This is all so crazy to me, I just don't know what to think right now. I guess just trying not to worry, stay calm, it could still be nothing... well not nothing, but not THAT, ya know. I have to many symptoms going on to be nothing. Thank you for the kind words and support. You are all so strong, and that is so very inspiring.

  • lianadw
    lianadw Member Posts: 72
    Fae said:

    I am waiting to find out the

    I am waiting to find out the big if, if I have Cancer. I'm not sure what the 1st type of biopsy they did on me was now, the sergeons assistant told me today that it had not been a 'fine needle', but another type that takes larger chuncks out...  not sure of the difference. Probably why I was so sore after. That was a week ago and the area is still sore to the touch. Makes you wonder, why if they had 2 good chunks they couldn't tell me more, the assistant simply said she did not know why. So off I go in the morning to remove the node, and play the waiting game again for the results. This is all so crazy to me, I just don't know what to think right now. I guess just trying not to worry, stay calm, it could still be nothing... well not nothing, but not THAT, ya know. I have to many symptoms going on to be nothing. Thank you for the kind words and support. You are all so strong, and that is so very inspiring.

    Hang in there

    Hi Fae,

    Being a hopelss optimsit, I would hope that the fact that no cancer showed up in the biopsy is a good thing, and they won't find any when they remove the node. I understand the anxiety especially given all your symptoms. I had a rash right before I was diagnosed, I've always been prone to skin irritations. But I believe the rash was related to the lymphoma.

    Wishing you negative results from this next biopsy.

    Warmly,

    Liana

  • Update

    Hi Fae. Hope you are doing well. I think I speak for most everyone here whhen I say we would love to have an update. We worry about you.