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sphillips2
sphillips2 Member Posts: 2
in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1

Hello, 

I haven't been diagnosed with anything yet but I have some concerns and I don't know what my next step is. I started having pain under my arms in Dec 2013. Normally, when I shave my armpits, I always wipe with alcohol when I am done. But I didn't this particlar time so I figured my problem was related to this. Then I started having stomach issues which turned out to be my gallbladder. I had the gallbladder removed in March 2014 and during that surgery, the surgeon also removed a swollen lymph node and had it tested. The test was negative for cancer. The armpit pain went away for awhile but returned December 2014. in January of this year, I had to have a hysterectomy. Since that surgery, I have started having pain at the top of my stomach near one of the gallbladder incisions. I also started having soreness in my neck and sometimes I feel like I have chest congestion. The pain under my arms is still there and today I felt a swollen lymph node under both arms. I don't want to go back to my PCP because all she is going to do is prescribed something like gabapentin. I am afraid I may have some type of cancer and I don't know what to do next. Can someone provide some advice for me please?

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  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,812 Member
    #2
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    Pure guesswork

     

    Sphillips,

    Most of what you describe is seemingly unrelated: neck, stomach, gallbladder incision, chest congestion, etc.

    Most oncologists require a referral, which puts you back with your primary care doctor, or getting a new one.  Probably the best diagnostic tool that a doctor could employ on you at this point is a CT scan, and full blood panels for analysis.  If you overall like your current MD, you could show her the underarm lumps, and ask for bloodwork and a CT. Or at least bloodwork: CBC and metabolic panel. These blood panels, while not cheap, are easy to do, require no appointment, and cost less than anything else out there.   

    The worst that can happen is she refuses, and then you get a new doctor.  I am just trying to suggest the "easiest" way to research your symptoms.

    When the surgeon removed the node and it was negative for cancer, what was it positive for?  Nodes don't swell for no reason. The biopsy report, which you should have a copy of,  will explain what was found by the patholiogist. If you do not have a copy of it, any doctor will mail the patient a copy for free -- you have already paid for it.

    No one here is a doctor or medical expert (least of all me -- I have no form of medical training, ever), buy your symptoms seem to me to be too "all over the place" to all be lymphoma.

    max

     

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