Is it cancer?

Bittybob
Bittybob Member Posts: 8
in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1

I know..we can't know until the biopsy, but, I hate waiting.  Either way, I will deal with it.  I just want to know, you know?

On 11/5 I started having pain at the top of my thigh and groin.  2 days later the pain was still there and I noticed a bump, probably the size of a quarter.  I had fevers and one night had chills. I went to the dr and he put me on doxycydin. 4 days later, I was no better and went back.  He put me on levoquin.  A few days later, I was still having fevers daily, the bump had gotten a little bigger, and I was in a lot of pain.  I paged the on call dr because it was a weekend, and she put me on Ceflex (sp?).  24 hours later I was still suffering, the bump had gotten a little bigger, and I went to the er.  He did CAT scan, bloodwork, chest x-ray and ultrasound on my legs.

 

The er doctor was confused, or seemed to be, and said maybe it's not a lymph node but an absess, He said he was afraid to try to drain it because it looked solid, and called a surgeon who said I had to call her office first thing in the morning.  The doctor really stressed for me to call tomorrow and get in there.  So, I did, I went, and the surgeon looked at my image, examined me, and said "ok we have to get this out and make sure it's not cancer".  She said she could not do it there because she had to remove the whole thing and I would be put under general anasthesia. She said again "we have to make sure this isn't cancer". She asked me if I had fever, chills, headache to which I replied yes to all.  Then she asked if I had a cat, I said she said it could be cat scratch fever, but I have not been scratched.  Then she said sometimes lymph nodes become enlarged if they have a lot of bacteria in them.

So here I am waiting, in a great deal of pain, getting fevers, feeling sick and exhausted, until Thurs when I can get this thing taken out.

What do you think?  Does it sound like cancer?

 

 

Comments

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
    #2
    IS IT CANCER:

     

     

    I would go to an Oncologist if I were you.

     

    Or call and get some thoughts from one of the best cancer centers, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, located in New York City:

    Nancy.

  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    #3
    Waiting is so hard...

    Hi,

     Waiting for answers,surgeries,or test results is absolutely the worst part when we are told there is a possibility of cancer in us. Just hearing the word throws us into a panic state. My humble advice is to be as patient "as possible" until Thursdays surgery.Believe me, that's easier said than done, but making yourself crazy in the meantime will just make you sick and filled with stress. Once the lump is removed and sent to pathology you will be well on your way to getting this figured out. I hate to say it, but waiting is just part of the process, and it really sucks, BIG time! I'll be saying a prayer that this lump is something benign and non cancer related. Hang in there and let us know what you find out. You are not alone...you can always come here to vent and receive support.

    Best wishes...Sue (Follicular NHL-stg3-grd2-typA-Dx 6/10-age 63)

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,812 Member
    #4
    Wait...

    Waiting is tough !

    Lymphoma does not ordinarily cause fever, and the nodes themselves most commonly do not hurt, but can, or the adjacent tissue that they are pressing against can. Of course, the tumor could be some non-lymphatic form of a different cancer.

    We have had a spate of several enquires recently writing about "whether or not they have cancer" (which no one here can answer, of course).   Almost all learned that they did NOT have lymphoma. 

     I hope you will send a follow-up after the biopsy results come in, or for any other questions you may have.

    max

  • Bittybob
    Bittybob Member Posts: 8
    #5
    Thank you!

    Thank you!

  • Bittybob
    Bittybob Member Posts: 8
    #6
    Bittybob said:

    Thank you!

    Thank you!

    What I don't understand is

    What I don't understand is the fevers that I'm getting almost every day.  If I had an infection, 4 courses of antibiotics I think would take care of it.  I keep reading that one of the symptoms of Lymphoma is fevers.

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,812 Member
    #7
    Bittybob said:

    What I don't understand is

    What I don't understand is the fevers that I'm getting almost every day.  If I had an infection, 4 courses of antibiotics I think would take care of it.  I keep reading that one of the symptoms of Lymphoma is fevers.

    who knows....

     Fever is not a symtom of lymphoma  that I have heard mentioned here before.

     

     

     

  • Bittybob
    Bittybob Member Posts: 8
    #8
    update

    My surgery has been moved to the 11th due to the surgery center not taking my insurance.  I have to have it done at the hospital and that's the earliest they could get me in.  So the waiting continues.

    So here I am nearly done with this bottle of antibiotics, my 4th one.  I've read on a few lymphoma sites that a persistant fever is a symptom.  I've got a low grade fever every day.  The pain has let up quite a bit but the swelling has gone up a bit.  

    I'll keep you posted, thank you!

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
    #9
    Bittybob said:

    update

    My surgery has been moved to the 11th due to the surgery center not taking my insurance.  I have to have it done at the hospital and that's the earliest they could get me in.  So the waiting continues.

    So here I am nearly done with this bottle of antibiotics, my 4th one.  I've read on a few lymphoma sites that a persistant fever is a symptom.  I've got a low grade fever every day.  The pain has let up quite a bit but the swelling has gone up a bit.  

    I'll keep you posted, thank you!

    BITTY BOB

    Bob:

    I am sorry to hear that you must wait until the 11th.  Is there no way for your doctor to help you get in earlier.  Waiting is terrible, I know. 

    Ask your doctor about the persistent fever.  Do you have an Oncologist?   Be very careful that you go to legitimate websites to check out lymphoma.  A couple of good ones:  Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Ohio;  Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York City

    Nancy

  • Bittybob
    Bittybob Member Posts: 8
    #10
    Feeling better

    Thanks!  I have been feeling better for the past 2 days.  I haven't had a fever.  I still feel tired and get a little nauseous but it is not half as bad, and the terrible pain has stopped.  Maybe this thing will go down.

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
    #11
    Bittybob said:

    Feeling better

    Thanks!  I have been feeling better for the past 2 days.  I haven't had a fever.  I still feel tired and get a little nauseous but it is not half as bad, and the terrible pain has stopped.  Maybe this thing will go down.

    FEELING BETTER

    Good, Bob.   I hope you continue to feel better each day.

    Let us know how you are.

    Nancy

  • Bittybob
    Bittybob Member Posts: 8
    #12
    Update

     

    i had my surgery yesterday.  She removed a swollen lymph node with an abscess around it.  I will get biopsy results on the 17th. Thanks for your concerns!

  • Bittybob
    Bittybob Member Posts: 8
    #13

    I am having a hard time recovering. I keep bleeding through my stitches whenever I check the wound site.  I went to the er and they put a tighter bandage on for pressure. I am having a hard time doing anything and am in a lot of pain.  Is this normal?

  • Bittybob
    Bittybob Member Posts: 8
    #14

    It is not cancer.  Wow.  I've been referred to an infectious disease specialist so the worrying is not over but at least I know it's not cancer.

    Thanks for all of your messages!

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