Colds causing enlarged lymph nodes 1 year post treatment

Larla
Larla Member Posts: 28
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hello, I have just reached my one year post treatment for nasophyarengeal carcinoma on September 3rd.I have had two favorable MRI,s with no disease found.Last week I had my third MRI which showed an enlarged lymph node in my neck.I was fighting a nasty headcold at the time.My oncologist has reasured my that it is probally due to my cold but has ordered a PET|CT scan which I would be due to take soon anyway.Has anything like this happened to anyone else?It is hard not to panic when facing more tests.I would welcome any positive feedback.Larla

Comments

  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #2
    Scary
    Larla,
    Welcome to the forum. Congrats on your year survivorship so far. I'm at six months. Yes, it does happen that survivors get enlarged lymph nodes post treatment that have nothing to do with cancer. I (thankfully) haven't personally gone through it. I'm sure it's gotta be scary for you, though. Hope the scans come and go quickly - let us know.
  • Larla
    Larla Member Posts: 28
    #3
    Pam M said:

    Scary
    Larla,
    Welcome to the forum. Congrats on your year survivorship so far. I'm at six months. Yes, it does happen that survivors get enlarged lymph nodes post treatment that have nothing to do with cancer. I (thankfully) haven't personally gone through it. I'm sure it's gotta be scary for you, though. Hope the scans come and go quickly - let us know.

    Pam M,
    Thanks for the
    Pam M,
    Thanks for the welcoming response.It,s reasuring to know that you've heard of this happening.
    My PET\CT scan is Tuesday morning so hopefully I can breath normally again by Wed.How are you feeling at six months?
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #4
    Larla said:

    Pam M,
    Thanks for the
    Pam M,
    Thanks for the welcoming response.It,s reasuring to know that you've heard of this happening.
    My PET\CT scan is Tuesday morning so hopefully I can breath normally again by Wed.How are you feeling at six months?

    I'm Good
    Really good. Kinda weird - realized this morning that tomorrow is the one year anniversary of my discovering my huge lymph node. I'm having a good deal of drainage going on (like last year at this time - must be seasonal). I ate at a barbecue restaurant today with no pain medication (except for the Gumbo - I'll have it tomorrow with meds). There are only a few things I can't eat; only a couple I can't taste. Truth be told, the things I can't eat or taste, I should avoid anyway (with the exception of some meats - and I have a hard timme with salad, of all things). I'm doing really well for six months out. How about you? Were you good at six months? Are you still recovering? wish you could've joined this site before or during your treatment - it's been an amazing help for me. Hoping for no surprises when you get your results - let us know.
  • Larla
    Larla Member Posts: 28
    #5
    Pam M said:

    I'm Good
    Really good. Kinda weird - realized this morning that tomorrow is the one year anniversary of my discovering my huge lymph node. I'm having a good deal of drainage going on (like last year at this time - must be seasonal). I ate at a barbecue restaurant today with no pain medication (except for the Gumbo - I'll have it tomorrow with meds). There are only a few things I can't eat; only a couple I can't taste. Truth be told, the things I can't eat or taste, I should avoid anyway (with the exception of some meats - and I have a hard timme with salad, of all things). I'm doing really well for six months out. How about you? Were you good at six months? Are you still recovering? wish you could've joined this site before or during your treatment - it's been an amazing help for me. Hoping for no surprises when you get your results - let us know.

    Feeling Great
    I've never felt better physically in a really long time.I was really sick after my second round of cisplatin which I received during my radiation.I lost 60 pounds in two months even though I was using my peg tube throughout my treatment.My last radiation was September third and I did start feeling better by the end of September although I was still not eating anything.My husband called me the women who does not eat.We went away with our three children the last weekend in September to Ocean City Maryland and I promised my Aunt I would try to eat some seafood.I actually had crab soup and asparagus spears.After that I became more brave and started trying to eat more.I was still losing weight.I set a goal to have my peg tube out by Christmas which I thankfully achieved.I still have episodes of choking on food, two times I was scared beacause I could't breath so I have to be careful.I'm trying to get my head in the game of feeling healthy but I'm having a hard time when facing all the testing.I wish I could have joined this site then too but we just got a computer this August.That is great that you can eat spicy food and most meats.I did have problems with salad but now I love eating them.I do have trouble with most pork and I take the top piece of bread off all sandwiches and burgers.It sounds like your doing great.I hope I have no surprises to talk about either.Thanks
  • GRAVEY
    GRAVEY Member Posts: 83
    #6
    Hi Larla,
    I actually
    Hi Larla,

    I actually ironically am about 10 months past my last rad, had 35 radiation, 3 chemos last treatment was December 17th last year, And just last Saturday I got a head and chest cold about 3 days into it, I noticed the lymph node on the same side as my cancerous one that was removed started to swell, I can feel it when I swallow. Really freaked me out because of the location, and the similarity in feelings as the first one felt. But the fact that we just started to feel it again whe we got sick is a lot easier to have it associated with something than just popping up outa no where like it did the first one. Give yourself a week or two to get over the sick and see if you notice it going down then. Dont get so hasty to get another CT or MRI. Those arent the greatest things to be getting on a regular basis either..... Just keep your eye out......


    GRAVEY
  • Larla
    Larla Member Posts: 28
    #7
    GRAVEY said:

    Hi Larla,
    I actually
    Hi Larla,

    I actually ironically am about 10 months past my last rad, had 35 radiation, 3 chemos last treatment was December 17th last year, And just last Saturday I got a head and chest cold about 3 days into it, I noticed the lymph node on the same side as my cancerous one that was removed started to swell, I can feel it when I swallow. Really freaked me out because of the location, and the similarity in feelings as the first one felt. But the fact that we just started to feel it again whe we got sick is a lot easier to have it associated with something than just popping up outa no where like it did the first one. Give yourself a week or two to get over the sick and see if you notice it going down then. Dont get so hasty to get another CT or MRI. Those arent the greatest things to be getting on a regular basis either..... Just keep your eye out......


    GRAVEY

    Hi Gravey,
    I actually never
    Hi Gravey,
    I actually never felt any swelling until it showed up on my MRI but after my oncologist pointed it out I feel like my neck is my only body part.My mind is on overdrive and I'm waking up in the middle of the night.He ordered a PET/CT scan which I received yesterday morning.I know the tests aren't the greatest things to be getting.You sound so grounded I wish I could borrow some of your magic calmness.Thanks for replying it has helped to relax my nerves a bit.

    Larla

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