Symptoms worse after core needle biopsy??

boe2

Hi everyone

I got the most problematic lymph node biopsied. Now I'm almost constantly itchy, esp after waking up and showers and nighttime, and soooo sleepy. It's so hard to wake up in the morning. Anyone else have this issue? Where it aggravates the symptoms?

po18guy

Sorry to hear this. Do you have a diagnosis? Prior patient with suspected relapse? I had no such effects after a core needle biopsy.

boe2

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1716922#Comment_1716922

Hi, thank you for your response.

Not diagnosed with anything other than a positive CD20 immunostain on some small and mature lymphocytes. I get itchy all over and the fatigue is heavy some days.

I just got a CT scan with contrast this morning, and then the radiologist will look at it and talk with my doctor later today.

po18guy

In any event, it seems to be immune system driven, so skin symptoms are not unusual. Are you at a major cancer or research center? Some blood and immune system disorders require the best of the best to properly diagnose and treat.

boe2

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1716951#Comment_1716951

No, just a local hospital chain of practices

Edited to add: CT said it was 1.1 cm by 1.7 cm by 1.1 cm.... but looking back at the ultrasound guided biopsy that prompted the CT, they stated it was actually bigger: 2.6 cm x 1.1 cm x 0.7 cm.

They told me to chug the second bottle right before the procedure (I wasn't supposed to do that, I messed up and forgot to drink it forty min late.. I was driving) then had to mess w the machine to get the machine to scan it all. I guess there wasn't a protocol for scanning all that at once? Idk. Seems like the CT was inaccurate.

po18guy

Hospitals are notoriously bad at "advanced" illness, like cancer. Broken bones and gall bladders to they do fine. Nevertheless, that node is not huge. 1 cm is an average upper limit. My advice would be to consult at a nationally accredited cancer center for a second opinion. Way back in 2008, I received anti-anxiety meds for stage IV lymphoma. Just saying.

If you are in the states, you can seek out the closest center here: https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find

ShadyGuy

Where was the biopsied lymph node located? Could they have hit a nerve? Among my acquaintances and family members who come to me for info when they have lymphoma symptoms I always tell them I prefer an excision where possible. It’s more accurate and less chance of spreading the cancer .

The itching and fatigue are classic “B symptoms”. My big issue initially and at relapse 5 years later was severe fatigue. Not sleepiness - just pure fatigue. In fact I had a terrible time sleeping.

In my opinion when cancer is suspected a person should not mess around with General Practitioners but go directly to a cancer specialist. Just an opinion, not advice. Best of luck!