Swollen lymph glands

wiveliscombe
wiveliscombe Member Posts: 50
in Anal Cancer #1

I finished treatment in July 2012 but only had 1 week of chemo due to severe reaction. Have had 2 follow up appts. and everything was good. I saw the doc yesterday and she said my lymph glands in groin area were swollen and that could be a sign that cancer coming back and has ordered a ct scan. Has anyone experienced that? Of course I am worrying and have to wait now over the weekend for appt.

Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
    wiveliscombe

    I have not had this experience.  Was your appt. yesterday because you had noticed this swelling yourself, or was it just a regularly scheduled visit?  The only one of my doctors who checked my lymph glands after treatment was my radiation oncologist, who released me from his care a couple of years later.  I recently had a complete physical by my internist and asked her to palpate my groin area for any swollen nodes.  She found nothing.  I think it's a good idea for everyone to ask their docs to do this if they aren't already.

    I hope you can get the scan scheduled ASAP and find out what is going on.  Hopefully, nothing of concern will be found.

  • wiveliscombe
    wiveliscombe Member Posts: 50
    #3
    mp327 said:

    wiveliscombe

    I have not had this experience.  Was your appt. yesterday because you had noticed this swelling yourself, or was it just a regularly scheduled visit?  The only one of my doctors who checked my lymph glands after treatment was my radiation oncologist, who released me from his care a couple of years later.  I recently had a complete physical by my internist and asked her to palpate my groin area for any swollen nodes.  She found nothing.  I think it's a good idea for everyone to ask their docs to do this if they aren't already.

    I hope you can get the scan scheduled ASAP and find out what is going on.  Hopefully, nothing of concern will be found.

    This was a scheduled appt.

    This was a scheduled appt. with my oncologist and she had felt for swelling on the previous appt. and said thats how it shows if there is anything going on. I have my 3 monthly appt. with the specialist next week and she does the anal scope. Thanks for replying.

  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #4
    wiveliscombe said:

    This was a scheduled appt.

    This was a scheduled appt. with my oncologist and she had felt for swelling on the previous appt. and said thats how it shows if there is anything going on. I have my 3 monthly appt. with the specialist next week and she does the anal scope. Thanks for replying.

    Hi.....

    I was Stage3b with node involvement 2yrs ago. My onc always checks for swelling at my regular visits, but keep in mind that there are other reasons for swollen lymph glands. Do you have any kind of cold virus or infection? Try to keep your mind occupied over the weekend with other things, (easier said than done I know). I will keep you in my prayers that this is just a non-cancer related issue.

  • Phoebesnow
    Phoebesnow Member Posts: 600 Member
    #5
    eihtak said:

    Hi.....

    I was Stage3b with node involvement 2yrs ago. My onc always checks for swelling at my regular visits, but keep in mind that there are other reasons for swollen lymph glands. Do you have any kind of cold virus or infection? Try to keep your mind occupied over the weekend with other things, (easier said than done I know). I will keep you in my prayers that this is just a non-cancer related issue.

    Lymp

    I had a lymphatic massage on Sunday.  She also felt lymph in the groin area.  I was not concerned because rad onc checks every 3 months.  Interesting how each of our follow ups are so different.  I have always hadlymph in my groin, even as a little girl. I will pray for negative results.

  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #6
    Phoebesnow said:

    Lymp

    I had a lymphatic massage on Sunday.  She also felt lymph in the groin area.  I was not concerned because rad onc checks every 3 months.  Interesting how each of our follow ups are so different.  I have always hadlymph in my groin, even as a little girl. I will pray for negative results.

    Understand

    I got a big lump after a massage and it was painful to move my leg. I find wearing compression helps this. I have genital lymphoedema and have recently been scheduled to see a specialist in this area for a while. My Pelvic PT referred me. I will let you know. Still no sex! :-(

    Good luck.

    Sandy

     

  • pem
    pem Member Posts: 81 Member
    #7
    mp327 said:

    wiveliscombe

    I have not had this experience.  Was your appt. yesterday because you had noticed this swelling yourself, or was it just a regularly scheduled visit?  The only one of my doctors who checked my lymph glands after treatment was my radiation oncologist, who released me from his care a couple of years later.  I recently had a complete physical by my internist and asked her to palpate my groin area for any swollen nodes.  She found nothing.  I think it's a good idea for everyone to ask their docs to do this if they aren't already.

    I hope you can get the scan scheduled ASAP and find out what is going on.  Hopefully, nothing of concern will be found.

    new to site

    hello all... I joined this site a few weeks ago wih the hopes to find good information regarding anal cancer.  I was diagnosed with stge 3 with 1 node involvment.  I read alot of everyones entries and the more i read the more scared i get because not one person seems to have stage 3 and had the same treatment as me.  i just finished  treatment 4 days ago and i was only given the same treatment as all of you stage 1 or 2.  i had 30 radiation tx to my whole pelvic area as well as the same chemo.  my concern is why didnt i get more radiation to the area than you guys.im thinking everyone who is stage 3 isnt on this site because the sucess rate is nil.  sorry if i just jumped in here but i dont really understand how to use this site.  ps  i find all you guys on this site very helpful and i greatly appreciate all your info.   pem

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #8
    pem said:

    new to site

    hello all... I joined this site a few weeks ago wih the hopes to find good information regarding anal cancer.  I was diagnosed with stge 3 with 1 node involvment.  I read alot of everyones entries and the more i read the more scared i get because not one person seems to have stage 3 and had the same treatment as me.  i just finished  treatment 4 days ago and i was only given the same treatment as all of you stage 1 or 2.  i had 30 radiation tx to my whole pelvic area as well as the same chemo.  my concern is why didnt i get more radiation to the area than you guys.im thinking everyone who is stage 3 isnt on this site because the sucess rate is nil.  sorry if i just jumped in here but i dont really understand how to use this site.  ps  i find all you guys on this site very helpful and i greatly appreciate all your info.   pem

    pem

    I know of a lot of stage 3 survivors and their treatment was basically the same as mine.  I was diagnosed with stage 1/stage2 (right on the fence). 

  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    #9
    pem said:

    new to site

    hello all... I joined this site a few weeks ago wih the hopes to find good information regarding anal cancer.  I was diagnosed with stge 3 with 1 node involvment.  I read alot of everyones entries and the more i read the more scared i get because not one person seems to have stage 3 and had the same treatment as me.  i just finished  treatment 4 days ago and i was only given the same treatment as all of you stage 1 or 2.  i had 30 radiation tx to my whole pelvic area as well as the same chemo.  my concern is why didnt i get more radiation to the area than you guys.im thinking everyone who is stage 3 isnt on this site because the sucess rate is nil.  sorry if i just jumped in here but i dont really understand how to use this site.  ps  i find all you guys on this site very helpful and i greatly appreciate all your info.   pem

    stage 2

    hey,  i had only 28 radiation treatments and i was stage 2....treated at MD Anderson....so  the radiation varies as to stage and location and size,,, etc.....    sorry that you had to come here.....   sephie

  • pem
    pem Member Posts: 81 Member
    #10
    sephie said:

    stage 2

    hey,  i had only 28 radiation treatments and i was stage 2....treated at MD Anderson....so  the radiation varies as to stage and location and size,,, etc.....    sorry that you had to come here.....   sephie

    sephie

    i hope thats not true cause my anxiety just skyrocked... it does make sense though.  thx for responding  pem

  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #11
    pem said:

    sephie

    i hope thats not true cause my anxiety just skyrocked... it does make sense though.  thx for responding  pem

    Pem....

    Take a deep breath! I was not only stage 3 but 3b with node involvement, just a breath away from 4! That was two years ago. I had the standard protocal treatment as everyone else. You were most likely staged at 3 because of node involved even if the actual tumor may have been smaller than someone staged 2. Unfortunately because of the exact placement of my tumor I also needed to have a colostomy, don't worry that you did not have that, it doesn't change the prognosis after treatment. I am doing great and I'll bet that you will to. There are other Stage 3 people doing very well also. I belong to an ostomy support group and have met several. Fear not, just focus your energy on recovery!

  • islandgirlculebra
    islandgirlculebra Member Posts: 155 Member
    #12
    pem said:

    new to site

    hello all... I joined this site a few weeks ago wih the hopes to find good information regarding anal cancer.  I was diagnosed with stge 3 with 1 node involvment.  I read alot of everyones entries and the more i read the more scared i get because not one person seems to have stage 3 and had the same treatment as me.  i just finished  treatment 4 days ago and i was only given the same treatment as all of you stage 1 or 2.  i had 30 radiation tx to my whole pelvic area as well as the same chemo.  my concern is why didnt i get more radiation to the area than you guys.im thinking everyone who is stage 3 isnt on this site because the sucess rate is nil.  sorry if i just jumped in here but i dont really understand how to use this site.  ps  i find all you guys on this site very helpful and i greatly appreciate all your info.   pem

    Stage 3

    I was Stage 3 with lymph node involvement; also rectum and sigmoid colon involvement. I was scheduled to get 30 treatments but was only able to get 25. The Dr. expected me to have a reduced size tumor, and was surprised when all he saw was scar tissue at my three month examination.  All scans, exams and a recent colonoscopy show no cancer. I'm now 11 months post treatment. It seems no matter what stage you are, everyone gets the same treatment. Just thought I would let you know that I was at Stage 3 and so far everything is OK and life is good.

  • pem
    pem Member Posts: 81 Member
    #13
    eihtak said:

    Pem....

    Take a deep breath! I was not only stage 3 but 3b with node involvement, just a breath away from 4! That was two years ago. I had the standard protocal treatment as everyone else. You were most likely staged at 3 because of node involved even if the actual tumor may have been smaller than someone staged 2. Unfortunately because of the exact placement of my tumor I also needed to have a colostomy, don't worry that you did not have that, it doesn't change the prognosis after treatment. I am doing great and I'll bet that you will to. There are other Stage 3 people doing very well also. I belong to an ostomy support group and have met several. Fear not, just focus your energy on recovery!

    eihtak

    thank you so much for that confidence boost..i can breath a sigh of relief.  glad to hear you are doing well.  god bless you   pem

  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    #14
    pem said:

    sephie

    i hope thats not true cause my anxiety just skyrocked... it does make sense though.  thx for responding  pem

    pem, did not express myself correctly???

    pem,  i am sooooo sorry that i made you more nervous.... i just meant that i had had 2 fewer radiation txs than 30 so not all stage 2's have 30..... sorry ....   sephie

  • Eliz3
    Eliz3 Member Posts: 32
    #15
    islandgirlculebra said:

    Stage 3

    I was Stage 3 with lymph node involvement; also rectum and sigmoid colon involvement. I was scheduled to get 30 treatments but was only able to get 25. The Dr. expected me to have a reduced size tumor, and was surprised when all he saw was scar tissue at my three month examination.  All scans, exams and a recent colonoscopy show no cancer. I'm now 11 months post treatment. It seems no matter what stage you are, everyone gets the same treatment. Just thought I would let you know that I was at Stage 3 and so far everything is OK and life is good.

    Staging?

    How is staging determined, please?  It sounds a bit confusing.

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #16
    Eliz3 said:

    Staging?

    How is staging determined, please?  It sounds a bit confusing.

    Staging

    My staging was based on my PET scan, which showed no involvement in my lymph nodes or distant organs, and physical examination.  Upon my first exam, my colorectal doctor said my tumor was small (about 2cm) and that it was movable, meaning it had not invaded surrounding tissue enough to become tethered.

  • lizdeli
    lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
    #17
    mp327 said:

    Staging

    My staging was based on my PET scan, which showed no involvement in my lymph nodes or distant organs, and physical examination.  Upon my first exam, my colorectal doctor said my tumor was small (about 2cm) and that it was movable, meaning it had not invaded surrounding tissue enough to become tethered.

    Pem

    I was Stage IIIa with lymph node involvement and possible extension of the tumor into the vaginal wall.  I was treated at MD Anderson and received 30-33 radiation treatments, I can't remember, but that's a good thing (that I can't remember)!  It's been 3 1/2 years. The tumor I had was 2.5 cm but I was staged at IIIa for the other reasons.

    Liz

  • lizdeli
    lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
    #18
    mp327 said:

    Staging

    My staging was based on my PET scan, which showed no involvement in my lymph nodes or distant organs, and physical examination.  Upon my first exam, my colorectal doctor said my tumor was small (about 2cm) and that it was movable, meaning it had not invaded surrounding tissue enough to become tethered.

    Pem

    I was Stage IIIa with lymph node involvement and possible extension of the tumor into the vaginal wall.  I was treated at MD Anderson and received 30-33 radiation treatments, I can't remember, but that's a good thing (that I can't remember)!  It's been 3 1/2 years. The tumor I had was 2.5 cm but I was staged at IIIa for the other reasons.

    Liz

  • wiveliscombe
    wiveliscombe Member Posts: 50
    #19
    mp327 said:

    wiveliscombe

    I have not had this experience.  Was your appt. yesterday because you had noticed this swelling yourself, or was it just a regularly scheduled visit?  The only one of my doctors who checked my lymph glands after treatment was my radiation oncologist, who released me from his care a couple of years later.  I recently had a complete physical by my internist and asked her to palpate my groin area for any swollen nodes.  She found nothing.  I think it's a good idea for everyone to ask their docs to do this if they aren't already.

    I hope you can get the scan scheduled ASAP and find out what is going on.  Hopefully, nothing of concern will be found.

    ct scan

    The ct scan showed no signs of cancer so I am relieved. The doc said I have a small hernia and she will keep a check on it so I can relax for another 3 months!

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #20
    wiveliscombe said:

    ct scan

    The ct scan showed no signs of cancer so I am relieved. The doc said I have a small hernia and she will keep a check on it so I can relax for another 3 months!

    Scan

    Wonderful news!  I am so happy for you!  Yes, relax and breathe!

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