CT Scan Result show Enlarged Lymph Node

I'm so sorry for your loss.  Unfortunately, there wasn't a damned thing you could do but be a good support system for your friend, which I'm sure you were.  We all make our own choices on how to deal with what we've been dealt.  My youngest brother was diagnosed in late 2005 with lung cancer at age 45 and his choice was to do very little to try to change the outcome.  He passed early 2010.  Although I found it hard to accept his decisions, I finally decided it's an individual choice and I needed to respect his decision and try to be supportive.  I made peace with it and enjoyed my time with him as much as he would allow.  (he tended to pull away from most people)

As far as the lymph nodes, there are definitely reasons other than cancer for enlargement, but like you I'm concerned that it's only one.  (I'm not a doctor either though, so what do I know).  Did you happen to ask about that? 

In the meantime, I will continue the prayers and remain hopeful that this is just a sneakier version of NED. 

Donna~

Todd

I'm so sorry for your loss, loosing a friend is hard but loosing a friend for RCC is devastating, I pray for you to get past this tough situation. All we need to do as patients is not losing hope and looking for best medical support.

And about the lympe node, when is your next C.T scan? I really hope it's nothing related to RCC, there are many unrelated reasons and let's hope the reason is one of them.

Forough

Give it a couple of days and then decide whether you want to share it or not and with whom.

Todd:

what has happened with my husband's cancer is that an are gets picked up on a scan but not mentioned; a subsequent scan may refer to it if there is any growth or change and we have been told that they just monitor until it is more conclusive. I drive myself crazy by researching each time he gets a scan or MRI but what I have noted is these areas were picked up in his initial Pet Scan before any treatment and now use that as a roadmap. 

he was stage 4 when diagnosed so we know that the cancer left his kidney and it is more a case of slow growth and hoping to defer any meds until we know more about how they work. Right now, NIVO is looking promising but what we don't know if it effective on its own or whether it works after another med.

so far, we have used radiation which has been very effective and currently are trying to figure out whether a small area on the remaining adrenal gland should be radiated or surgically removed. One radiation doc tells us that it will impact 10% of his kidney so we have a consult with a second doctor. The surgery would be a partial adrenalectomy and it may have an impact on the adrenal function. We are spoiled and are trying to avoid this. We are told that there is no urgency since it has not grown much since late February.

i think my point to you is that anxiety will not be helpful because you are being closely monitored and it will be dealt with; you have a slow, stage 4 cancer.

i am very sorry about your friend's passing and sorry that he chose not to share; he was probably trying to shield your group. As for your sharing with family, here is what we do. We share with a couple of family members when we first become concerned but wait until we know more before sharing with the rest. My sons have been very specific about wanting the information only if is definite. Much as I want their support early on, the truth is they are in their 30's raising their families and on some level, they get a pass. Life changes and they may have a turn at being where we are and I hope they never do but for now, I provide them with "updates" and answer their questions as best I can.

Sarah

Todd,

     I am so sorry for the loss of your friend, but remember we are always here night or day and for the most part we all know what you are going through! Please don't ever hesitate to talk here! The support here is really awesome!

                                 Love and prayers for good health!

                                  Brenda

Wishing that your lymph enlargement turns up to be just an inflamation.  I think we have some that come and go.  I often get inflamed lymphs in my throat and my groin... is it the correct word?  I hope!  They last sometimes for a week or more and by now I think its the body sometimes fighting infections or viruses.  Let us know when you know more.  Be well.

My sons are 42, 33 and 25. Their age is a little 'spread out" as they were "one kid per marriage" 1st son at eighteen,  I would have now made use of an icon,haha! I became a grandma recently and will be again at the end of Summer, 2 boys.  My dog is also male.  Not complaining but hoping for a girl in a near future.  My boys all called today to check on my check-up,  Im "feeling groovy"!  Big hug Todd

todd121 said:

Biopsy

Hi Donna,

Do you remember how large the node(s) got before they ordered the needle biopsy and the PET scan? Did the pathology on the second node show RCC? It's hard to imagine they couldn't get to it to biopsy it, but they could remove it.

What's the deal with these lymph nodes? We don't need the damn things? They can just cut them out left and right without affecting our health?

The node is in a hard to reach place. It's in my chest  near my spine between my lungs and near the heart. Doc said he wouldn't biopsy unless it reaches 15mm. It's 11mm now (was 8mm). I will have another scan in 3 months. We will check it then. That should be ok, right? He seemed pretty sure that we shouldn't do anything right now except scan again in 3 months. I'm getting scans every 3 months now and will continue that for the foreseeable future.

Thanks,

Todd

Todd, the location of that lymph node reminds me of a '67 Chevy Impala I used to have. It had one spark plug that was miserable to get to, so I waited until it was behaving to the point that it needed to be checked out.  Glad your doctor is keeping an eye on the node. 

Nodes get to filter the get-it-out-of-here stuff in the fluids that end up surrounding our cells, then dump the good stuff back into our blood. Their immune cells battle infection. They're handy little things, but we can live without them (OK, probably not without ALL of them, but a few here and there seem fairly cool to go). Crazy, huh? 

I'm not sure if I ever found out the size and/or the increase in size.  I'll have to check my records.  The first one-biopsied-was attached to the duodenum and the inverior vena cava.  Removed in a very delicate surgery at OHSU.  The second one was posterior to the bifurcation of the aorta (where it splits in the lower pelvis to go down each let).  There was no way to get a needle in there without making something spring a leak.

And grands are great.  My d-i-l has a raging sinus infection that makes her dizzy sometimes, so I volunteered to drive the girls to swimming lessons today. Twelve and almost ten.   My daughter and family will be down in three weeks for a short camping trip-boys-a jr. in HS and a jr. in college.

Let's have more NED reports from more people.

donna_lee