Lymphoma
This is the first time I am here. Just looking for some advice or recommendations. Next Friday I will be having axillary lymph nodes removed. I had a PET scan done 2 weeks ago and they discovered 2 lymph nodes enlarged and lit up. I’m scared, do not know what to expect. Any thoughts out there?
Comments
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Hang tight
Just wait to get your results. Po is correct to not jump the gun and assume the worst. And be aware lymphoma is very treatable. You have what you have regardless of what a doctor says. If a patient had cancer only after a doctors diagnosis, there would be no such thing as a false positive or false negative. Doctors are not 100% accurate. I had false negatives before being diagnosed stage IV. That usually occurs with other than biopsies which are usually correct In yes or no to lymphoma. However mistakes in typing biopsies are very common. ALWAYS get a second opinion. ALWAYS!
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PET
Welcome to you Chris.
I agree with what was replied to you above. Lymphoma is currently about the least fatal of any common cancers, usually very treatable and frequently even "curable."
You have no cause for panic. Two nodes ? IF cancerous, a minor, Stage 1 disease.
There are currently 65 differing types of lymphoma recognized by WHO (the World Health Organization). Five of these are Hodgkin's types (HL), and sixty are non-Hodgkin's (NHL). Obviously, NHL is much more common. Prognosis varies dramatically between types, but virtually all are very managable.
I recall my first CT, which indicated lymphoma. Totally engulfed, from neck to pelvic region, and across both axillary regions. Numerous organs "covered up." Yet even I was rapidly cured.
You have no cause for panic. Please ask questions as they occur to you, and I hope the responses are comforting,
max
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Panic cannot help either with or without cancer
Regardless of my wishes or life plans, I developed a pretty much nightmare medical resumé. Regarding lymphoma, I have been stage IV at least twice, with close to 100 tumors total. Plus Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a leukemia precursor marrow cancer caused by treatment. I began with one cancer, an immediate relapse of that same cancer, then two cancers at second relapse, then three cancers simultaneously. And, not just any lymphomas, but two rare and aggressive T-Cell Lymphomas (Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma - Not Otherwise Specified as well as Angioimunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma). Either has a poor prognosis, and both have an extremely poor prognosis once relapse occurs. Two relapses and two lymphomas? Prognosis worse than abysmal. Recently given a 0.5% chance of surviving all of this. Sound hopeless? Not at all. This began 10 years ago. I remain fat, dumb and happy for the most part, and cancer free.
When you are in a tunnel, you move toward the distant sliver of light, not the darkness. It may not be fun in the tunnel, but at least you know there is light at the far end. In your case at this point, you only fear that you are in a tunnel. That tunnel may never appear.
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No panicpo18guy said:Panic cannot help either with or without cancer
Regardless of my wishes or life plans, I developed a pretty much nightmare medical resumé. Regarding lymphoma, I have been stage IV at least twice, with close to 100 tumors total. Plus Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a leukemia precursor marrow cancer caused by treatment. I began with one cancer, an immediate relapse of that same cancer, then two cancers at second relapse, then three cancers simultaneously. And, not just any lymphomas, but two rare and aggressive T-Cell Lymphomas (Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma - Not Otherwise Specified as well as Angioimunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma). Either has a poor prognosis, and both have an extremely poor prognosis once relapse occurs. Two relapses and two lymphomas? Prognosis worse than abysmal. Recently given a 0.5% chance of surviving all of this. Sound hopeless? Not at all. This began 10 years ago. I remain fat, dumb and happy for the most part, and cancer free.
When you are in a tunnel, you move toward the distant sliver of light, not the darkness. It may not be fun in the tunnel, but at least you know there is light at the far end. In your case at this point, you only fear that you are in a tunnel. That tunnel may never appear.
I saw no signs Chris was in panic mode. Did you? Po you are correct - panic usually does not help any situation. I believe your credentials.
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Equivalent ?ShadyGuy said:No panic
I saw no signs Chris was in panic mode. Did you? Po you are correct - panic usually does not help any situation. I believe your credentials.
Chris stated being "scared" and needing advice.
"Scared" is a common reaction, usually involuntary; panic a mode of response -- a common one to substantial fear. The responses given were putatively reasonable and common-sense in content.
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CorrrectShadyGuy said:Shady,
Correct, which is why Po and I advise against panic, one of the most common reactions among new arrivals here. There is a rational, de facto reason to presume it is relevent to a newcomer expressing fear.
Max
University Insturctor in Formal [Aristotelian] and Mathematical Logic and Logic Metatheory [in the manner of the term employeed by Bertrand Russell and Alfred North Whitehead], and Boolean Algebra [Boolean in Naval Schools only for computer and digital theory analysis].
Any time you want to talk rationality and logic, I'm available via the e-mail feature.
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Panic
When I was told of my diagnosis my boss (breast cancer survivor) happened to be standing at my desk. I'll never forget what she told me - "think of this like a project" (we work in IT). "you are in the analysis stage right now.". My response was "I hope it goes better than some of our projects". Still makes me laugh.
A little over a month ago a co-worker was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer. He came to talk to me the day after he was told about it. To say he was on edge was to put it mildly. Besides pointing out that he was in shock (he knew that) when he told me his wife was on his case about not having gone to the Dr sooner I told him about Max's "calculation" of 450+ disease per symptom. He shared it with his wife and it did help calm them both down. I also shared the "project" analogy with him.
Laughter is a good medicine.
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hi
hi
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survivor for 16 years
happy to find this group. i need someone to confide on my worries and questions. i have siezures sometimes 7 times a night the next day i shall be on my bed the whole day.
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