Very Concerned

Sorry to hear of your concern. I certainly hope it is nothing malignant! However, there are actually far worse diseases than cancer. For example, a retired co-wopker just succumbed to ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease). Zero treatment. Zero hope. My thoughts, for what little they are worth: 1. We have tons of groin nodes because the human body is subjet to infections in that area.  Up to 1 cm is considered normal. When reacting to infection, they may expand to 2-3 times their normal size - and not return to normal afterward. 2. Finding a node and equating it with possible cancer is a stressor. Stressors can cause itch, chesrt tightness, hives, sweats, headaches and 100+ additional symptoms - all with zero disease being present. 3. Symptoms mislead. 4. Google only makes it fatal. 5. Doctors listen to symptoms, but look for signs. Physical evidence of a disease process. Big difference. Symptoms with no sign of disease "may" point to psychosomatic conditions. 6. Ask your family if you are anxious. You stand a fairly good chance of having some form of anxiety, as one in five Americans suffer from anxiety. If that is the case, the good news is that it is 100% treatable and almost always without drugs.

Nevertheless, have doctor perform diagnostics as is deemed prudent. And please trust and listen to docor. See another doctor if you think it best. Could it be cancer? Yes, it could, but is not likely. Still, best to report additional or worseming symptoms to doctor and proceed from there.

WorriedMom2 said:

Update.

 

Wanted to update. I still have swollen lymph nodes. After seeing a dermatologist for the itchy skin and another OBGYN - My doctor finally referred me to both a hematologist and a general surgeon. My appointment with a hematologist isn’t for a few more weeks but I saw my general surgeon today. She felt lumps in my armpits as well more in my groin. She ordered a stat CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. She also ordered a stat needle biopsy of the original enlarged inguinal lymph node. She offered just having me completely remove that lymph node, but I opted for the less invasive route to start with. Now I’m second-guessing if I should have just gone with the full-blown removal. Also trying not to panic. My itching has subsided and it only seems to bother me periodically which is a huge improvement from having it constantly all over. Other than that no other symptoms really. Still periodically getting the bloating, headaches, and fatigue. The only new symptom I have is two patches on the same exact spots on my forehead on each side of a cluster of what looks like pimples. I have never really had an issue with pimples and I m almost 30 so I’m not sure what going on there. They’re just red bumps, they don’t really have a head which pimples do. And I have been washing my face but they seem to be getting worse. Anyways, just wanted to update and converse with others about these issues because I’m really scared and have been - I have been dealing with this for almost 3 months now with no answers, but it seems like answers are getting closer to me. No weight loss. No night sweats. Praying and hoping for the best.

 

Worried,

I had advanced, bulky-disease HL, diagnosed in 2009.   SInce 2010, I have been N.E.D.

A few months ago, a surgeon removed a tennis-ball-sized node from my axillary, and a CT showed a host of enlarged nodes near it, as well as in the rear gut, and pelvic regions.  The result of the biopsy was BENIGN.   Swollen nodes do not ensure cancer.  Also, itching caused by lymphoma usually does not show any sort of rash on the skin, and usually has no welts or bumps.

An aspiration biopsy has some value, and is much better than no biopsy at all.   The main issue with aspiration bios is that they may not accurately determine STRAIN of the disease.   Always, when this is the case, the pathologists will realize that they need a fuller sample, and request excise.  For now, be happy and follow through with whatever the oncologist determines.

WM2,

It sounds like the enlarged nodes went away spontaneously.  If so, they were due to infection or some sort of immune system reactions.   I have never heard of someone being biopsied for lymphoma with no lymphadenopathy (enlargement) showing on a just-completed CT.  It likely would not be considered clinically justified by the surgeon or the insurance companies involved.   Most likely, based on what you shared here, there will be no biopsy.  A surgeon cannot remove what is not seen. 

Immune system flares are commonly slow to resolve, and the three months you mentioned is characteristic.  In some cases, nodes remain flared for much longer than that.

Also, about two years after I ended chemo, I felt a largish node in my neck.  My oncologist saw me the next day.  When he began the exam, I asked "Do you feel it ?"  He said, "I sure do !"  Then he added, "But it is not a lymph node.  It is a salavia gland.   Forget about it.  We are done here."   Lymphoma does not 'hide' -- it is proud to show itself.  Leukemia, another story.  Please share whatever the hematologist tells you, if you are so inclined,

max

one can always find something to worry about. What does your doctor say about it? Is it highly elevated or just a bit over?