Worried about Lymphoma

lizzielee18
lizzielee18 Member Posts: 4 Member
edited January 2023 in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1

Hi all!  I am a first time poster.  I have had an enlarged lymph node on the left side at the base of my neck, somewhat more on the collarbone, and some puffiness/a lump on that side at the base of my neck for months, and went to my PCP.    I had an ultrasound which showed benign lymph nodes. 

My doctor called me in an antibiotic, which didn't seem to do anything.  I get a follow up ultrasound, and now another node is there, but still is stated to be "a benign looking lymph node"  the other two from the previous ultrasound are still there, but have not changed in size.   The first ultrasound was in February, the most recent beginning of April.

I am now being referred to a hematologist and am freaking out.  I don't have any of the night sweats, unusual weight loss, or any other symptoms I have read about.. BUT at my initial appointment with my PCP I did tell her I felt like my upper left abdomen felt bigger than the other side.  She didn't seem to think so, but I feel it.  I'm now worried that it is an enlarged spleen.  I also have some irritating shoulder pain on the left side.

My hematologist appointment is on May 6th, I am nervous, and am expecting the worst.  Is it possible something else could be causing this?

Comments

  • ShadyGuy
    ShadyGuy Member Posts: 922 Member
    #2
    I understand your concerns.

    I understand your concerns. However you are probably going to be fine. Try to relax and have fun till May 6. Your hematologist will likely order tests  to determine what is wrong. In the unlikely event it is lymphoma rest assured it is very treatable. My best to you and please try to take it a day at a time. It is spring and the outdoors is great. Enjoy it.

  • lizzielee18
    lizzielee18 Member Posts: 4 Member
    edited April 2021 #3
    ShadyGuy said:

    I understand your concerns.

    I understand your concerns. However you are probably going to be fine. Try to relax and have fun till May 6. Your hematologist will likely order tests  to determine what is wrong. In the unlikely event it is lymphoma rest assured it is very treatable. My best to you and please try to take it a day at a time. It is spring and the outdoors is great. Enjoy it.

    Thank you so much for your

    Thank you so much for your response and reassurance. I am trying to not self diagnose and not think about it. 

  • lizzielee18
    lizzielee18 Member Posts: 4 Member
    edited April 2021 #4
    lizzielee18 said:

    Thank you so much for your

    Thank you so much for your response and reassurance. I am trying to not self diagnose and not think about it. 

    I feel more swelling on the

    I feel more swelling on the other side of my neck now too. May 6th can't get here fast enough. If not lymphoma, what other things could be causing this?

  • lizzielee18
    lizzielee18 Member Posts: 4 Member
    edited April 2021 #5
    Thank you

    for your response.  I got an appointment sooner and will be going in tomorrow.  Hopefully the worry is for nothing. 

  • po18guy
    po18guy Member Posts: 1,505 Member
    edited April 2021 #6
    A referral is often simply protocol

    I would not read too much into any referral. They are doing medical CYA stuff and just want to cover all bases. The benign appearance is a good indicator. If it is a node by itself, and no other symptoms it might very well be a watch and wait situation. With the huge number of viruses around this year, and with vaccination also causing enlarged nodes there could be any number of reasons for the enlarged node.

    Lymph nodes routinely enlarge as they fight infection. Daily and throughout the day - it's just that we don't notice them. In truth, if your nodes did not enlarge, you might be in danger of massive infection. As to freaking out, it may be a natural response, but serves no purpose. It can actually lead to additional symptoms, with no disease being present. Scroll down this page and have a look at the astounding variety of symptoms which stress and anxiety can cause:https://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml

    Decades ago, I worked at one of the aircraft manufacturers in Seattle. There was a senior man in the shop who would assess various situations as they arose. When co-workers began to freak out, he would calmly walk up and say, "The first thing to remember is don't panic." That has stuck with me ever since.

  • ShadyGuy
    ShadyGuy Member Posts: 922 Member
    edited April 2021 #7
    po18guy said:

    A referral is often simply protocol

    I would not read too much into any referral. They are doing medical CYA stuff and just want to cover all bases. The benign appearance is a good indicator. If it is a node by itself, and no other symptoms it might very well be a watch and wait situation. With the huge number of viruses around this year, and with vaccination also causing enlarged nodes there could be any number of reasons for the enlarged node.

    Lymph nodes routinely enlarge as they fight infection. Daily and throughout the day - it's just that we don't notice them. In truth, if your nodes did not enlarge, you might be in danger of massive infection. As to freaking out, it may be a natural response, but serves no purpose. It can actually lead to additional symptoms, with no disease being present. Scroll down this page and have a look at the astounding variety of symptoms which stress and anxiety can cause:https://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml

    Decades ago, I worked at one of the aircraft manufacturers in Seattle. There was a senior man in the shop who would assess various situations as they arose. When co-workers began to freak out, he would calmly walk up and say, "The first thing to remember is don't panic." That has stuck with me ever since.

    Just a thought …

    I put a note on my desk that says, “REMEMBER, there’s power in brevity” 

  • ShadyGuy
    ShadyGuy Member Posts: 922 Member
    #8
    lizzielee18 said:

    Thank you

    for your response.  I got an appointment sooner and will be going in tomorrow.  Hopefully the worry is for nothing. 

    Doctor visit

    Let us know how you are doing!

  • rmalsbury
    rmalsbury Member Posts: 1 *
    #9

    Get yourself to an Oncologist. My PCP fiddled around doing ultrasounds referred me to a dermatologist. Months passed, he tried to convince me that I had "chigger" bites and to stop scratching. One day I was having breathing problems and went to the ER. The ER doctor told me to get my self to an Oncologist immediately. He was able to "rush" me through blood work and two Biopsies with 10 days. The first biopsy was inconclusive. The second biopsy confirmed that I had the magic words, "Aggressive Inoperable malignant T-cell Lymphoma", certainly not chigger bites. My pcp let me down big time. His inability to get me the proper diagnosis in an ordinate amount of time may be the cause of my demise.

    Just saying, get your self to an Oncologist. Your pcp isn't qualified.

    Robert

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