anyone have a slightly enlarged node--periaortic, illic , or another that was NOT cancer??

maggie_wilson
maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
edited March 2014 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
sisters,

just wondering if anyone has ever had or has now a slightly enlarged node/s that turned out not to be cancer? i've certainly heard 3rd hand of a number of nodes that were enlarged for a variety of reasons other than cancer, but just wondering if there are any first -hand accounts here.

thanx, sisterhood
maggie
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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
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  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
    #3
    unknown said:

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    connie, thank you for your response

    i agree with you, that radiation may well not be the most effective therapy for a positive lymph node; in fact, i was told that if the node is positive, then there are cells there that cannot be seen, and radiation wouldn't necessarily get all of them, and that chemo was the best choice. you may already know that my charge nurse after looking at my ct scan thinks my slightly enlarged para aortic node is scar tissue. i agree with you too that you may well not have a recurrence.

    i am hoping that your laparoscopy next friday goes well, and would appreciate hearing the results for a number of reasons, mainly that you're doing well. i imagine your doctor said pet positive because it lit up in a pet scan? or is s/he just guessing? even if mine is positive, i'm hoping and trying to keep it contained by diet, exercise, tumeric, etc. i believe that's what claudia has been doing for a couple of years successfully.

    you're right re: cancer being a full time job, no matter what. i am trying to cut back now to part time--and there actually are times i'm not thinking about it. usually there's some scare, like back ache (fine), worry, then relief for awhile until the next anomaly. and after such a big surgery as we've had, and chemo for some (i didn't do radiation), there are always strange pains, nerve endings recharging, adhesions, etc. my chemo doctor has said she is "unimpressed" with my various pains, so so shall i be as well. maybe you too?

    sisterhood,
    maggie
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #4
    maggie_wilson said:

    connie, thank you for your response

    i agree with you, that radiation may well not be the most effective therapy for a positive lymph node; in fact, i was told that if the node is positive, then there are cells there that cannot be seen, and radiation wouldn't necessarily get all of them, and that chemo was the best choice. you may already know that my charge nurse after looking at my ct scan thinks my slightly enlarged para aortic node is scar tissue. i agree with you too that you may well not have a recurrence.

    i am hoping that your laparoscopy next friday goes well, and would appreciate hearing the results for a number of reasons, mainly that you're doing well. i imagine your doctor said pet positive because it lit up in a pet scan? or is s/he just guessing? even if mine is positive, i'm hoping and trying to keep it contained by diet, exercise, tumeric, etc. i believe that's what claudia has been doing for a couple of years successfully.

    you're right re: cancer being a full time job, no matter what. i am trying to cut back now to part time--and there actually are times i'm not thinking about it. usually there's some scare, like back ache (fine), worry, then relief for awhile until the next anomaly. and after such a big surgery as we've had, and chemo for some (i didn't do radiation), there are always strange pains, nerve endings recharging, adhesions, etc. my chemo doctor has said she is "unimpressed" with my various pains, so so shall i be as well. maybe you too?

    sisterhood,
    maggie

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #5
    maggie_wilson said:

    connie, thank you for your response

    i agree with you, that radiation may well not be the most effective therapy for a positive lymph node; in fact, i was told that if the node is positive, then there are cells there that cannot be seen, and radiation wouldn't necessarily get all of them, and that chemo was the best choice. you may already know that my charge nurse after looking at my ct scan thinks my slightly enlarged para aortic node is scar tissue. i agree with you too that you may well not have a recurrence.

    i am hoping that your laparoscopy next friday goes well, and would appreciate hearing the results for a number of reasons, mainly that you're doing well. i imagine your doctor said pet positive because it lit up in a pet scan? or is s/he just guessing? even if mine is positive, i'm hoping and trying to keep it contained by diet, exercise, tumeric, etc. i believe that's what claudia has been doing for a couple of years successfully.

    you're right re: cancer being a full time job, no matter what. i am trying to cut back now to part time--and there actually are times i'm not thinking about it. usually there's some scare, like back ache (fine), worry, then relief for awhile until the next anomaly. and after such a big surgery as we've had, and chemo for some (i didn't do radiation), there are always strange pains, nerve endings recharging, adhesions, etc. my chemo doctor has said she is "unimpressed" with my various pains, so so shall i be as well. maybe you too?

    sisterhood,
    maggie

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  • MoeKay
    MoeKay Member Posts: 495 Member
    #6
    unknown said:

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    Yes, Large Nodes in the Obturator Fossa
    Hi, Maggie:

    The operative report prepared by my gyn-onc states that "there were also palpably enlarged lymph nodes in the obturator fossa on the left side, and large, but not overly large nodes on the right side." All of the nodes removed were negative for tumor.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Maureen
  • kathybd
    kathybd Member Posts: 126
    #7
    MoeKay said:

    Yes, Large Nodes in the Obturator Fossa
    Hi, Maggie:

    The operative report prepared by my gyn-onc states that "there were also palpably enlarged lymph nodes in the obturator fossa on the left side, and large, but not overly large nodes on the right side." All of the nodes removed were negative for tumor.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Maureen

    My last Ct showed increase in size and number of lymph nodes.
    This is in the mesentery, but they said they were not pathological. My Doc was going to repeat CT in 6 mos, but I was worried, so now am having PET in 3 months. As others have, my 25 removed during surgery were negative. A Doc I work with said I may end up with more questions than answers with the PET scan; with possibly needing a biopsy.
    Thank you all for your posts.

    Best,
    Kathy
  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
    #8
    kathybd said:

    My last Ct showed increase in size and number of lymph nodes.
    This is in the mesentery, but they said they were not pathological. My Doc was going to repeat CT in 6 mos, but I was worried, so now am having PET in 3 months. As others have, my 25 removed during surgery were negative. A Doc I work with said I may end up with more questions than answers with the PET scan; with possibly needing a biopsy.
    Thank you all for your posts.

    Best,
    Kathy

    kathy and maureen

    thanx for your posts. good to know first hand that some enlarged lymph nodes are not pathological. am interested, maureen, in why your doctor thought you might end up with more questions than answers with a pet scan. makes one wonder whether to even have them, if that's the case! could mean things show up that look suspicious, then one has a biopsy, and then, maybe nothing, hopefully nothing. but you've been put through more worry and more procedures.....
    sisterhood,
    maggie
  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
    #9
    maggie_wilson said:

    kathy and maureen

    thanx for your posts. good to know first hand that some enlarged lymph nodes are not pathological. am interested, maureen, in why your doctor thought you might end up with more questions than answers with a pet scan. makes one wonder whether to even have them, if that's the case! could mean things show up that look suspicious, then one has a biopsy, and then, maybe nothing, hopefully nothing. but you've been put through more worry and more procedures.....
    sisterhood,
    maggie

    oops, meant kathy and more questions than answeres

    sorry, meant to say kathy, not maureen, for questions re: doctor's comments.
    m
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • kathybd
    kathybd Member Posts: 126
    #11
    unknown said:

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    Hello
    He was an Oncologist that works in my clinic. Sometimes things show up on a PET scan that aren't really significant, but because they have to comment on them, your Doc usually follows up with a biopsy. Mine weren't very large and he was just going to watch them for 6 months, but then I started asking him all kinds of questions; so he said let's try to get more info with a PET/CT. Sooo in Sept I will know more.

    Thanks, Connie and Maggie!
    Kathy
  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
    #12
    kathybd said:

    Hello
    He was an Oncologist that works in my clinic. Sometimes things show up on a PET scan that aren't really significant, but because they have to comment on them, your Doc usually follows up with a biopsy. Mine weren't very large and he was just going to watch them for 6 months, but then I started asking him all kinds of questions; so he said let's try to get more info with a PET/CT. Sooo in Sept I will know more.

    Thanks, Connie and Maggie!
    Kathy

    kathy


    yes, next step seems to be a ct/pet for me as well, but there' no hurry. my chemo doc said i could have one in august, or wait another 3 months to make it 6 month, which i may well do. so we'll see. please let us know results of your pet/ct. doctors have pretty much ruled out needle biopsy at this point, and surgical removal would be a very big deal, and no one thinks worth it now. so, we're waiting and seeing. meanwhile, i'm feeling very good, and can't see disturbing a good thing.

    sisterhood,
    maggie
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #13
    maggie_wilson said:

    kathy


    yes, next step seems to be a ct/pet for me as well, but there' no hurry. my chemo doc said i could have one in august, or wait another 3 months to make it 6 month, which i may well do. so we'll see. please let us know results of your pet/ct. doctors have pretty much ruled out needle biopsy at this point, and surgical removal would be a very big deal, and no one thinks worth it now. so, we're waiting and seeing. meanwhile, i'm feeling very good, and can't see disturbing a good thing.

    sisterhood,
    maggie

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  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
    #14
    unknown said:

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    connie

    hi, it wasn't clear to me if you were having a laparoscopy to check on the periaortic node as well, or just the status of the health of your abdomen. is there a specific reason you're wanting to check on your abdomen, since you don't have symptoms?? sorry to ask all these questions, but do want to be clear what you're saying.
    hope all goes well with your procedure, and yes, will appreciate hearing the results, and hoping for the best.
    sisterhood,
    maggie
  • kathybd
    kathybd Member Posts: 126
    #15
    unknown said:

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    Connie
    Will be thinking of you on Fri and hoping for a good outcome. Keep the positive thoughts and I will keep the prayers coming!
    Best,
    kathy
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    #16
    unknown said:

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    Connie praying for good results on Friday
    Hoping your laparoscopy goes well on Friday, and you get some positive answers. You are so right that cancer is so sneaky. In peace and caring.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #17
    Ro10 said:

    Connie praying for good results on Friday
    Hoping your laparoscopy goes well on Friday, and you get some positive answers. You are so right that cancer is so sneaky. In peace and caring.

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
    #18
    unknown said:

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    thanx connie

    best of luck to you re: your procedure. hope nothing even remotely suspicious shows up.

    i sure know what you mean about sick of cancer, doctors. tests....i feel like i've taken a break these 3 months, and it's almost been like normal. i don't think of cancer the first thing when i wake up in the morning nor the last thing at night anymore--what a blessing that is. the longer i can prolong this state, the happier i'll be. if there's something i need to face at some point, i'll do it; but right now it feels like a vacation.

    again, connie, thinking of you, and wishing the very best for you. we'll wait to hear from you.

    sisterhood,
    maggie
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #19
    maggie_wilson said:

    thanx connie

    best of luck to you re: your procedure. hope nothing even remotely suspicious shows up.

    i sure know what you mean about sick of cancer, doctors. tests....i feel like i've taken a break these 3 months, and it's almost been like normal. i don't think of cancer the first thing when i wake up in the morning nor the last thing at night anymore--what a blessing that is. the longer i can prolong this state, the happier i'll be. if there's something i need to face at some point, i'll do it; but right now it feels like a vacation.

    again, connie, thinking of you, and wishing the very best for you. we'll wait to hear from you.

    sisterhood,
    maggie

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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #20
    unknown said:

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  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
    #21
    unknown said:

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    connie

    is that really true re: ny times article; they weren't spoofing docspeak?? too much! yes, i do know it's true, maybe especially with breast cancer, that way too many biopsies are done and other intrusive procedures, like surgery, that aren't necessary.

    talk to you again when you're back on line. take care.
    ,
    maggie

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