lymph nodes

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oncology12345
oncology12345 Member Posts: 41
in Anal Cancer #1

I have T1 anal canal cancer with two lymph nodes showing up on the MRI       i HAVE NO SWELLING OR PAIN IN THE LYMPH NODES. What does it mean if the lymph nodes are not swollen??

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  • feckcancer
    feckcancer Member Posts: 189 Member
    #2
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    i had stage 3 anal cancer

    i had stage 3 anal cancer that had spread to my lymph nodes. they were't swollen or painful either (that i could tell). all it meant was i got radiated in that area as well. i am now NED 3.5 years

  • oncology12345
    oncology12345 Member Posts: 41
    #3
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    Did you have chemo also?    

    Did you have chemo also?    

    They are not planning on giving me no chemo only radiotherapy  -   was anyone on here treated with radiotherapy only?    How did you do?

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #4
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    oncology12345 said:

    Did you have chemo also?    

    Did you have chemo also?    

    They are not planning on giving me no chemo only radiotherapy  -   was anyone on here treated with radiotherapy only?    How did you do?

    oncology12345

    Unless the guidelines have changed, it is standard protocol to do chemo along with radiation.  There are more chemo drugs being used than when I had treatment in 2008 and received 2 rounds of Mitomycin and 5FU.  It's my understanding that the chemo makes the radiation treatment more effective.  Have you looked at the current treatment guidelines?  If not, you might want to get on the website for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, register, then have a look at the recommended protocol.  Here's a link:  https://www.nccn.org

    Educate yourself and talk to your doctors.  If their plan is no chemo, make sure you understand why and feel comfortable with that treatment plan.  I wish you all the very best.

  • pializ
    pializ Member Posts: 508 Member
    #5
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    Lymph nodes

    I was diagnosed at stage 3. T2 N1 Back in 2012. I had standard protocol of chemo plus radiotherapy. Lymph nodes were in mesorectum and on pelvic wall. All were irradiated. However, the lymph node on the pelvic wall did not respond to irradiation and was a cause for concern until eventually (9 months later), they realised that it was in fact my right ovary. 

  • tanda
    tanda Member Posts: 174 Member
    #6
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    oncology12345

    T1 is a very small,early stage tumour.  Usually when a cancer is staged it includes T(tumour)N(nodes)M (metastases)

    T1N0M0  would be a small tumour with negative nodes and no metastases.

    Sometimes nodes are radiated just to be safe.

    standard treatment includes chemo (infusion and/or pills)

  • feckcancer
    feckcancer Member Posts: 189 Member
    #7
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    oncology12345 said:

    Did you have chemo also?    

    Did you have chemo also?    

    They are not planning on giving me no chemo only radiotherapy  -   was anyone on here treated with radiotherapy only?    How did you do?

    Yes, i had the usual. 6 weeks

    Yes, i had the usual. 6 weeks radiation & 1st and last week 24/7 chemo in hospital. Anal cancer is a good news/bad news kind of thing. Bad news it's cancer. good news it's highly curable. Treatment was very hard but doable plus i also changed everything in my lifestyle that could have contributed to me getting cancer ~ stopped smoking, stopped stress, stopped stressful relationships,eat healthy, started exercising, continued not eating red meat etc, added tumeric & hemp oil (CBD oil not yet legal here but when it is I will be taking it) to my diet, make sure depression doesn't come back.  Pointless being cured but continuing with dangerous practices that may cause the cancer to come back. I realise I am very lucky to be given a 2nd chance. too many people that get cancer don't so I don't abuse my 2nd chance as a mark of respect to my Oncologists and my body. 

  • oncology12345
    oncology12345 Member Posts: 41
    #8
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    Mine is T1NXMO     I'm

    Mine is T1NXMO     I'm feeling very scared of only getting radiation      and am getting a second opnion on this

     

    could i ask a second question - how fast would it grow from T1 to T2    I was biopsied 12 weeks ago     this is when it was first spotted  

  • mxperry220
    mxperry220 Member Posts: 493 Member
    #9
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    oncology12345 said:

    Mine is T1NXMO     I'm

    Mine is T1NXMO     I'm feeling very scared of only getting radiation      and am getting a second opnion on this

     

    could i ask a second question - how fast would it grow from T1 to T2    I was biopsied 12 weeks ago     this is when it was first spotted  

    Cancer Cell Growth

    Cancer cells can grow very quickly.  When I was diagnosed with anal cancer during a colonoscopy the doctor said my tumor was the size of a grape.  By the time my actual treatment was stated which was about 4 weeks later my colon rectal surgeon said the tumor was the size of an Afrin nasal spray bottle.

     

  • oncology12345
    oncology12345 Member Posts: 41
    #10
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    A further question - what

    A further question - what does Nx mean exactly?   The two nodes on the MRI were in the mesorectal area so if I could see them what does NX mean ?     Does it mean you can see them but they are not cancer?     Why would you see them if there isn't something wrong?

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #11
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    oncology12345

    As per the website for the National Cancer Institute, "Nx" means:  "Cancer in nearby lymph nodes cannot be measured."  You can learn more about this on their website.

    https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/diagnosis-staging/staging

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