hi i'm new at this so please bear with me . I found multiple swollen lymphnodes thru put my body back in April. My doctor sent me to have a CAT scan and refer me to an oncologist/ hemtologist. I saw him in the same week I have had alot of blood work done and a PET scan that came back with some elavation but not enough they said to be cancer. But it is now June and the lymphnodes are still swollen and I have been fatigued for a while and the night sweats started about a month ago. I have joint pain too. I also had a kidney stone about a month ago. I'm not sure if that is related. My red blood cells have been low but the doctors never really say anything. Last time I went to my regular doctor she told me not to worry, but I am. Well what I'm searching for is if anyone is going through or has been through any of this, or if anyone has any good advice. I go back the oncologist in july i'm not sure what to say to him. If anyone can help i thank you very very much.

I am sure I am not qualified to give much of a qualified reply, but I know how scared you are right now. My little boy has had swollen lymph nodes for years. From what I understand, they just sometimes don't go down. The fatigue and the night sweats could be from the worrying. Your blood counts could have been off or elevated due to fighting an infection. I am the last person who should be saying try to relax and not worry...I don't even know how to begin!! I am a professional worrier....
hugs

Generalized lymph node swelling is usually less worrisome than a localized but nonproportional lymph node swelling. The first often indicates an infection, the latter may indicate something more serious such as cancer. But that's variable anyway.

As Greeneyesofblue mentioned, apparently in some people the reactive (post-infection) nodes tend to stay enlarged even after the infection has cleared. In most people the nodes do decrease in size over time until they reach their original size, but it's not unusual for reactive nodes to take several months to withdraw back to their normal size. And in some (probably uncommon, but existent case), they never withdraw at all.

You did not mention how your nodes feel, how big their are, etc.. Do they all feel about the sime? Are some nodes remarkably larger than others? Do some nodes continue to grow?

The most important and distinguishing thing about lymphadenopathy is whether the associated nodes enlarge in a pattern or sporadically. For instance, the most worrisome factor is when some node(s) grow out of proportion to the other nodes, AND continue to get bigger. This may imply on a malignant process. This in contrary to reactive nodes that usually (though not always, depends what type of infection causes them and how severe it is) enlarge in a certain pattern and subsequently withdraw to their normal size.

Also, your systematic symptoms (particularly night sweats) are worrisome in a way but may be related to some persistent infection (e.g. bacterial or viral) you're suffering from, and you may not even be aware. Perhaps even anxiety plays a roll.

I would suggest you continue your followup with your doctors. Or see others if you don't find your current ones helpful and continue to worry. If you got abnormally larger nodes, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have one of them biopsied, just to be sure everything is alright.

Hope this helps.

thanks for your replies. My lymphnodes are about the size of a pea and range up to the size of a nickel. I have a whole chain of them running down the right side of my neck, one on my hairline, one in the back of my neck, two in my armpit one of those was only measured at 7mm and one in my groin. All these are on only the right side of my body. The one on my hairline does not move at all the others move slightly. I saw my regular doctor and she said i need to mention to the oncolgist to possible do a biopsi of them or a bone marrow biopsi. I'm not sure what to think. once again if anyone can offer advice i'll take any i can get.

thanks a million kerrie29 :D