hi again
i posted here a few weeks ago about symptoms and lymph nodes that were swollen,since then around july 4 i noticed a gulf ball size node that is swollen in my groin area and two new lymph nodes swollen on the left side if my neck both the size of peas. Most of my nodes have been al on the right side of my body i have a whole chain of them running down the right side of my neck all the way to mt collar bone. I have been having alot of pain off and on in my right side though i'm not sure if that has to do with the kidney stone that i had about 2 months ago. i have joint pain and night sweats that happen about 2-3 times a week. I had a PET scan done back in April and they said it had some elavation but not enough to be cancer. But i'am wondering if I was in the early stages maybe it wouldn't show up. Any way I go back to oncology in a week and I'm not sure if i should insist on a biopsy. My GP said she recommends a bone marrow biopsy. I thought that was for lukemia not lymphoma. If any one can give any insight i will take it. I'm a little nervous, cancer runs all through my family. My last question is does smoking contribute to lymphoma i have been a smoker for 12 years and my mom just read an article saying that they have linked smoking to lymphoma and kidney problems. I was wandering since I have alot a lymph nodes swollen and have just recently had a kidney stone.
Well thanks amillion for listening
have a happy day
kerrie :)

hi again
i posted here a few weeks ago about symptoms and lymph nodes that were swollen,since then around july 4 i noticed a gulf ball size node that is swollen in my groin area and two new lymph nodes swollen on the left side if my neck both the size of peas. Most of my nodes have been al on the right side of my body i have a whole chain of them running down the right side of my neck all the way to mt collar bone. I have been having alot of pain off and on in my right side though i'm not sure if that has to do with the kidney stone that i had about 2 months ago. i have joint pain and night sweats that happen about 2-3 times a week. I had a PET scan done back in April and they said it had some elavation but not enough to be cancer. But i'am wondering if I was in the early stages maybe it wouldn't show up. Any way I go back to oncology in a week and I'm not sure if i should insist on a biopsy. My GP said she recommends a bone marrow biopsy. I thought that was for lukemia not lymphoma. If any one can give any insight i will take it. I'm a little nervous, cancer runs all through my family. My last question is does smoking contribute to lymphoma i have been a smoker for 12 years and my mom just read an article saying that they have linked smoking to lymphoma and kidney problems. I was wandering since I have alot a lymph nodes swollen and have just recently had a kidney stone.
Well thanks amillion for listening
have a happy day
kerrie :)
Swollen Lymph nodes are a clue that something is wrong. Sometimes it is cancer and sometimes it is infection. If the doctors want to do a bone marrow biopsy, they suspect that there is something wrong at the cellular level where your blood cells are being made. A kidney stone can cause a really painful infection sometimes and the infection can spread to other areas of the body. It is not a fun thing to have but beats the alternatives of cancer. Hopefully the doctors will get to the answer soon. Also cigarrette smoking lowers your immune system and allows the carcinogens in cancer to attack any vulnerable spots in your body. If you can quit smoking it will help to improve any health problem you have. If you are really addicted to the nicotine, a patch would help with the cravings while your body clears itself of the carcinogens from the cigarettes. If you are unable to quit smoking for whatever reason, increase your vitamin C intake and folic acid intake, unless your doctor specifically tells you not to.

kerrie29,

You could have an early stage of NHL but these questions must be answered to make an accurate diagnosis:

How long have you had these symptoms for?
(Before or after you noticed the nodes)

Have you noticed enlargement in your nodes WITHOUT you touching them?

And most importantly, if you did notice enlargement how long did it take for the nodes to enlarge to what they are now?

The nodes that are the size of peas are NOT swollen, therefore do NOT touch them or they will become larger and cause you more stress which will then cause your immune system to not do it's job properly. Try the bone marrow biopsy if you like, but I doubt that it could travel into your marrow in so little time without you expereincing VERY heavy symptoms.

Let me know what you learn,
Matt LaBelle MD, mattlabellemd@hotmail.com