Hey Everbody,

I am a 22 year old mother of a 3 year old little boy. I am concerned that I may have lymphoma because of 2 swollen nodes in the neck that have been there about 3 months. I also have joint pains and other aches all over my body. I have also experienced periodic itching all over the body without a rash. I just recently moved from georgia to ohio. My doc in georgia performed several tests on me. Blood tests: numerous cbc's, sed rate, mono, arthritis, lupus etc. The blood tests were all normal except a slightly raised wbc count on a couple cbc's. I also had CAT scans done of the pelvis, stomach, chest, neck, head, and sinuses. All were normal except for 2 nodes on the neck scan not thought to be significant. The sinuses also showed polyps. I am still very worried even though most of the tests were normal and the doc said he thought I am okay. I just don't feel right and I don't understand why the lymph nodes have been swollen for 3 months. Am I overreacting??? I guess I just want to make sure because I want to be here for my son. Please Help!!! Anyone feel free to respond.

Thanks :confused:

I really feel for you as I am going through the same thing (although they are pretty sure it is lymphoma) I'm not a doctor but I am a mother too and I would demand a second opinion, if only to put your mind at rest. Doctors are only human as well and they can get it wrong. I also have a really bad itch and I know this is a symptom. Why not ask for a bone scan as I hear lymphoma can be present anywhere. You're obviously not happy at the outcome of these tests and you know yourself you don't fell right, ask for more tests. Take care.

You might ask for the lymph nodes to be biopsied. They can do that usually, as an outpatient procedure, sometimes with Fine Needle, or some prefer to remove the entire node. If they get a good sample and the test comes back non cancerous, you can be pretty certain that it's right. You are not alone. I am a single mom of 3 wonderful kids. My baby just turned 1. I have a node in the neck that's been there 2 months and when they ultrasounded it, they said there is a chain of 3 others that are minorly swollen. (cervical neck area). There is also one near my armpit area, but more on the front of my chest. My only symptom is an intermittent fever, low grade. Below 100 always. It comes and goes. I am TERRIFIED. My own father suicided after a long bought with a terminal illness, and I just want to live. I want to see my kids grow up. I see a dr. this week to find out when he can set up my biopsy. God speed healing and health to you. I understand where you are.
To the second responder who mentioned the dr. is pretty sure you have lymphoma....do you know what makes them think so? I am so sorry to hear of what you're going through. i was just curious as to what signs the drs. base it on when they say they strongly suspect lymphoma.

Thank you Rogerst and Storms_Refuge....
I really appreciate your guys replies!! I am so very scared and I really needed somebody to understand what I am going through. I just have the most terrible feeling in the world but I really hope that feeling is wrong! Even if the feeling is right I will fight to be as healthy as I can so I can be here for my son! I am sure you guys can relate. I have a doctors appointment April the 8th with a new doc in Ohio so I will talk to the doctor about a biopsy. Well I wish the best for both of you, please keep in contact and let me know how you are doing. Thanks again so much for your replies! :wave:

Hi Storms_Refuge
They have only found an enlarged spleen when I was scanned but I also have raised ESR and sweats, nausea and itching. My Consultant has referred me to a Haemotologist but tells me its probable to be lymphoma. I've been sick for son long now I'm just looking forward to being 'normal' again.

Rogerst, I will have you in my prayers. I get so confused with it all. I hear some people say lymphoma can be very curable, but what I read online in other places, only quotes around a 54% survival rate after 5 years, and that seems so dim. I hope that whatever the outcome of your tests, you beat the odds, if they are against you.
Thera..... I am in Ohio as well. I am trying to figure out who is best to do my biopsy at this point. I have an ENT that wants to consult about my neck node, but then I'd have to see a surgeon seperately, for the other node in my chest/underarm area. I'd like to get it all done at once. I contacted some oncologists and hematologist/oncologists, and the ones that I spoke to said they only dealt with a patient once a diagnosis had been reached. So much info to sift through, and trying to raise kids, work and stay sane. But you know what I mean. You're doing the same thing. Even though the treatments scare the heck outta me, even the biopsies scare me.....I know I owe my kids to face my fears and fight. I hope I don't let them down.

Thanks! Same here. I'm from Ireland and I will also say a prayer for you. I'm waiting to see a haemotologist but we have NHS here so God alone only knows how long I'll be waiting. My neck has several small lumps that have just appeared under my chin. Not big about 1cm maybe slightly bigger, do these sound like normal lymph nodes or..

I normally visit at the Fibromyalgia area, as I have Fibro, however today learned that my uncle has Lymphoma. My dad also had Lymphoma 3 years ago and it was not diagnoised in time. One thing I wanted to mention as I read your post is...well actully two things... After my dad passed away I had all of the classic symptoms just as you described. I was tested as you were, all the same testing, exactly and could pretty much ditto your detail. First, do get the second or how ever many opinions until you feel peace of mind. After, when you feel that this is not what you have, please do ask about Fibromyalgia. I never knew anything about Fibro and would never have even thought that was a possiblity, but it is what I have. I don't want to state an abundance of Fibro facts and confuse you, however do take a look at the Fibromyalgia postings and see if it might fit any of what you are experiencing. The main thing the doctor will look for is the tender points on your body and then work with the possibility of your symptoms being associated with Fibro. It's an iffy thing to diagnoise because there is not a proof positive test, the doctor just has to work with you until he/she can eliminate everything else.

Best of luck and my prayers are with you....and everyone else. Annie

Thanks! Same here. I'm from Ireland and I will also say a prayer for you. I'm waiting to see a haemotologist but we have NHS here so God alone only knows how long I'll be waiting. My neck has several small lumps that have just appeared under my chin. Not big about 1cm maybe slightly bigger, do these sound like normal lymph nodes or..

The ones under the cin are usually from a cold type thing, from my reading at least. In the neck area, most dr.'s here seem to say that anything above 1 cm. is suspicious, which for me is another area of confusion. I have a node in the neck that is 1.7 in length but only .5 in width. So Im not sure if that qualifies as large since only 1 dimension of it is over the 1 cm mark. Ugh. I digress.....anyway, give these a few days and see if they are getting smaller. Do you ever take your temp. at all? If it is usually normal and spikes now, I imagine the new ones might be a cold. But I dont know alot about much, so.....yeah *smile*
Jenny

They're in the neck slightly bigger than 1cm but because my spleen's involved they might be raised anyway. Listen this whole thing is so confusing, I'm sitting here waiting for an appointment to see a haemotlogist you lot are sitting over there also tearing your hair out! Does anyone know how soon they'll get a diagnosis?

Take care,

Terri

P.S My temp goes up and down all the time

Hello to all! I have read all your posts, and hope you don't mind me jumping in. First of all, my prayers are with you all!!! I was hoping to tell you my symptoms and see if you guys had any ideas.

I am 24 year old female. About 2 1/2 to 3 years ago, I noticed a enlarged lymph node on the left side of my neck (below where the jaw & ear meet). I passed it off as nothing. Finally I saw my GP about it 6 weeks ago. She gave me a "high power antiobitic". This did nothing, so she ordered an ultrasound that showed "numerous enlarged lymph nodes greater than 3 cm in both sides of the neck". So then, a CT scan was ordered with results "numerous enlarged lymph nodes, but appear to be nonpathologic." This satisified my GP and she said I was fine. There has been no blood test and no biopsy. (About 4 years ago, I had mono, don't know if that has anything to do with it or not.) I have been extrememly tired the past several months and have had a lot of itching. The "appear to be nonpathologic" just isn't enough for me? Do you guys think I'm overreacting?!? Thanks in advance

i've had swollen nodes since december. i've been tested for epstein barr (mono) and had a urine test for infections. i also just got results form a ct scan of my neck, which simply said everything was normal. at first the nodes were only in my neck, on the sides and under my chin, but now my i'm hurting really bad between my groin and right leg and i feel some nodes there. my armpits are starting to hurt a little bit, bu ti don't feel any nodes there.

the doctor had said he didn't think i had lymphoma because "the white blood cell count was high", but i read that is an indicator of lymphoma. someone who does radiology told me the same. that blood test was from january tho and i haven't had a new test since.

so i don't know what i should do. should i get a biopsy done? i don't want to unless i should, cause i REALLY hate needles...

Before concluding the worst, consider going to a Rheumatologist. Sometime Rheumatoid Arthritis will cause those symptoms. Its no picnic either, but will answer your concerns.

well, i'm only 21 so i doubt that. i don't like the diea of a biopsy but it would prove it one way or the other.

Rheumatoid Arthritis affects infants, children and adults. It is not age related, due to the fever, nightsweats, swollen nodes, bones and joint problems as well as high white cell counts or diminishing red cell counts.

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