miriam king
04-07-2005, 10:10 PM
undefinedundefined :wave:
For about a year and a half I have had a hard lump in my neck, completely painless. Recent tests have shown it to be an enlarged cervical lymph node, to the right of my neck bone. It's now about the size of a chickens egg.Hard, unmovable and painless.
Biopsy was inconclusive. Blood tests showed there to be no viral or bacterial infection, so it's not inflammation or infection. Everything I read tells me the likely cause, if not inflammation or infection, is cancer. I wish to ask what other options there might be, other than cancer, that would cause a lymph node to harden and grow progressively. I have recently had x-rays on my chest/torso, to check for other growths/tumours. Surgery date to remove the lump and to find out what it is is in two weeks time. I very much wish to remain positive, but cannot find any iinformation as to what it could be other than cancer. Please can any one give me some other options? thankyou.
For about a year and a half I have had a hard lump in my neck, completely painless. Recent tests have shown it to be an enlarged cervical lymph node, to the right of my neck bone. It's now about the size of a chickens egg.Hard, unmovable and painless.
Biopsy was inconclusive. Blood tests showed there to be no viral or bacterial infection, so it's not inflammation or infection. Everything I read tells me the likely cause, if not inflammation or infection, is cancer. I wish to ask what other options there might be, other than cancer, that would cause a lymph node to harden and grow progressively. I have recently had x-rays on my chest/torso, to check for other growths/tumours. Surgery date to remove the lump and to find out what it is is in two weeks time. I very much wish to remain positive, but cannot find any iinformation as to what it could be other than cancer. Please can any one give me some other options? thankyou.
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Jmootrey
04-08-2005, 02:22 AM
miriam:
Its quite possible it could just be a benign tissue mass. Ive never heard of a biopsy coming up inconclusive.
Its quite possible it could just be a benign tissue mass. Ive never heard of a biopsy coming up inconclusive.
linacre
04-08-2005, 08:41 AM
Have you been suffering any constitutional symptoms? Although lymphomas often present originally with a painless mass in the neck, as the disease progresses other symptoms will show. The so-called 'B symptoms' are unintentional weight loss (more than 10% in six months), fever and nocturnal sweating. Less common symptoms include extreme fatigue, itchyness and (if it is Hodgkin's Disease), pain after drinking alcohol. Of course, lymphoma can present in many other ways too, depending on where the mass is. A chest tumour can cause persistent coughing, for example.
It would be unusual after eighteen months for no other symptoms or tumours to have manifested. The average life-expectancy for aggressive and intermediate non-Hodgkin's lymphomas that remain untreated is about a year to a year and a half, so it is unlikely to be one of these. Hodgkin's disease can develop either fast or slow, but 'B symptoms' are often to be seen. There is also a group of indolent lymphomas, more common among the middle-aged and elderly (whereas Hodgkin's disease is found more in teenagers and young adults). These grow slowly and can be symptomless for some time. Sometimes these can go spontaneously into remission before growing again.
Only a biopsy can tell what the lump is. A CT scan of the neck, chest and abdomen will, however, rule out other growths that cannot be seen or felt. The causes fpr lymph nodes to swell are too numerous to list. Although cancer is one, very few cases of lymphadenopathy seen by physicians will be caused by this. Blood tests would not necessarily show up all bacteria or viruses unless a culture study for a specific infection was ordered.
neck nodes can also swell from things such as tooth decay and ear infections.
It would be unusual after eighteen months for no other symptoms or tumours to have manifested. The average life-expectancy for aggressive and intermediate non-Hodgkin's lymphomas that remain untreated is about a year to a year and a half, so it is unlikely to be one of these. Hodgkin's disease can develop either fast or slow, but 'B symptoms' are often to be seen. There is also a group of indolent lymphomas, more common among the middle-aged and elderly (whereas Hodgkin's disease is found more in teenagers and young adults). These grow slowly and can be symptomless for some time. Sometimes these can go spontaneously into remission before growing again.
Only a biopsy can tell what the lump is. A CT scan of the neck, chest and abdomen will, however, rule out other growths that cannot be seen or felt. The causes fpr lymph nodes to swell are too numerous to list. Although cancer is one, very few cases of lymphadenopathy seen by physicians will be caused by this. Blood tests would not necessarily show up all bacteria or viruses unless a culture study for a specific infection was ordered.
neck nodes can also swell from things such as tooth decay and ear infections.
miriam king
04-11-2005, 05:33 PM
Thankyou, I very much appreciate these replies. Will write the outcome of operation.
Yes, I was told by the specialist that the biopsy was inconclusive, and was offered another biopsy which I declined, preferring to go straight for the surgery, as I had read that it can be dangerous to have a biopsy, in case malignant cells are disturbed and travel further into the bodies system.
Yes, I was told by the specialist that the biopsy was inconclusive, and was offered another biopsy which I declined, preferring to go straight for the surgery, as I had read that it can be dangerous to have a biopsy, in case malignant cells are disturbed and travel further into the bodies system.
storms_refuge
04-11-2005, 06:26 PM
Miriam, what sort od biopsy did you have done? Was it a fine needle, core needle, partial node removal?
Thanks.
Thanks.
miriam king
04-13-2005, 05:44 AM
Hello, it was a core needle.
michaelii
04-17-2005, 04:26 AM
This doesn't address the original questions, but I wanted to ask about an update..?
I have a nodule on the left side of my throat, and it is about 3cm x 3cm. It is not tender or painful.
I don't feel like it is a lymph node (no pain etc)
it doesn't move much when pressed, and it feels rather hard to the touch.
I am scared to death!! Please give me any advice or help!
My Dr thinks it must a swollen lymph gland, but I am afraid it's cancer...I return in a week to see it's progress...
I have no insurance, and the closest city is 2 hours away. My partner and I just moved here to paradise along the northern coast of California, finally living our dream of owning a Bed & Breakfast...Now I'm afraid it's over.
Any ideas???? Please.
- Michael
I have a nodule on the left side of my throat, and it is about 3cm x 3cm. It is not tender or painful.
I don't feel like it is a lymph node (no pain etc)
it doesn't move much when pressed, and it feels rather hard to the touch.
I am scared to death!! Please give me any advice or help!
My Dr thinks it must a swollen lymph gland, but I am afraid it's cancer...I return in a week to see it's progress...
I have no insurance, and the closest city is 2 hours away. My partner and I just moved here to paradise along the northern coast of California, finally living our dream of owning a Bed & Breakfast...Now I'm afraid it's over.
Any ideas???? Please.
- Michael
miriam king
05-05-2005, 08:41 PM
:bouncing:
Here is my update. ALL is FINE!
I went into hospital to have the large lymph node removed.It's LARGE, the size of a Cadburys cream egg. When I was examined by the specialist he discovered that there were more enlargesd nodes present in my neck. It was easier to go for a smaller one.
There followed a ten day wait for the result. A stressful time, as not only did I come home with the large lump still in my neck, but with the knowledge that others were present.
I received the result two days ago. The specialist told me.."You are fine...YOU DON'T HAVE CANCER".
Traces of black pigment were found in the node....thought to be migrant black ink from a tattoo that I have on the back of my head. Funnily enough, my tattoo spells out the word "FAITH".
The specialist told me that hair dye can also cause lymph nodes to enlarge.
All is well. Fear over. No malignancy. undefined
Here is my update. ALL is FINE!
I went into hospital to have the large lymph node removed.It's LARGE, the size of a Cadburys cream egg. When I was examined by the specialist he discovered that there were more enlargesd nodes present in my neck. It was easier to go for a smaller one.
There followed a ten day wait for the result. A stressful time, as not only did I come home with the large lump still in my neck, but with the knowledge that others were present.
I received the result two days ago. The specialist told me.."You are fine...YOU DON'T HAVE CANCER".
Traces of black pigment were found in the node....thought to be migrant black ink from a tattoo that I have on the back of my head. Funnily enough, my tattoo spells out the word "FAITH".
The specialist told me that hair dye can also cause lymph nodes to enlarge.
All is well. Fear over. No malignancy. undefined
michaelii
05-06-2005, 01:31 AM
congrats!!!!!!!!!
i am so excited for you!!!!
i am so excited for you!!!!
Benzi
05-06-2005, 10:59 AM
Hair dye? Thats interesting! Not something I had heard, anyone else? He must have meant an allergic reaction.
miriam king
05-17-2005, 10:54 PM
Thankyou for your replies.
Yes, apparently some hair dyes can be absorbed into the scalp, and enter the lymphatic system, which tries to clear the dye out of the body. On rare occasions causing the lymph nodes in the neck to enlarge when the dye cannot be moved any further.
re; the tattoo ink...I have since looked up on the internet "tattoo ink in lymph nodes" and there are quite a few cases of it happening. One man had an enlarged lymph node the size of a golf ball in his arm pit, which, after a biopsy turned out to be benign, yet had grown like a cancerous tumour. It was found to contain black pigmentation from a shoulder tattoo.
:-) :eek:
Yes, apparently some hair dyes can be absorbed into the scalp, and enter the lymphatic system, which tries to clear the dye out of the body. On rare occasions causing the lymph nodes in the neck to enlarge when the dye cannot be moved any further.
re; the tattoo ink...I have since looked up on the internet "tattoo ink in lymph nodes" and there are quite a few cases of it happening. One man had an enlarged lymph node the size of a golf ball in his arm pit, which, after a biopsy turned out to be benign, yet had grown like a cancerous tumour. It was found to contain black pigmentation from a shoulder tattoo.
:-) :eek: