Questions about lymph nodes - Lymphomas Message Board

kjarels · 09-22-2006, 11:02 AM

My mom found a swollen lymph node in her neck a couple of months ago. Her doctor said she had one swollen under her neck, collarbone and under her arm. Well the first ENT doctor checked the one under her neck but did not check the others because he said that was not his training. He told her he thought it was salivary glands and told her to drink plenty of water and put her on muciex. Also put her on antibiotics. Well she went to another ENT and he put her on another round of antibiotics and told her to put a heating pad on the one in her neck and to massage it. This is what is so strange, the lymph node will go down to about the size of a pea, according to my mom, then it will swell up again. Do lymph nodes go up and down like that??

NY 1009 · 09-23-2006, 08:07 AM

yes they can and it's called "waxing and waning"
some types of low grade lypmhomas will do this.
they call it watch and wait method if one is diagnosed with this type of lymphoma.
OR it can be a histiological reaction your moms body is having to something in her body. they would call this hyperplasia. because the nodes are a form of defense system in our body that filters harmful stuff in them. that's their job, is to clean it up. sometimes the body can't distinguish good from bad and they will become reactive non the less.
sometimes a bad tooth can casue the nodes to swell under the jaw, or it can be the salivarly gland, but I'd be VERY concerned about the node that's enlarged on her collar bone. the nodes under our arms are easiest to detect and if a person is very thin, you will feel them. anything larger than >2 centimeters should be of concern and needs to be biopsied.

that's the first danger point and doctors become very concerned if a lymphnode enlarges there. I would run, not walk, your mother to a different doctor.

this does not sound good and if I were you, I would find another doctor.
don't give up, even if you have to travel to the next city or a major hospital that specializes in lymphoma's, go for it.

I'm glad you posted. alot of people aren't informed about our bodies if they don't do research and just listen to what doctors tell them because they have degree in medicine. so what. some drs make mistakes. some drs aren't skillled enough in knowing about the different forms of lymphomas. you can bring her to a hemotologist. these special drs are informed and specialize in that field.
I really wish you the best outcome. please keep us informed.
sincerely,
Linda