From your experience, what would you do.... - Lymphomas Message Board

laura1960 · 08-28-2008, 12:00 PM

Hi Everyone,

I found very helpful info on these boards as a lurker a year ago when my nephew was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Hodgkins lymphona. Now I am here with a question for myself.

Several months ago I had a soft tissue neck MRI done and it showed an anterior node that measured 1.9 x 0.7 cm. My doc referred me to a specialist for further evaluation, and he said I could really go either way with it, have it surgically biopsied (he thinks if we're going to biopsy we should do surgical, not needle) or wait and do a repeat MRI in another 3 months. After great difficulty in deciding and for several reasons, I decided to wait.

Now I've just had the repeat MRI done and the node has stayed the exact same size. There's also a node on the other side that's 1.3 that's stayed the same. So the good news is nothing has grown, and the bad news is nothing has shrunk (which of course is what I was hoping for)! The specialist still thinks we could keep monitoring it, but was slightly on the side of doing the biopsy, just for my peace of mind and my gp's peace of mind (she recommended from the beginning that I have it done).

In terms of other symptoms, a few months ago I went through a month or two where I was having low grade fevers every evening, but that passed and I rarely have fever now. I do wake up occasionally with night sweats - maybe twice a week or so - but I am also a 47 yr. old woman so I'd been attributing that to perimenopause.

I'm not great at decision-making to begin with so the size of this lymph node is difficult for me...I feel like if it were bigger I'd definitely have the biopsy and if it were smaller I'd definitely just monitor, but it's right on the line. Does anyone have any experience that would lead you to an opinion to share?

Thanks,
Laura

DebM412 · 08-28-2008, 12:59 PM

I would just have it biopsied - PEACE OF MIND MEANS A LOT!!!!!

Bofonic · 08-28-2008, 03:49 PM

What Deb said. When it comes to your health you can never be too careful.

lymphpre · 08-29-2008, 05:02 AM

I would tend to push for biopsy. It is clearly something that worries you, and a relatively minor operation is a small price to pay for peace of mind. If it were something serious, and we all hope that will not be the case, things are better tackled at an early stage.

laura1960 · 08-29-2008, 10:24 AM

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to respond. I'm going to go ahead.

Next question....I'm trying to figure out how much I need to re-schedule of my work schedule (of course, wouldn't you know, the only date my surgeon can do it if I'm not to wait til November, is just before I'd had numerous things scheduled involving many, many people!).

I'm thinking it might be too risky to think I'll be ready to give a training to 25 people 3 days after the surgery, so am thinking to reschedule that one...but if any of you have been through this, do you think I'll be ok to do 3 such trainings 6, 8 and 10 days later?

Thanks for any help,
Laura