Young adult - lymphoma?

Hello all.

I'm a young adult, almost 31, and I'm extremely worried about having lymphoma. I'm having 1 big swollen lymp on my neck, dimmensions 33mm, and another one not so big, but still noticable. 

However, I did a CT scan with contrast (which was painful for me because of vommiting alot), which shows 5 lymps on neck area, but not in other areas of body (abs, or lungs).

I also had a course of antibiotics for 10 days, no improvment at all.

Blood test shows normal (maybe the white cells in the upper limit), but still ok.

IGG positive, IGM negative.
So far, now other symptoms (tiredness or losing weight). Maybe, itching only in one side of leg, on one small location (which might be due other reasons, don't know).

I'm very healthy, athlete. I first noticed the lymp 4-5 months ago, when I was playing voleyball, when i turned my head back i heard probably a crack and had instant pain.
At first, I thought I thought it was a muscle strain, but all doctors rule that out, as cause for lymps. 

Since antibiotics didn't work, and the lymps aren't going away by their own for at least 5 months now (in fact i think it is getting worse), what else is left to rule out lymphoma?

I haven't had a flu or like symptoms, in 2 years, so it probably isn't because a virus.

CT scan conclusion, was "To be seen also in Lymphoma direction". As for now, is biopsy the only way to determine my condition?

I've stopped all my physical activities, and almost depressed in my daily life. As someone who did hours of sports everyday, to someone that has unexplainned big lymp nodes in neck, this is severe.

I've read so much these days/weeks about lymphoma, and unfortunately, think is my case.
Any thoughts please? 

Hi d3v87,

Most often such symptoms indicate something other than cancer. Only the doctors can tell what your problem is, so the best thing to do is to go on seeing good doctors to find out.

It is probably a good idea not to do too much sports at this time, but you can surely do some exercises like walking, and this will help to keep your mind balanced.

I had lymphoma in 2012 at the age of 68, a brain tumour in my cerebellum. I got the toughest treatment available, including high dose chemo and autologous stem cell transplant. I am now cancer free since 5 1/2 years, problem free, and quite fit for my age. Lymphoma can be cured.

Good luck!

Sten

Hello StenE, 

Glad to hear you are doing just fine. It gives me hope that this beast can be cured.

I've scheduled a meeting with doctor in august in Italy. I hope that the doctors are better there than in my country. Problem is, the swelling is always there, not going away, despite antibiotics course, and antiflammatory drugs.

So, it's not bacterial infection. 

It's either viral infection (which should have be gone by now) or, as CT scan results suspect, lymphoma.

By the way, isn't excercise recommended for lymphoma patients? Or I should abstein myself from virgous exercise as I used to?

This thing is really changing my mind. 

Hi again d3v87,

It is good that you will soon see a doctor again. Keep on with that until you get a proper diagnosis. 

Exercise is good, but perhaps you should take it a little easier? Listen to what the doctors have to say about this.

Healthy food is quite important. Vegetables are good.

Enough sleep regularly is essential for your health.

Doing good things with high moral gives balance to your mind and boosts your well-being.

Good luck!

Sten

Hello again, 

I thought I might give a slight update on my condition. I've been on another course of antibiotics these days (different kind this time), and also antiflammatory drugs, as directed from a doctor in Italy. He told me to give this a try, after looking at my CT scan and other blood analysis (which I sent via a friend).

Might seem strange, but probably I see a small reduction in mass. Not sure if it's my mind or not, but I'll use this regime for a few more days, and do another x-ray or echo (not sure how it is written in english) to look at the dimmensions. 

I have a question. If the lymps are, or will be somehow smaller, but still there, what does it mean?

This is all very confusing. 

Hi again d3v87,

Good that there is probably a small reduction in mass. Good also that you will use this regime for some time. Hopefully you will get still better.

What it means if the lymph nodes remain a bit bigger than normal, only the doctors can tell. Patience may be needed, and persistent visits to the doctors, in order to get this under control.

Good luck!

Sten

 Hello again,

I did an ultrasound today and things seems to be for worse. The dimmensions were grown up even more, and the doctor now suspects that it is lymphoma. Have 5 enlarged big lymps, the biggest 4 cm, the second 3 cm (more rounded, said the doc), and the others a bit smaller. 

Going to do biopsy next week. Because of stress, I suspect I have other symptoms (like loss of appetite, fatigue, itching.)

This is getting out of control. 

Hello,

It is stressful to get scary medical news. I had non-Hodgkins lymphoma (diffuse large b cell) seven years ago. It seemed that for a few weeks all I received was worse news, and worse news. Finally, the news started getting better - my cancer was not only treatable, but curable. Treatment began, and I felt like I was doing something about it. I was cancer free after 3 rounds of R-CHOP and have remained so. Stay the course. There is hope.

Hi again d3v87,

Well, it may be lymphoma. If so, there are good treatments. Take it easy and let the doctors find the diagnosis.

Good luck!

Sten

Ok, a little update.

I did the biopsy (FNA type), and they suspect it's cancer. But, although I heard the word lymphoma, they are not enterily sure. 

Biopsy results suggest to do a full biopsy (not sure how you call it), as soon as possible. Problem is, during august, it's almost emty the hospital, so I'm forced to wait till september. 

Obviously I had 5 enlarged supraclavicular lymph nodes, the biggest one almost 4 cm. But the doctor was worried particulary about one of them, the shape of which indicated tumor.

However, I won't know for sure until the end of december. Which only made things worse for me. As for now, I already have lost weight, but not sure if it is because of excessive stress or, cancer symptoms itself. Also I seem to be a little tired, but not sure again if it is stress or cancer.

From what I understand, to the doctor eye who vissited me, I already have cancer, but they don't know what type, that's why they need full biopsy. FNA was useless? Don't know. From what I read from FNA it was taken 1.2 cm of tissue, if I translate corretly (original language is italian).

Although it is really too soon to ask, if non-hodkins confirmed, what are the chances to live a normal life? I'm 31 years old (matter of days). 

So yeah, I already asked my fiance to leave me, she doesn't have to get through this. She is only 25, and deserves to live a full life.

I also have already ordered a gun, in case it is even worse than lymphoma.