24 y/o male with possible Lymphoma - has questions.

joepet · Senior User Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 375 Location: Japan

Well, we've had people here with lymphoma and lymph nodes the size of apples who have gotten better, so being the size of a walnut is not especially cause for alarm.

In any event, there's nothing else to do for this until Thursday, and it seems like such a waste to spend that time just worrying, so I hope you have some other things to keep you busy until then.

Good luck!
_________________
Age 37 (36 at diagnosis)
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 1AE (localized in colon)
Began six cycles of R chop 21 3rd Dec 2008
Finished R chop 21 Apr 2009
Complete remission as of May 2009

Fox0r · Regular Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 20

Ughhhhh, please tell me this is normal. I just took two vicodin.

My neck hurts SOOOOOOOOOOOO BAD after the surgery. I can't get back to sleep. It hurts to swallow - if I *pardon me* push like I have to poop, it hurts like crazy in my neck.

My carotid artery feels like is swelling out of my neck. I can see my heart pulse through the skin when my heart beats in my neck near the excision.

On a side note, I noticed another swollen lymph node. It seems like they are moving downward. This one is about an inch above my collarbone. I didn't notice it until this morning after the surgery. I am hoping it is swelling due to my other one being pulled out. It's not big, but it's big enough to notice and the one on the other side of my neck in that same position is not palpable.

Ugh, my neck hurts. To top it off, my wife woke up this morning with a migraine headache crying (we have a 20 month and a 4.5 month old). I think it's going to be a long day Crying or Very sad

Luckily my mom is coming over to help.

Fox0r · Regular Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 20

Great. The doctor messed my smile up permanently too. After the neck biopsy when I try to smile half of my mouth stays limp. You've got to be kidding. What a hack job.

Fox0r · Regular Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 20

Sorry, that is an extremely stupid thing to complain about. It just caught me by surprise - I was laughing with my wife and I looked in the mirror and I have this totally dopey look on my face when I try to smile now. The doctor warned me before the surgery that it was a possible complication, but he played it off as being a VERY small chance. Rolling Eyes

Part of my jaw line is numb to touch too.

Hopefully this small chance of my lip being messed up isn't the equivalent of the "small chance" he gave me of having lymphoma. I could care less about my mouth as long as I'm healthy.

craftymama4 · Regular Joined: 23 Aug 2009 Posts: 22

Maybe your jaw will get better. Could it be from the numbing stuff they might of put there during the surgery?

Now I am scared, lol! I have 4 kids and hope I wont be in too much discomfort the next day to take care of them.

Hang in there and TRY (i know how hard that is with small kids) get some rest

ChemoMan

Hi Foxor

Don't worry its probably due to a nerve being cut. Being a peripheral nerve it will grow back. I had a numb patch around my shoulder when they went into my armpit . With time it should get better. The node they took out was pretty big in your case. I had 2 excisional biopsies the first gave me some grief because of the size of the nodes the second definitive biopsy was OK. After the first one I too was cursing the surgeon, mainly because of the nerve damage and the swelling which I thought was due to poor surgery, but really due to the nodes that were left growing very quickly, but I now consider him my savior.

Thursday you will have your answers and this terrible limbo you have been in will be over. Good luck and post back with the results.
_________________
Age 53
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... NEVER GIVE UP
RULE NUMBER 3..... Don't forget the first 2 rules

Fox0r · Regular Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 20

Does the fact that the node was the size of a walnut point to lymphoma? Or is that not necessarily indicative of the cause?

ChemoMan

Hi foXor

Sorry I can't answer that question. You will find out on Thursday.
I really can't put a finer point to this, but for the sake of your Wife and your Children you really need to calm down. You are not only putting yourself under stress, you are also doing it to your family and the last thing you need right now is a lot of complications due to relationship issues. Stress is a contributer to cancer so it is really really important that you get a good grip on your emotions. I know the limbo period is tough for you, it is tough for all of us, but for the sake of your health and the health of your family you must do something about this.

During this period try and stay away from the internet, take the wife and kids and go to the Zoo or a picnic, read a good book or watch a good comedy, anything to take your mind off of your worries. Relax have a laugh and live a little. I think it would be best not to post back here until you have a diagnosis one way or the other but that is entirely up to you. We are always here to lend a hand and you will always be welcome.

Good luck and rule number 1 is Don't panic. Rule number 2 is don't forget rule number 1 Smile

_________________
Age 53
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... NEVER GIVE UP
RULE NUMBER 3..... Don't forget the first 2 rules

joepet · Senior User Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 375 Location: Japan

I concur with ChemoMan. Anything we can possibly say at this point is pure speculation, and will only serve to keep your mind on something that you can do nothing about until Thursday.

If you have time to spare, search out a copy of "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living" by Dale Carnegie. It's an oldie but a goodie, and really helped me to get control of my life, and continues to do so to this day.
_________________
Age 37 (36 at diagnosis)
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 1AE (localized in colon)
Began six cycles of R chop 21 3rd Dec 2008
Finished R chop 21 Apr 2009
Complete remission as of May 2009

aisha1

Well done.

You have proven to yourself that you are braver than you had previously thought. So you should realise now that whatever happens beyond this biopsy (good or bad) that you are stronger than you had thought you were a few weeks ago.

Lots of people deal with sticky situations every day, and one day it becomes our turn. Some people get their turn more than others though, and I'm sure that they are the people that are in much worse cases than we are. There are people that have lost their Mum, dad, sister and other family members in earthquakes - over night! Imagine you were very poor, had little anyway, then some earthquake comes and takes your home and family (along with the neighbours) just over night, and you never had the chance to say good bye! THAT is distressing.

There are always going to be people worse off than us. There are even people worse off than them! We can't even begin to imagine the stories that some people have about their lives. You could take heart in this when you are feeling distressed, or anxious. It made me feel better myself.

I am thinking of you and hope you get better soon.

Aisha.

Fox0r · Regular Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 20

I got my results today.

It's official:

I AM CANCER FREE!!!! Very Happy

I owe everyone an apology for freaking out so badly. One thing for sure, however, is that this has been a life-altering experience for me. My wife, mother and kids came with me. As soon as the doctor's assistant came into the room, he had a clipboard with him and I asked him immediately, "Have my results come in yet?"

He answered, "Yes. They are right here."

I asked him immediately after that: "Can you just tell me now: do I have cancer?"

He got a nervous look on his face which struck me as worrying and he followed his look by saying, "Uhm, Uh, I'll let the doctor go over that with you."

I felt a sense of dread come over me and I told my wife, "That's not good."

The doctor then came in, and without hesitating I asked him, "Do I have cancer?" he put his hand on my shoulder and told me, "You're going to be fine".

I immediately started bawling and grabbed my 20 month old son and held him close to me, saying, "Thank you. Thank you."

He said what I had was "lymphadenopathy". They cannot determine what is causing my lymph nodes to swell, or what caused the one to increase in size to the size of a walnut; but he said it isn't cancer.

I am so grateful that I am okay; but at the same time, it makes me feel so sad for those who aren't as lucky. I am sorry if I blew this out of proportion. My doctor said that he was concerned over the size of my lymph node and is happy we followed through with the open biopsy.

I will continue to pray for those of you I have talked with and follow your stories. Aisha, Joepet, Chemoman - I am thinking about you guys a lot. Thank you for your kind wishes.

There are a number of others on here who, like me, are looking for their results. All I can say is STAY POSITIVE like ChemoMan said. My lymph node was HUGE and it still was nothing bad.

One thing good from this is that I'm never going to take my life for granted again. I feel like this was God's way (I am a religious person) of smacking some sense into me and telling me to give it all up and realize that I'm not in control over this life. I just need to concentrate on what is important. My family.

Thank you everyone.

konti · Regular Joined: 01 Sep 2009 Posts: 20

That is great news! So happy for you! Mr. Green

craftymama4 · Regular Joined: 23 Aug 2009 Posts: 22

Yay, that is GREAT news! I am sure mine will be neg as well : )

joepet · Senior User Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 375 Location: Japan

Congratulations, and thanks for letting us know!

I hate to say "I told you so"...could someone do that for me? Wink

I will say that, while the sentiment is nice, you WILL take your life for granted again someday. I've had cancer and chemo that may well come back again, I've told myself I'll never sweat the small things again, and yet sometimes I still do. I do keep a small diary with me at most times though, so that when I catch myself going nuts over trivial stuff I can put things back into the proper perspective.

Have a good life...I'll let ChemoMan deliver the traditional sendoff. Surprised

_________________
Age 37 (36 at diagnosis)
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 1AE (localized in colon)
Began six cycles of R chop 21 3rd Dec 2008
Finished R chop 21 Apr 2009
Complete remission as of May 2009

aisha1

Well you have proved that you are braver than you think! You have gained something from this.

That is great news, I am really happy for you.

Go get some ice cream, sit and chill with your wife and kids and celebrate.

This is not only a good result for you. Your family have been through this ordeal as well. Your wife will look like she was holding it together, but inside she will have been shittin her pants! Women are sometimes better at holding it together in sticky situations than men ***sorry guys!***. Mr. Green

I am really happy for you. Hope you get to know why your nodes are big, or what is causing them in the end.

Take care and God bless.

Aisha

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