Anyone with experience with enlarged lymph nodes

[DebE13]

This isn't MC related but I get so many good insights here.......

I just got news today that the lymph node we have been watching for the past year has grown. Last year there was debate about if it was a calcified lymph node or an undocumented surgical clip from my total thyroidectomy surgery in 2013. I had an FNA done and it came back inconclusive. It was near my jugular vein, very painful, and I believe he gave up. This year it has grown but the radiologist is not concerned enough to order another FNA and recommends waiting six months to have another ultrasound. I was also just diagnosed with Lyme's and was taking my course of doxycycline when I had the ultrasound. The nurse commented that if the inflammation was caused by something bacterial more lymph nodes would be enlarged. I am very concerned and do not like the idea of waiting but what are the alternatives?

The nurse tried to make me feel better by saying it's very unlikely it's cancer (again) but I was told that my first time around so I have little faith in good hopes. I tend to draw the short straw in most health situations.

Can anyone give me some background why it just can't be removed? Why not just slice the little bugger out and call it done?

I know the micro carcimonas/over treatment debate is hot but in my mind cancer is not anything I want to play the wait and see game with. Cancer does one thing- it grows and it spreads so why wait? Just take it out while it still looks "good" and let me stop obsessing over what's waiting down the road for me. Granted, we don't know what it is yet but how long should one node stay inflamed?

I'm also playing the wait and see game with my poops. They are not Normans anymore like they were when I was taking the docycycline but loose. My only good hope is it's only 2-3 time a day but it seems to be gassier which makes me think my short stent of feeling normal in the MC department is coming to an end. SIBO may be my missing piece of the MC puzzle.

Feeling frustrated.

[sunny]

Gosh, I don't blame you for feeling frustrated and wanting to just take it out & call it done....you are dealing with so much and then the gut issues on top of everything!i know nothing personally about cancer but know I'd be scared....hoping they will see it your way....
Sunny

[DebE13]

Thanks Sunny,

I just scheduled an appointment with the surgeon who removed my thyroid. He is an otolaryngologist so all he deals with is the neck area. A second opinion from someone who has received awards, been published in journals, and made the cover of one will help ease my mind (a little bit). I'm sure he has seen a lot in his experience so I am looking forward to the appointment. I was lucky..... I couldn't get in until October but called back later in the day to ask to be put on a call back list for anything that might open up and I got an appointment in a couple weeks. He may tell me to wait and see too but maybe not.

I plan to get a thermal scan too just to satisfy my curiosity and compare it to the last one I had before the cancer was removed.

[sunny]

Deb,
That's great...I'm one who has gotten second opinions that were extremely helpful....( my cardiologist said my arteries were 70% blocked and I would need stents soon.....second opinion actually read the test, not the conclusion and assured me they were 30% blocked! )
I'll look forward to hearing what the surgeon says...plus the results of he thermal scan....I'm not familiar with that procedure.
I'm inspired by how you advocate for yourself! You really have to!!
Sunny

[Erica P-G]

Anything to do with the Lymph nodes needs to be watched closely....they don't lie, they are acting up for a reason and I believe we need to heed that message.

Regardless if we have MC...you know your body better than anyone, don't stop getting answers!
Hugs
Erica

[tex]

FWIW, my lymph nodes were usually swollen when my MC was active, especially under my jaws and elsewhere on my neck.

Tex