Nodes do swell when they are dealing with infections. When we get 'swollen glands', it's the nodes handling infection. And they usually go back to normal size when infection clears up. They don't usually 'last forever', and the definitely don't hold the bacteria there forever.
He claims it's bacteria. Did he say which type of bacterial infection? Did he put you on antibiotics? Unfortunately a lot of doctors blow it off as an infection, even though they can't find evidence of one, without checking for lymphoma.
Is it only one node? Is it on your neck right below the ears (where I'd get swollen glands as a kid) or someone where else?
Did he check your other nodes manually? The proper way to see if other nodes are involved is to have a CT scan. Some nodes are inside the body (chest, or stomach area) and can't be felt by examination.
Common areas where lymphoma appears is by the collar bone, under the arms and in the groin near where your leg is attached.
I hope the doctor can find and treat an infection. It just upsets me when they dismiss a swollen node with excuses, not diagnosis.
Can you imagine a woman telling her doctor she's got a lump in her breast, and being told it's probably a cyst and to do nothing? They do it to lymphoma patients all the time.
When I was first diagnosed I went through x-rays, a battery of blood tests for everything from mono to Cat scratch fever. I had high dose antibiotics that made me sick, but didn't shrink my nodes. The checked for oral, breast and lung cancer, figuring one might have metasticized to the nodes.
Finally I had a CT scan that showed not only were the nodes in my neck swollen, but also in my chest between my lungs. The biopsy was the last test, and proved it was lymphoma. It took over a month to rule out everything else, before they'd run the test to prove what it was.
He did say something, but I can't remeber the name. I think it ended with reactive or something. Well, the first time I went in because of it, he did not. Thelast time I went, which was this time,
it was another doctor that saw me.
You asked me if it's only one node, well I think it's like three. One in my right side, a smaller one in my left that I didn't know it was swollen until my doctor told me, and ofcourse, after the one in my right, a very small one that shares swelling. And yes, the main one is on my neck, not right blow the ears, but a bit to the left- like below my jaw.
The new doctor I saw even made a joke about doing a biopsy that I did not like at all. The very first time, I went in he checked them manually, and then ordered me an x-ray. No other swollen nodes were found.
And as you know, they diagnosed me with mono. I've had frequent infections. Like one every two months. I had a cold in October, and cold in december, pneumonia in February and a mild cold in April.
But I don't think I visit him again until my yealry check uo since he told me why it was enlarged.
The first time it appeared enlarged, I feelt some discomfort when I swallowed for just a day. Then, no pain at all.
I think that if I would visit the doctor I saw at first, he would have had a different opinion.
But, I guess I can't do anything about it now. I mean, there's only like 5 percent that ( I, a 13 year old girl) the doctors were all wrong and it turns out that I have lymphoma or maybe chronic leukemia. The inly way the'd do a biopsy, is that would be rushed tot he ER with vomiting, and high fever, and so on...then they'd be convinced. These doctors in puerto rico won't do anything! It frustrates me somethimes.
Thanks for the reply.
3 days 'till angwil's DS biopsy..prayers everthing goes well!
