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Lymphoma? SO SCARED.

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worried22
worried22

Hello,

I am 19 years old turning 20 on Friday. I’ve been having symptoms for the past few years that I cannot seem to pinpoint and now it is pointing to lymphoma and I am really scared.

About 3-4 years ago I noticed a swollen lymph node in my neck on the right side. It’s the size of a small grape but I can move it, but it feels sort of hard. I was told by my doctor to ignore it so I did. I still have the swollen node.

Then last year I started having severe lower right abdominal pain so I went to the ER and they did a CT scan without contrast that found swollen lymph nodes in my abdomen and an enlarged spleen that measured 14.3 cm in longest dimension. My WBC was high then but no other abnormalities in my blood. I have had several ultrasounds since then of abdomen, some showing upper normal spleen size, some showing normal spleen.

Then about 5 months ago I started having back pain and upper abdominal pain with greasy floating stool so my doctor ordered another CT scan - this time with contrast - and it showed swollen lymph nodes in my abdomen again - largest was 1.2 x 0.8 x 1.7 cm and they are primarily in my right lower abdomen - and my spleen is enlarged again, this time 15 cm in longest dimension. They also found a 5mm x 5 mm nodule in my right lung in lower lobe. The last CBC I did in late January showed a normal WBC and upper normal RBC, but everything else looked fine. Could my spleen have been enlarged this ENTIRE time? Does this sound like lymphoma to you? I’m so scared, could it have spread to my lung?

I have no fever, night sweats, or weight loss. I itch all over sometimes but it might be from taking hot showers. I have nausea and loss of appetite in the morning and occasionally in the afternoon. Would love to hear stories/reassurance/opinions from you guys as I’m freaking out here.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • harrishill1
    harrishill1 worried22

    Posted

    Hi joeyjiggs. I don't understand what you mean by a normal upper red blood count. Did you mean that your red blood count was a little too high? That would make it easier for the hematologist to diagnose your problem. I was diagnosed with polycythemia Vera at age 65. I had a high red and white blood count, and an enlarged spleen. Itchiness was one of the symptoms and sweating, red skin, as if I had a redish tan all over the body. Also, my eyes sometimes got blood red. After I was treated with venesections and later meds, some of the symptoms lessened a great deal. PV is rare and serious, but it can be dealt with and I have lived a normal life for the last nine yrs after being diagnosed. I am not saying you have PV, but some of your symptoms are similar. Best wishes, harrishill. 

    • worried22
      worried22 harrishill1

      Posted

      Sorry, I meant that it was normal but close to too high. Mine was 5.54 and too high is above 5.7. Does this sound like something serious?
  • harrishill1
    harrishill1 worried22

    Posted

    Hi joeyjiggs.  It isn't up to you to know what is too high in your blood count. You shd see a hematologist who then determines if your blood count is too high. He then does further tests if necessary for a proper diagnosis

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