CLL and armpit lymph nodes

[Egypt58]

I was diagnosed with CLL last month and now have some swollen lymph nodes in my two armpits and It hurts. Doctor put me on wait and watch, but I am asking if I need to remove these nodes

[sllincolorado]

I recall that you have SLL presentation. Therefore nodes are going to be a way of life. That being said your nodes can grow if you have an infection or they could be indicator of time to treat. Sometimes they go away by themselves.

Other people will chime in but someone posted recently that radiation can be a good choice based on number and size of nodes.

I don’t think removing them is likely an option.

I currently have 1/2 baseball sized node under one arm. No fun. Ask your doc if u can take ibuprofen for pain. I would definitely contact your doc about this issue since you were so recently diagnosed.

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi Egypt58,

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We each have over 200 nodes in our bodies, and infrequently the doctors might remove one to do a biopsy- if your diagnosis is uncertain or if one node suddenly starts growing quickly. But removing nodes is not common and only done reluctantly.

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Fortunately for us, the modern targeted therapies like Ibrutinib, Acalabrutinib, Idelalisib and Venetoclax and many more, will usually shrink those nodes quickly ( a few weeks).

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There are some past postings that mentioned using heating pads or heated bags of seeds to get relief from pain & pressure. healthline.com/health/pain-...

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

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And on this page and others please look for the box labeled

Related Posts

*CLL and Breast Lymph nodes

*CLL/Enlarged Lymph Nodes

*Armpit lymph node causing dead arm?

*Aching neck lymph nodes

*Sore throat and lymph nodes...

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Len

[Ellieoak]

Have you had a recent mammogram ?

If not get one. Your enlarged nodes could be from your breast. If that’s all clear then ask your doctor if you can take Motrin or something similar. Stay safe! Anna

[Ginajetta]

I have SLL/CLL diagnosed in 2007 and had swollen neck snd armpit nodes (uncomfortable and painful at times) but no treatment and on watch and wait. I started treatment in September 2018, 11 years later with imbruvica that’s when they shrank.

[Egypt58 in reply to Ginajetta]

How did you spent the wait and watch period? I am so scared every day and every hour from what the future is hiding. How are you doing now With medication? Any side effects?

By the way I am 61 male. Some people thought I am a female and suggested mammogram.

[Ginajetta in reply to Egypt58]

I am 73 and female. For the first few years I was feeling and thinking like you. In 2010 the onco doctor i was seeing wanted me to start treatment with retuxin. I was a mess emotionally and decided to get another opinion. Thankfully I got and appt with Dr Kanti Rai on Long Island, considered The Godfather of Sll/CLL. Even though i had poor genetic markers for progressive disease he said I should not worry or think about it but to enjoy living. He said there are new drugs in the pipeline and let’s try to just do watch and wait. Previously the other oncologist I was seeing had me do full body CT scans every year. Dr Rai said no more scans. Every year having them on watch and wait Was not good. From the beginning I had enlarged lymph nodes neck, armpits! Sternum, chest, etc. By the way when I had been first diagnosed in 2007 I had had night sweats and lost weight but hadn’t thought about SLL/CLL even though I had a lump on my neck. After a six months I had biopsy which showed SLL. But I have SLL/CLL.. at the time 60% bone marrow involvement after bone marrow biopsy. In the late winter and spring of 2018, i was losing weight and started with low grade fevers, drenching night sweats on and off. I live in Florida and traveled back to see him in May 2018 and he felt I should start treatment within a few months. Went and saw him again in August 2018 and by then WBC over 300,000 and hemoglobin and platelets very low. In September started imbruvica 280 ... wbc 697,000 ..Although platelets 66 and hemoglobin 6.5 no blood transfusion but had two iron infusions. Within a month hemoglobin and platelets came up. Side effects first few days was bad headache and petecheas and nervousness. I would get a swollen joint here and there but was surprised how good I was feeling although having so much anxiety at first. I still get roving joint pains and some hip pain but really so far have felt fine. In september 2019 i had gallbladder and a node removed by doctor in florida and the onco doc i see in Orlando thought it had transformed. Took copies of my records and flew back to NY and saw Dr Rai who reassured me no transformation just what I have had all along. I have atypical CLL/SLL.

I wish you the best and wish I could take away your anxiety. Get second opionion or even third if you have too. See specialist not regular onco doc as they usually don’t know enough.

[Egypt58 in reply to Ginajetta]

Thanks for sharing, I feel it would be better if God Would take my soul quickly without suffering.

[Ginajetta in reply to Egypt58]

You will have some day’s of anxiety and you will have roller coaster feelings but it will get better.!

[aloneifly]

I also have very swollen nodes in my armpit and in my neck.

I have just started Venetoclax 2 weeks ago and no sign of them going down. I have cll.

Consultant now ordered a biopsy of my armpit node.

I do find them uncomfortable especially in bed.

[AussieNeil Administrator in reply to aloneifly]

So you have just started on 100mg per day and the full dose is 400mg per day. Patience!

[Goola]

A small vibration device - any type of hand-held instrument that can be gently applied directly to enlarged lymphs for only 2-3 minutes at a time 1 or 2 times daily has been a wonderful relief for many suffering from enlarged nodes. Worth a try, it has helped many. Best of Luck

[bigunwill2]

That’s when I began treatment with an egg sized lymph node under my arm. It was biopsied, but not removed. I had BR, but if it was today, I probably would have been put on one of the BTK inhibitors instead of chemo. At the time Ibrutinib was in trial—now there are many other options.

[Ginajetta]

PS to my previous reply. When first diagnosed in 2007 I did see another oncologist in Fl and he told me i could have 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months to live. Needless to say did not go back to him and thankful his grim news wasn’t a reality.

Easy to say hard to do think positive and see Specialist and get second opinion or third.