Lymph nodes

[meemsdream]

Is there a certain area on your body that Lymph nodes start to enlarge when you have CLL? Do they all enlarge or only some? Can they all be felt and if not how do you find them?

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero]

We have over 500 nodes and node clusters and any of them can be effected, as well as the spleen. CLL patients often have nodes in the neck and groin areas enlarge, as well as internal nodes around the heart, kidneys, lungs, stomach, bowels etc...

Which nodes or node clusters that are involved varies tremendously... internal nodes can be difficult to palpate, (feel) so ultrasound, xrays, CTscans, PET, and occasional MRIs are used, to image the situation...

~chris

[meemsdream in reply to Cllcanada]

Thank you Chris. it seems like the more I learn the less I know. I had no Idea that we had even close to that many nodes. I have looked at pictures on line and they show nothing even close to that number. Is there a certain time frame when CT, PET, etc are given? Thanks again. Maria

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to meemsdream]

New best practices suggest there isn't a need for CTscans at diagnosis, which was fairly common a few years ago.

Doctors tend to be a bit more reserved in their use, but often will scan should they feel treatment may be imminent...

PET scans are poor in CLL and are used primarily if there is a concern of a Richter's transformation...

~chris

[Petey613]

Everyone's body responds different to CLL. Before I was diagnosed I had a few very small glands in my neck swollen and dense but then I got an infection that caused my neck to nearly double in size. Thankfully once I dealt with the infection they have gone down substantially but now I have a few larger nodes and my groin and armpits sometimes get uncomfortable. They usually improve but the glands on the left side of my neck are always dense and swollen, much more than my right side.

Dont go looking for pains and ills that aren't there yet. You can make yourself insane. A few months after my prognosis I was hanging onto my sanity by a very loose thread. you're in the right place there is so much knowledge and info. Sorry for the circumstances but I'm glad you are here.

[kathypawpaw in reply to Petey613]

Hi Petey613,

I started the same way at diagnosis. But my lymph nodes were swollen on the right side of my neck and sore. They did a CT scan with contrast and found "too many lymph nodes on that side " for a person my age. (8 to be exact) My doctor bombarded me with tests from the very beginning. 2 CT scans with contrast, MRI with contrast, (is that a PET scan?). I am not being treated at the present at a CLL Specialty center just a local oncologist and am on W&W. Yikes if the nodes on my right side ever get infected it won't be pretty with so many. Right? Anyway I am concentrating on what I can do which is take very good care of myself with exercise and diet as much as possible and try to think happy thoughts. I also have no other lymph nodes that are swollen as of now and for that I am grateful.

Kathy

[meemsdream in reply to Petey613]

Thanks Petey, I am soooo glad I am here too. The answers to questions are so helpful but, the good thoughts on a bad day are very, very welcome. The sun WILL

come out tomorrow. :0) Maria

[Cleanliver]

I recently found out that my liver is enlarged. It is nice to know that others are here too for CLL It is a comfort

[Jbuckner-75]

Are groin nodes able to be felt? I have pain in my groin area for months now but do not see or feel any enlargement