Sudden Lymph Node Enlargement

[StrengthHopeLove]

I am a 58 year old female and was diagnosed a year ago. I have great bloodwork and have been without symptoms until a month ago & now have an enlarged lymph node that will require surgical removal for biopsy. The PET scan results are “worrisome for advanced lymphoma” and its hard not to mentally go down the road of full chemo and stem cell transplant if I have advanced to Richters. It’s a waiting game for the next few weeks but wondering if anyone has been in the same boat and has encouraging news, as well as advice for all of the challenging emotional ups and downs….

[AussieNeil Administrator]

StrengthHopeLove, Welcome to our community and I wish we could welcome you here under better circumstances. We do have members who have gone through the same scary experience as you, with some having Richter's Transformation confirmed and then going on to beat what, unlike CLL, is a curable lymphoma. Your specialist is on the ball; you've gone through the right procedure of checking how active the enlarged node is via a PET exam and then followed by a complete excision of the node for examination (not a needle biopsy, which could miss sampling the actively growing lymphoma cells).

Please keep us informed and know you'll be supported through this. I hope you soon hear from our members who have gone through your experience.

Neil

[StrengthHopeLove in reply to AussieNeil]

Thank you for your kind encouragement. It makes a world of difference in trying to remain calm in all the uncertainty.

[Jm954 Administrator]

You can only take one day and one procedure or result at a time. It's hard to feel positive but even if it is a transformation to high grade lymphoma then, as AussieNeil says, it is curable.

IF it's transformed then you have a few things in your favour - you are untreated for your CLL and also your younger age will benefit you. You don't mention feeling unwell and again that it a positive.

I hope this uncertainty is resolved quickly for you and whatever the next steps are, including the possibility of continuing watch and wait your CLL, you can get on with them confidently.

Please let us know how you are and the outcome of the biopsy

Very best wishes

Jackie

[StrengthHopeLove in reply to Jm954]

Thank you so much. I am overwhelmed with everyone’s kindness.

[LeoPa]

Did you have CLL or SLL? Just asking because of great lab work without treatment. Only one enlarged lymph node or many? Did anybody actually mention Richter's? Most of the time we worry needlessly. At least I do. 90% of the things that I used to be afraid of never materialized. Now I'm playing mind games with myself. I always focus on the positive. It's nothing until proven otherwise. It will not happen until it does. Every time I start worrying about something I remind myself of all the times that I worried needlessly. I quit worrying then. Come what may. Fate is fate. I recommend that you try it too, it's doable but it takes practice 😄

[Vindicatrix in reply to LeoPa]

Wise words LeoPa, and one which I support, when I think back on the amount of time I spent worrying needlessly, I think of all that energy I could have used, on my current policy, of 'Life Life for the Day' and so wish, that I had adopted it sooner.

[StrengthHopeLove in reply to LeoPa]

I have CLL and yes Richters has been mentioned but my LDH is entirely within normal range. You are so right that worry takes up way too much energy. I am trying to focus on the joy of each new day.

[BobbyFour in reply to LeoPa]

Wise words!!

[Ibru]

You don't metion what treatment you are on . My husband had one large lymph node. It was removed and that is how he was diagnosed. He has been on ibrutinib for 7.5 years and doing very well. Take hope.

[StrengthHopeLove in reply to Ibru]

Thank you. No treatment at all so far as I have had no symptoms. They discovered the CLL when I had a breast MRI and the enlarged lymph node under my arm was noted. Happy to hear 7 years!

[Wlz77 in reply to StrengthHopeLove]

7 years with Richters? This gives me hope.

[KelseyNoelle]

I also have good lab work and enlarg3d lymph nodes. Unfortunately with this disease we will have our ups and downs. If we are lucky, we learn out major triggers that cause our bodies to react. Mine is STRESS! When I get a bit swollen I cut everything off, pray and hibernate with lots of fluids. I also keep appointments with my doctor and all labs done. I thought i had transformed to Richters and my doc said if you do youll know. In other words i was too asymptomatic to worry. Sounds like you're on the ball and doing all you can at this point. Prayerfully, it'll be nothing and you can continue watch and wait. Best to you!

[StrengthHopeLove in reply to KelseyNoelle]

Thank you for the good wishes. It means so much to share with and hear from others

[StrengthHopeLove in reply to StrengthHopeLove]

Thank you and I wish the very same for you!