Concerned And Scared

Hello! I am a 28 year old female who has recently been undergoing several tests. Prior to Easter I began having severe lower abdominal cramping. One of the times it was so bad, i felt like passing out and when I went to the nurse's office, she checked my bp and it was 159/99...Never has it been that high, until recently when I see my doc sometimes with all that is going on. Anyways, I was told by my doctor that I needed to go to the emergency room. So I went and I was told that I had a UTI...i took the antibiotics, but the cramping continued. So I went back to the doctor and he gave me a pelvic exam and a physical...all seemed okay at that point and they drew blood. The blood work came back normal. They then ordered a lower abdominal sonogram, sonogram of my organs and a large and small bowel exam. The large and small bowel exam came back normal. However, the abdominal sonogram and organ sonogram came back that I had a cyst on my ovary and a cyst on my pancreas. Then I did an MRI and it showed that I had a spot not a cyst on my pancreas. Then I did a CAT Scan and nothing on my pancreas, but two isolated lymph nodes over 2cm across from my pancreas and near an artery. So then i was to do a PET scan, no cancer anywheres in my body, but it did glow on the larger lymph node, proving high concern for lymphoma. So now my doc has been talking to other docs to see what is the best thing to do...either skinny needle biopsy or to surgically remove it and do the biopsy. According to the oncologist he works with, the oncologist spoke to 2 radiologists who feel that they can successfully take out enough tissue. I really am confused right now and am scared to death that I may have lymphoma...which i have no idea about. I don't have any symptoms and my doctor said that we merely caught this by accident and the pain that I had had nothing to do with what they recently found. Any suggestions, advice, direction is much appreciated. Do I get a second opinion? What are the chances of it being cancer if it lit up on the PET Scan? Has anybody had a biopsy done after having a PET Scan done and it coming out to be benign?

the PET is not diagnostic..The hot spot is a concern but there are false positives.  What you need is a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.  I believe an excisional biopsy would be preferred. 

 

On 6/14/2007 Oncrx wrote:

the PET is not diagnostic..The hot spot is a concern but there are false positives.  What you need is a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.  I believe an excisional biopsy would be preferred. 

Thank you soooo much for replying back with some hope and advice. It truly means a lot to me as I do not know who to talk to about what is going on with me. I figured signing on to this may educate me more. Sad to say, I have actually been checking my email so often just to see if I had a reply to my questions. So once again thank you for the information. So the radiologist is actually going to do a CT guided skinny needle biopsy. Once again it is across my pancreas and I am not the thinnest person around. So I just hope that they get enough tissue to make an accurate diagnosis. What is an EXCISIONAL biopsy? Maybe I should mention this to the doc when they call to schedule the biopsy. So have you heard of PET Scan hot spots on a lymph node being benign? Why would it even light up in the first place if it is not cancer? Are you a doc or nurse? God bless you!!!

the excisional biopsy gives more tissue for diagnosis but it has to be cut out.  Easier to do when the LN is near the skin surface.  Your fine needle aspirate should be OK.  The PET simply shows hypermetabolic areas.  Could be cancer, but may not be.  Let us know what the biospy says.

Hi I have follicular lymphoma. And I had biospy done after PET Scans and MRIs . They all proves that I had cancerous tumors.  Have gone through chemotherapy (CHOP) and Rituxin. You may want to get a second opinion. It never hurts. But my Pet scans have been very effective in the treatment and diagnosis of my disease. Had to have a port a cath inserted. For my veins are shot. But I also have very strong faith in our Heavenly father. PTL last week found out that I have NO Active cancer after only 6 chemo. treatments. Was scheduled for 8.  But will have to have Rituxin infusion once a week for at least a yr. Plus monitor the turmors that are still present. With Muga and Pet scans. I pray you find comfort in your physicians and proper diagnose.

I have a biopsy scheduled Wednesday to check my lymph node for cancer. I am extremely nervous after being told that I will not be put to sleep, but will be given morphine. HOW SCARY! Once again, the lymph node is across from my pancreas. Has anybody experienced a biopsy in this location? Please share or any advise is appreciated.

 

 

So I had my biopsy done on Wednesday and the oncologist's office called to schedule an appointment with me for Monday. I might be too hopeful at this point, but would the oncologist still want to see you in the office if you did not have cancer? Wouldn't some nurse just tell you over the phone that you do not have cancer and the biopsy came out normal? Or is it just evident that I do have cancer? Please provide advice.

I don't think this is a for sure sign that you have cancer.  The breast surgeon gave me my devastating news over the phone.  You still may have other matters to discuss even if you do not have cancer that require an appointment.  Positive thoughts going your way!

Thank you for your input! I can't believe, well I take it back, my primary physician told me over the phone that he thought I had pancreatic cancer and we would have to do further testing at first. Now we are here. Do you still have cancer? I hope that all is well with you.

 

On 6/22/2007 Cgh23 wrote:

Thank you for your input! I can't believe, well I take it back, my primary physician told me over the phone that he thought I had pancreatic cancer and we would have to do further testing at first. Now we are here. Do you still have cancer? I hope that all is well with you.

Hi, cgh23:

I have been reading your threads from the beginning, and see myself 9 months ago in you. What is the outcome of your situation, if you don't mind? I finished in April 8 rounds of CVP+R for my stage iv follicular lymphoma, and am in complete remission. I don't fit the norm of patients who get this: I am a 42 yr. old healthy female (and mother of 4).

Anyway, I hope you are well, and you must maintain a positive attitude at all times, even when you don't see that as a possibility.

Take care,