On My Second Cat Scan

I am a 41 year old woman who had a routine physical last week my doctor has been watching my lymph nodes in my neck for a year.  She told me she wants them out and scheduled a CAT scan for 3 days ago. Once the results came back she wanted me to see an ENT however when she called with the results she gave me very little information other then told me it is not an ENT problem and that she has order an additional CAT scan of my chest and abdomen. What could this be?

I am not a doctor but I am a cancer patient with a lot of CT Scan experience.

Doctors don't usually take a lymph node out unless they have too but they do take a biopsy from it. I have had two biospys in my neck nodes and the second time they removed it because of how small it was and the location.

Did they inject you with iodine or have you drink barium?

If you learn that they did see something suspect for cancer then if it were me I would want a PET Scan. A lot of times they won't request a PET scan until they have confirmed it is cancer. I think one reason for this is the cost of the PET scan, insurance companies will pay for it but they must have requirements.

For your on peace of mind and the simple fact of staying healthy I would suggest you stay on the doctors unitl they can tell you why the nodes have not gone down.

BTW: Both times I have been diagnosed with cancer my blood work was perfect. 

 

Thank you very much for responding it has been a long weekend and I still have 2 more days before my second CT scan.  The first CT scan I had they injected me with iodine and the second one I am having this week I have to drink the barium.  She has not mentioned again taking them out only that it is not an ENT that I woudl be seeing just that we would decide next steps after the second CT scan.  She has not mentioned a PET scan yet.