Morning. I’m not sure where to post so thought I’d start here.
I’ve had a few health problems this year: suspected rheumatoid arthritis because of bad joint pain but all blood ok & x-rays was told general wear & tear. They had suspected Sarcoidosis which is an inflammatory disease but chest x-ray was clear. Pain eventually died down.
Started feeling unwell over the summer but mainly stomach issues, 1 week constipated then diarrhoea for a few weeks. I was barely eating & lost weight. Took 2 UTIs during the time. Drs did FBC, lots of other bloods & stool tests. Everything all clear.
Last week I was back to the Dr again but a different one this time. He spoke to one of the senior Drs and asked if I’d noticed any lumps on my breast. I had a clear mammogram back in June. I had felt something hard but assumed it was all hormonal (50 & peri menopausal). Seen a lady Dr on Monday who referred me to breast cancer clinic as she felt a lump under the breast (not the one I thought I’d felt.) Dr referred me for a CT scan for chest, abdomen & pelvis.
They have found enlarged lymph nodes in my chest. Dr said it could be Sarcoidosis (which I got the all clear from in May) or Lymphoma. Dr is referring me to respiratory to get checked out. I’m confused now as I don’t know whether the lump on my breast is to do with the enlarged lymph nodes or might I have breast cancer to. I was shocked to be told I might have Lymphoma as all my bloods were ok. White blood class etc were normal. The only thing was my iron but I’ve also had low iron since I was a teenager.
I’m trying to remain positive and hope that it turns out to be sarcoidosis but my anxiety is sky high. I’ve had really bad chest pain on and off for a while now and the rational part of me says it’s anxiety but I suffer from health anxiety and I’m now worried I’m having a stroke or heart attack.
Sorry for this being so long. I don’t really have many people to talk to and I don’t like showing my fears to my teenage children. My daughter is 18 & we are really close and she’s terrified of losing me as she has no relationship with her dad, my ex husband.
Thanks for reading x
Hi again Miss_D59a103 in all my 25 years living with and being treated fir my 2 rare types of T-Cell Non Hodgkin’s Lymphomas I have never had a blood test (I have had a lot) that specifically pointed towards Lymphoma……. It’s crazy….. but although Lymphoma is classed as a blood cancer it mostly circulates in our Lymsphpharic system and bone-marrow so the main diagnostic tools (Diagnosis of Lymphoma) are a biopsy to find what of the 60 types and sub-types of Lymphoma it could be and a scan CT/PET to stage you….
The Staging in Lymphoma is rather different from solid tumour cancers like Kidney, Lung, Breast….. where a high stage number like stage 4 is a poor prognosis, in Lymphoma it’s not. I was stage 4a back in 2013 and it made no difference to my outcomes.
Staging in Lymphomas identifies…..
1) Where the Lymphoma is presenting in the body (it can be anywhere)
2) What is the best treatment approach and best treatment type for your presentation
3) How long your treatment needs to be.
As you wait you may find the Macmillan Support Line helpful - is open between 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00…… this service provides cancer information, practical information, emotional support or just a listening ear.
Talking to people ‘face to face’ can be very helpful so do check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support in your area, do also check for a local Maggie's Centre as these folks are amazing.
