Stem Cell Transplant

Hi Josh

i noticed a small lump under my armpit about six weeks ago and mentioned it when I went for bloods.I have no idea how long it has been there but I did have what they thought was shingles mid August. I had a ct scan two weeks ago,no report as of last Wednesday but the radiologist took a look and decided to do a needle biopsy it was apparently about 1.5 cm.. and had not changed size since I noticed itStill no news what it is but it’s worrying me . I had AML and am also 18 months out of transplant feeling great otherwise. 

hi mark, we seem to have similar history's although I had  autologous transplant and I believe you had allogeneic.?

Hi Josh,yes I had an allo. Last weeks bloods were all normal, had a bone marrow biopsy 2 weeks ago ,no results yet and the lymph node biopsy last week. Fed up of needles lol Let’s hope we both get good news soon !

hi, I had a CT scan recently and a few small nodes are present in my left armpit. They are not visible on the outsode.They have appeared since my last clear scan 5 months ago.

Is it to be expected to have these nodes 18 months after a stem cell transplant?

Hi Josh, I am 5 years post my second Allo SCT and I continually have reactive nodes, lumps and bumps.

My greatly reduced immune system is very reactive to the smallest infection that a normal functioning immune system would not blink at.

thanks Mike.

I have had lots of infections including a number of hospital stays..... but a lot of false alarms as my immune system has had to work just that more harder. Let’s look for this not to be a problem for you.

Hi Josh

My results came back last week and as Highlander said it was reactive lymph nodes . They may have to remove it at some point if it gets any bigger but otherwise leave alone.

Mark

On a similar note I am still waiting for my bone marrow biopsy results,nearly four weeks now. The lab results are good 2 x 95 % chimerism and 1x 100% and morphological remission.However the molecular results from London  of my cancer markers I do not have. The consultant has had them but the nurses cannot access them. I rang on Friday but he never got back to me. I don’t think they realise how much anxiety this brings on where a simple phone call is all that’s needed.Rant over .

Mark

Hi Mark,

Oh my goodness, I remember the crippling anxiety, I’m sure the medical teams wouldn’t leave you hanging if they understood what it was like being on the other side. I’m really hoping all is well. In case it helps, I eventually got into the routine with my medical team of “you tell me if there is a problem”. I suppose it takes a lot of trust but I got to the point where it was best for me to assume that I was well unless someone told me otherwise. That definitely helped limit the anxieties around the what if’s. Just thought I’d pass it on in case it’s useful for you, I remember the awful feelings of waiting for results and trying to interpret them - now I don’t even ask - I just leave it to them to tell me if there’s something I need to know.

Greg