Apologies if this is the wrong forum. I’m posting about my sister in law who has been unwell for around 6 weeks but also experienced some strange symptoms back in October 2024.
In October 2024, extreme itching down below and unable to shift “thrush”. Back and forth to chemist and GP to get cream/antibiotics.
December 2024. Started to get fevers. No other symptoms. Would end up going to work and then a fever would come on in the evening and she would be so exhausted she would fall asleep. Put this down to being a mum to 2 children under 3. Itching started. Visit to the GP who told her to take antihistamines and gave cream. Didn’t work. Experienced night sweats and feeling full when only eating a small amount. Plus breathlessness and the need to drink lots but urine remaining a dark colour. Back to the GP who said they were concerned about some enlarged glands. Recommended a blood test but couldn’t get one for weeks.
Eventually had the bloods done which I haven’t seen in detail but I know that vitamin D is low, lymphocytes are high and also a number of others are abnormal. GP said could be Hodgkins Lymphoma although glands/lymph nodes have gone down. Said she can’t be referred as it will be rejected because they put all of her fevers back in December down to her having the flu (although she didn’t have any flu symptoms - just the fevers). Now needs another blood test to see if the abnormal results are still abnormal.
What do we need in order to get a referral? I feel the GP seems a bit clueless in that she has so many red flag symptoms and that her enlarged lymph nodes could be ones that can’t be felt. The blood test isn’t until next week and then we will have to wait for results and it’s just all taking so much time. I had hoped she would have been referred by now. So scary as if it is she has two very young children & I don’t think she gets sick pay either.
What other tests should be done before a referral? Thank you.
Hi Spurwars and a second welcome to this corner of the Community although I am sorry to see you joining us and to hear about your sister.
I am Mike and I help out around our various Lymphoma groups. I don’t have Hodgkin's Lymphoma but for some context I was diagnosed way back in 1999 at 43 with my first type of Low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma) ……. eventually reaching Stage 4a in late 2013 when a second aggressive type of fast growing High-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma was then presenting so I most definitely appreciate the challenges of this journey rather well.
Lymphoma in general can at times be hard to diagnose and most GPs will only have limited experience of Lymphomas and the tools to dig deeper to get to the truth.
On the whole blood tests will not give a lot of information about Lymphoma but can highlight there is 'something off' and needs to be followed up....... this is actually crazy as Lymphoma is classed as a Blood Cancer and in all my 25+ years I have never had a blood test that raised a Lymphoma Red Flag!!!
GPs will most likely only act if there are clear signs of Lymphoma symptoms........ but I would suggest that your sister keeps her pointy elbows in the system and push for answers......if her GP is actually saying that they are in anyway suspecting Lymphoma this should be followed up with a referral.
Even after a referral there is a timeframe where a Heamatologist will go through a set of tests to get a clear Diagnosis of Lymphoma this actually can take some time.
We are always around to help as best as we can.
It is unfortunate that some GPs do drag their feet but just keep your pointy elbows in their doors and keep insisting that you need further tests ((hugs))
Sorry to hear that things are dragging on….. some symptoms do come and go….. but that is often the case with lots of illnesses. She needs to call the surgery tomorrow and keep pushing the system.
