Hi all

Hi Kris Kris2008 and a warm welcome to this corner of the community.

I am sorry to read that you may be back on the treatment rollercoaster……let’s hope not.

I know this well as I was first diagnosed way back in 1999 at 43 with my type of rare, incurable but treatable type of Low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma (CTCL)…… then in late 2013 I was also diagnosed with another rare type of NHL……. PTCL-NOS……. more aggressive than my CTCL…… so had to have 2+ years of treatment…… click on the following link to See my story

Over my first 14 years the longest I was in remission was about 9 months….. so I do understand the rubbish feeling when you go round the treatment hill a few times……. but I turned 68 last Nov and am still getting on with life.

What ‘exact’ type of NHL do you have?

Not even sure I have it yet will find out next week but it's just like it was before in the groin area about the size of a pea

Time will tell. I have had more false alarms than actual relapses over the years….. so my simple mind set is until something is found it’s nothing to be concerned about.

If it was one of the many….. Low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma these only go to sleep following treatments.

So sorry to hear this, Kris. First, a common advise is that you do not have cancer until a pathology report on a biopsy sample states that you have cancer. A good psychological state may be maintained that way. A pea-sized node sounds to be well within normal size and in an area which has numerous nodes in order to fight infection in that part of your body. Lymph nodes up to 1cm in diameter are generally considered to be within normal reactive range. 

  Lymph nodes react constantly, expanding and contracting in response to the innumerable pathogens that somehow enter our body. Do you remember as a child when doctor was feeling around your jaw and underarms for "swollen glands"? Doctor was not looking for cancer, but rather for the common signs of infection. We hope this to be the case. 

   We are naturally inclined to place cart before horse and it can be a struggle to resist this temptation. However, what you have discovered may well be a completely normal bodily reaction to a minor and localized infection. Lacking other symptoms, I think you can breathe easy for the time being. Do let us know how you go.

I will update as soon as I know anything just the waiting for results is draining 

 If you can, might remember to simply live your life day by day. How many we read about expire suddenly to cardiac events, falls or traffic collisions on a daily basis without warning? Things put off are good to take up again in such times as these.

Got my scan results it's an enlarged lymph node and I have to have blood tests today I was on my own getting this news and I completely lost it I had my first full blown panic attack I ended up ringing MacMillan and the very nice lady talked me down for over an hour. I'm ok in myself while I'm busy but on my own I just go to pieces 

These can be challenging appointments and you are not the first person to react as you did….. blood tests are a normal part of the diagnosis jigsaw process so let’s see what the best step is.

Well done phoning our helpline…… they are great.

As you go forward I would recommend that you look to have someone with you at future appointments as the second pair of ears will catch parts of the conversations that go on.

So sorry to hear this. If the blood t4rst shows elevated white cells, that points to a common infection. You have indeed had reactive/swollen lymph nodes since birth - or even before. It is just that you had no knowledge of them. However, the primary issue identified is the anxiety. It is estimated that 1:5 today suffer from some form of anxiety - therefore you are far from alone! Since life is full of anxious situations, is there a plan to conquer the anxiety?