Hello MLH93, 

I just wanted to welcome you to our forum. I hope you won't have to wait too long for your results. I can imagine it must be a very stressful time for you at the moment while you are waiting to find out more.

I know it is really hard but try not to worry too much or anticipate what it might be. The best thing to do to avoid thinking too much about this is to keep busy and distracted if you can and avoid looking things up online. You are absolutely right: Google will be your worst enemy at the moment. I can imagine it is hard for you to resist the temptation to look things up online at the moment but it will help you feel a little less anxious. 

I hope you will also hear from others here who have been through all this before and that they will be along soon to share their story with you. 

Keeping everything crossed for you that everything turns out fine. 

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Just a quick update, incase anyone stumbles across this thread.. 

Had my second lots of blood done, white cell count had increased, blood smear indicated possible infection and it was negative for the three viruses they were testing for.

Dr was convinced it was a virus and asked me if I had any other symptoms, I explained I'd been having night sweats, exhausted all the time and lost weight, unintentionally. I also said my neck felt swollen around my collar bone, he had a feel and said it felt like the nodes in there were enlarged, which he hadn't noticed the first time round.

He said he would refer me to haematology to do further bloods and tests for viruses and for an ultrasound on my neck, as he had exhausted all tests he could do and hopefully the haematologist would be able to get to the bottom of it.

The next day he called and asked me to get down for a chest X-ray ASAP, managed to get in that afternoon and I was told the results would take 3 weeks to get back to the GP. 

The following morning I got a call from my GP who asked me to come in and bring someone with me, as it was back, the results are abnormal.

He explained there was a 'bulky' widening of the lymph nodes in my chest and based upon my other symptoms and age, it was looking like Hodgkin Lymphoma. I've been referred to a haematology oncologist, who I'm seeing next week.

He did say, obviously he can't give a definite diagnosis and based on the X-ray it's either Lymphoma, or Sarcoidosis, but it is being treat as Lymphoma until proven otherwise. 

 

Hello MLH93

I'm sorry to hear that you've been given this news by your GP. I'm sure that it's feeling a bit overwhelming at the moment but hopefully the Haematologist will be able to give you some firmer answers when you see them in the week. 

If you think it would be helpful to speak to one of our nurses ahead of your appointment then please do give our team of nurses a call. They're available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 0808 800 4040. 

Keep in touch and let us know how you get on. 

Best wishes, 
Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator

Further update, for anyone that stumbles across this.

I met with the consultant who did an examination, didn’t give much away and said he wanted me to have a biopsy on the largest node in my neck and a CT scan, he would then see me in 3 weeks time, by which point the results would be back.

I had the biopsy and scan a couple of days later and a few days after that he called and said he wanted me to have a PET/CT scan and that he would see me sooner than the 3 weeks, for a chat. 

PET scan was done on 10/02 and then the next day I had a call asking me to go in and see my consultant the next day. 

On 12/02 I saw my consultant and it wasn’t good news. The biopsy showed I have Hodgkin Lymphoma. The CT scan has shown definite enlarged lymph nodes in my neck and chest and the PET scan will confirm if it’s in any other places, but it is definitely at least stage 2.

PET scan results should have been available that day and were being rushed through, but I’ve still not heard anything. 

So now I’m waiting to see a fertility specialist and have heart and long functions tests before I can start treatment. 

Bit in limbo at the moment, but I’m sure that things are happening ‘behind the scenes’ and I’ll soon know what treatment I’ll be having and when.