Cancer Research UK main site

Diagnosing lymphoma

Elle44
Offline

Hi

I have tried to just forget about this for the last few months, but unfortunately the lumps in my armpit keep growing and getting harder. 

i have had a CT scan of my head, and a scan and MRI that included my armpits. they  came back saying there was no abnormalities, although one did say there was a reactive nose in my armpit. My bloods are not out of range, but they are all right at the very bottom, and so are my lymphocytes.

My question is can the scans rule out lymphoma? Or do you need to have a biopsy to diagnose and rule it out? 

I am trying to avoid going back to the GP because I feel they just think I'm annoying. it's when I think about it and check that lumps have grown and become harder every time.

Can I be reassured that the scan can rule out lymphoma?

  • Offline

    Hi,

    From my understanding you would need a biopsy, I haven't had one but think you would. Do you have any other symptoms? 
     

    also if you think something is wrong, keep going back as you know your body best.

     

    Carla x

  • Offline in reply to Cg1234

    Hi Carla, 

    thank you so much for coming back to me. The only other symptom I've really had is that sort of fatigue that makes you feel ill. Plus, that arm swelled up, and still hasn't gone down in 5 months. I still can't get my rings on. 

    haemotolgy rejected my referral based on my bloods (?), but I had a mammogram and nothing showed up there. I also get days of extreme breathlessness which are one day, and gone the next. 
     

    I had a huge swelling in my buccal (cheek) but ct scan said all fine. It's still there actually. Swelling in my neck. But radiologist just says, yes, they're lymph nodes. I don't know if they can rule out anything being wrong with those lymph nodes by looking using ultrasound. My LDH were slight raised, but the GP put this down to the tests being overly sensitive. 
     

    id go private to avoid the GPs impatient face! 
     

    very best, and thank you so much for answering, Elle

     

  • Offline in reply to Elle44

    Hope it works out Elle, sending love and hope it gets sorted soon, it's so frustrating. Carla x

  • Offline in reply to Cg1234

    Thank you for replying, Carla. 
     

    I still can't find anything to confirm that without a biopsy lymphoma can't be confirmed. I think I'll have to back to trying to ignore it, and trust the GP knows what they're doing

  • Offline in reply to Elle44

    Hi Elle44,

    I'm on a frustrating pathway too, but haven't quite got as far as you.

    I had an urgent referral to ENT after showing a mouth and neck lump to my dentist. the ENT experience was poor. The Dr even said "there is no lump", like I'd even bother going through that if there wasn't. He then urgently referred for an ultrasound, this was then downgraded to routine by the radiologist.

    I went for a private ultrasound, which showed reactive lymph nodes. However, the lumps have been there for quite some time.

    Went to the GP with this, and a list of other symptoms, bloods okay, x-ray clear. But the lumps are still there and have since found another two in my groin.

    I've kept a list of symptoms this past month so I can give the GP a good picture of my day to day when I go back in March (trying to speed that along).

    My GP is thorough, but he's trying to obtain as many "red flags" as possible before referring. It is like pulling teeth at the moment, obviously you don't want to waste anyone's time, but I'm serious about this and haven't been one to go to the doctors unnecessarily in the past. I can probably count on 1 hand how many times I've been in my whole life!

    My obvious concern is Lymphoma, it doesn't run in families but my grandmother had non-hodgkins, my dad had solid cancer. Both of them, were both told "it's probably nothing", "let's see", "I'm not concerned, come back if it progresses." In the end, that kind of management proved fatal to them, and I don't accept it.

    I'm going to keep pushing for a CT scan, I don't think it is definitive for lymphoma, only a biopsy can do that. However, I think a CT scan will at least be the next tick in the box to alleviating concerns.

    Just want to get to the bottom of this, but fear I never will. Hopefully, they hear me out and look to go down a path of early diagnosis to rule everything out.

  • Offline

    Hi Ellie

    I have non hodkins lymphoma grade 1 indolent (slow growing ) with some CLL (Cronic lymphacytic leaukaemia).  In my bloods.

    All started having a mammagram that showed an enlarged lymph  node under my arm pit.    They did an ultrasound and  had a needle biopsy at the same time.  

    They called me on the phone a week later, to tell me what they found.  I have a lump in my neck too that has been there for a few years now.  I was told I have probably had this for approximately 5 years already , as my bloods have been slightly elevated every time I have had a blood test.  (No one ever told me this by the way after any of my blood tests)  

    The lump under my arm , I cannot feel except for some reason if I drink alcohol, it aches a bit.  Apart from that, I don't feel it at all.  Thankfully, I rarely drink.   

     

    I am currently on "watch and wait" and have blood tests every 3 months and won't need treatment unless it becomes aggressive.     Most people don't ever need treatment. 

    Have they ruled out cysts for you ?  

  • Offline
    Hi FarmerBoy, It’s so frustrating, isn’t it. My lumps are multiple in my armpit so the ENT, having decided the swelling in my mouth wasn’t malignant, referred me to Haematology. So far, that referral hasn’t been acknowledged or rejected. Same as you, reactive node. But with the glory of the internet we sort of know you can only tell what it is with a biopsy. That makes it really hard to ignore. I think what Misty says below is really valuable. It can be incredibly slow growing. I felt really really ill for a long time but vitamins and iron seem to have sorted that out. Still have the lumps and the swollen are, but Misty’s post is reassuring. Still, you know your own body. Keep pushing. My sister has cancer so I get seen at the breast clinic every year. For now, I’m hoping that will cover any great changes. Good luck and please let us know how you get on. Elle
  • Offline in reply to Elle44

    Ha, replied to the wrong post, but you get the gist. Your post is very comforting, so thank you 

  • Offline in reply to FarmerBoy

    Hi Farmer Boy,

     

    I replied to you under Misty's post by mistake. 
     

    very best, 

    Elle 

  • Offline in reply to Misty1617

    Hi Misty, 

     

    sorry, yes they ruled out cysts. The breast clinic said the original lump was a muscle! But unless muscles start to multiply I think that's definitely wrong. 
     

    what I have noticed today is the general size of the armpit swelling seems smaller but the original lump and a couple of others, are getting much harder. 
     

    the big question is whether to ignore it for now. My GP can't seem to take on board that an mri or ct cant rule out or diagnose lymphoma. 
     

    it's interesting that your doctor took an enlarged so seriously, whereas mine have just said, 'yes, it's an enlarged node' end of. 
     

    I really am comforted by your words on how slowly this grows so I think I can wait a bit now. 
     

    very best 

    Elle 

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.