Sarcoidosis or Lymphoma

Hello

Thank you for letting me join this group. I hope it’s okay to post here. I’m feeling very lost and honestly quite scared at the moment.

I wanted to ask whether anyone here was initially thought to have sarcoidosis and it later turned out to be lymphoma?

I recently discovered that I’ve had nine years’ worth of chest X-rays showing persistent, bulky bilateral hilar enlargement. I was never informed, and it was never followed up in line with recommended guidance. I had to piece this together myself.

More recently, I developed pain and a large lump in my abdomen. My GP initially dismissed my concerns and suggested it was anxiety. I ended up arranging a private ultrasound, which showed several enlarged abdominal lymph nodes. After I took those results back, I was finally referred — but this time on a suspected lymphoma pathway.

I’m now well over the two-week referral threshold and still haven’t been seen. My GP is reluctant to engage further. I’ve had to attend A&E multiple times for pain relief and oxygen, as my oxygen saturations have dropped as low as 54% at times. I’ve tried contacting the haematology booking line, emailed, spoken to PALS, raised complaints — and I just can’t seem to get any response or support.

I feel like I’m not being heard, and I’m becoming increasingly frightened. At this point, I feel like I’m having to advocate and investigate everything myself.

If anyone has experienced something similar — particularly around confusion between sarcoidosis and lymphoma — I would really appreciate hearing your experience.

I have a toddler and 2 autistic older children and just worried for them all

Thank you for reading

  • Welcome to Cancer Chat, zoemichael3.

    I’m sorry to hear about everything that has been happening. It sounds like it has been an extremely distressing and exhausting time for you, especially having to push so hard to try to get answers and support while also caring for your children. It’s completely understandable that you are feeling frightened and lost with so many uncertainties around your symptoms and the delays you have experienced.

    Hopefully some members of the community who have had similar investigations involving lymph nodes, sarcoidosis or lymphoma will see your post and come forward to share their experiences. Hearing from others who have been through something similar can sometimes help you feel a little less alone while you are waiting for clearer information.

    If at any point you feel it would help to talk things through with someone with a medical background, you’re also welcome to contact our nurses. They’re available on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and they'll be happy to listen and talk through any concerns you may have.

    I hope you won’t have to wait much longer before you’re seen and can get some clarity about what is going on. In the meantime, please keep posting here whenever you feel the need – the community is here to support you.

    Best wishes,

    Renata, Cancer Chat Moderator