Help please - 4yo with lymphoma symptoms

My 4 year old has had enlarged glands in her neck and collar bone on one side for at least two years that I have noticed. From birth she has struggled with gaining weight and growth. She's been under a paediatrician regarding this. She has been diagnosed with milk protein allergy and severe constipation. She isn't even 2 stone and is very small for her age. 
Over the last year she has begun to sleep more and more, I'm struggling to get her out of bed 14+ hours after going to bed, she sweats a lot on some nights to the point you can see where she's been laid (not all nights though) during the day she pale, around her eyes are red and she struggles to keep up at nursery. 
Her dr has confirmed that her lymph nodes are enlarged and we had bloods done. Her bloods have come back as FBC borderline and she severely low iron (nearly empty). However they are now doing nothing more.

I've been on loads of sites which tell me that lymphoma cannot be diagnosed by blood tests, my gut is telling me that there is something wrong and it was her peadatrician who told me that those three symptoms would be a red flag for lymphoma. 

Can anyone help with me with regards to blood results and whether this is enough to confirm she doesn't have any form of lymphoma or whether there is something more I should be doing?
 

  • If your paediatrician has said these are red flag symptoms, please mention him or her by name to your GP and demand referral to a specialist for your little one.
     

    I presume they are treating the anaemia? Praying your little one is rallying soon. 

  • Thank you for your reply, I have mentioned his name and exactly what he said and have still got no further! 
    The dr has said to me that her hemoglobin levels are ok but her iron store is empty? Therefore it's not classed as anemia. She's constantly tired, pale skin and red around her eyes. They have said they are going to start her on an iron supplement, however one dr has said not to give a supplement as this can mask the symptoms and another has said to give it? 
    I'm so confused and worried about her? I've said for a long time that something is not right with her but I'm just getting passed from pillar to post and not establishing anything. From what I've read they can't rule out lymphoma based on blood levels? Can they? 

  • If it isn't anemia I personally would do the following.

     

    1. demand an explanation as to why her iron stores are depleted (if diet is ok);

    2. Ask for a second opinion regarding the symptoms - I'm amazed they aren't more concerned about her weight/lethargy. Unfortunately sometimes you have to be a royal pain in the *** for anybody to listen. Please let me know how it goes. 

     

    As regards lymphoma, it isn't just the blood test according to the NHS.

    www.google.co.uk/.../how-diagnosed.html

     

  • Hi Mrsssmith,

    A very warm welcome to our forum, although I'm so sorry that you have had to join us for someone so young. I too would be very worried if this was happening to my child. You are perfectly entitled to ask your GP for a second opinion. I imagine that it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what is the matter with your daughter. I am not a doctor but know that many of the symptoms you describe could be attributed to her low iron levels. However, I do agree that, if you treat this now, you may mask any other symptoms - a real Catch 22 situation! Try to avoid consulting 'Dr Google', as this will only scare you further.

    I sincerely hope that you get some answers soon.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi there ...

    Just to add to everyone's good advice ... if your gut is saying it's not right .. then fight for another opinion ... my granddaughter who was 17 at the time was fobbed off for a year ... they said it was just low iron.. and said her blood tests were o.k ... even when she started bruising for no reason ... and other things ..

    It was only one night she was in pain and her dad took her to A and E that they knew something was wrong and rushed her to A London cancer hospital... where they diagnosed her ...

    Please don't wait like we did ... and even if she is fine, she needs that low iron sorted and a full blood test ... ask about her red and white cell count ... don't go in angry .. go in determined to get more tests... and ask for a copy of her tests .. I get mine from my surgery now ... and keep them all ... reach out to anyone .. I wish we'd have gone with our gut feeling ... let us know how you go ... it's your daughters health ... worth pushing for ... sending you a vertual hug.... Chrissie x

  • Thank you all for your messages sorry for the delay in answering. My gut has been saying for a while that something is not right with her. This last week she has struggled more and more with day to day things and is complaining of her head and legs being tired. I have got an appointment at the hospital on Friday where the dr wants to check her over and run some other bloods which should have been done. I'm really hoping there is a better reason as to why she is having all these symptoms and issues. Feels like a long wait

  • Please keep in touch and let us know how it goes ... fingers crossed you at last get the results to start to help her....  Chrissie x x 

  • Of course I will. Thank you so much, can I just ask you as to where the pain was with your daughter? I have noticed a lot of bruising on her. Last week she came home from nursery and had 4 bruises on her back/bum , 2 on her arms and as usual her shins/knees covered (some were there previous to nursery) I contacted nursery who said she hadn't fallen or knocked herself.  One dr told me her blood results are borderline (something that wouldn't concern them if no symptoms and as she has symptoms they are concerned) and another that they are fine. I will contact the drs today and ask for the results directly 

    thanks again 

  • Hi there ...

    It was my granddaughter,  she'd been to G P for bout a year .. he kept saying she was low iron, and because we knew nothing then, thought her lethargy was a tipical teenager ... it's only now looking back, it started with no energy... then later the unexplained bruising ... later still , she'd have problems stopping a bleed from cut or nose ... stomach ache we put down to maybe period pains ... if she got a cold it stayed far longer ..her gums would bleed after brushing .... knowing now it was her white and red blood count that would have told them how serious it was ... they never looked at those ...

    I really don't want to scare you or anyone ... most times it is something else ... but when it doesn't clear up and they still say low iron ... that's a problem ... it was only when pain got too bad and she was taken to A and E they knew what to test for and was taken quickly to the cancer hospital in London...  please keep in touch ... if you want any more info you can "friend " message me .. and I can chat more there ... so I'd say .. write all those symptoms down ... everything all together ... tell them to do a white and red cell count ... don't leave it please ... your doing an amazing job , fighting in her corner .... if only we'd known .. Chrissie xx