Re: Abdominal lesions - help!

sjbisluk@xxxxxxx wrote:
On Sep 11, 8:07 am, sjbis...@xxxxxxx wrote:
On Sep 11, 12:24 am, Mark & Steven Bornfeld



<bornfeldm...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
sjbis...@xxxxxxx wrote:
Hi all,
Hoping someone on this group can possibly give me some help, as I'm
worrying myself stupid.
Just came back from an ultrasound on my neck/clavicle, which showed a
slightly enlarged lymph node (around 8mm in length) which they said
could stem from an infection.
They checked other lymph nodes in my neck etc, and there were no signs
of anything worrying.
I then went back later to get the report, and the doctor had put on
the report (for my dr) that the enlarged lymph node in my neck raises
the possibilities of abdominal lesions(!!!), so now I'm in a real
panic as this I am assuming is a tumour!
Some history - I'm a 36 year old male, non smoker, eats lots of fruit/
veg and exercises reguarly. The past year or so my wife and I have
gone through fertility treatment, and it's put a stress on our
marriage. In turn, I have been drinking quite a bit (beer only) for
the past couple of years. Also to note, my bloods also came back fine
except for a (slight) increase in liver enzymes. We're now actually
pregnant (naturally) but I think the stress has taken it's toll as I
find myself fatigued often. Now this I also know is a side effect of
cancer too, which in turn makes me worry.. LOL
I don't have any abdominal pain, or weight loss. I have dark circles
under my eyes, but I haven't been sleeping much lately.
I go back to see my doctor tomorrow with the results, but am petrified
he's going to tell me I have pancreatic/liver cancer etc.
Any advice that *may* just put me at ease?
You deserve an explanation of what they're looking for. If the node is
inflammatory usually it will be tender. The nodes in the neck generally
drain the face, mouth, skin of the head, sinuses etc. so I can't think
how an enlarged lymph node of the neck (whether inflammatory or not)
would have him thinking of "abdominal lesions" (which is itself not a
very useful term). Don't know how much you're drinking, but that could
be enough to account for your raised liver enzymes.
I'm no expert, but if you're drinking and stressed, worried etc. it
sounds more likely to me that your fatigue is related to your emotional
state.
FWIW, my mother died of pancreatic cancer. Not that it can't happen to
a 36 year old, but generally happens to older folks. Also, the first
specific symptoms in pancreatic ca (IIRC) are back pain (for cancer in
the head of the pancreas) and jaundice for ca in the tail of the pancreas.
You can't rule out pancreatitis, which is sometimes related to
drinking. But you'd probably have pain. Do you actually have any
abdominal symptoms that could be having your doc look in this direction?
Steve
--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDShttp://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001
Thank-you so much for your reply, I really appreciate it.
Yes, my consumption of alcohol over the past couple of years has
definitely increased,
and I don't (until now) give myself alcohol free days. It's about 9
standard drinks a day (beer)
which I know is excessive.

My plan now is to just quit altogether (cold turkey) - wondering if
occasional headaches etc
would be part of the side effects.

I've also read up a little on Milk Thistle, and how it is supposed to
help the liver.

In terms of pancreatic cancer and back pain, I certainly don't have
any back pain (apart from when
I wake up in the mornings, but I wouldn't call it pain.. it's more
like I want to stretch the muscles)
and no jaundice - I do have itchy skin and dark circles under the
eyes, but this may be related to lack
of sleep. Last night was the first time in a while I've slept well.

Thanks once again! ;-)

Okay some more news/updates etc.....

Went back to my GP today, and he's told me to go and have a biopsy
done.
I went to the clinic, and the *most* embarrassing thing happened.. the
Dr couldn't
locate the node properly, as it either a) kept moving about slightly,
and b) was too small, and also
close to my lung. This happened mostly when I layed down on the table,
it's like the little blighter
vanished out of sight!

He was very reassuring and told me to keep an eye on it, and come back
and see him in a month or so
if it has gotten any bigger. He also said that in his career, a node
of that size (8mm) was highly unlikely to be malignant
for a number of reasons - firstly, the node itself was perfectly round
with some fat in it, and not fibrous and fixed like
other cancerous nodes. Also the chances of contracting stomach cancer
was quite unlikely due to my age, and lifestyle
(apart from the grog..which I'm giving up). Plus I've had no signs of
blood in urine/vomiting/blood in stools/weight loss etc.

The Dr mentioned that some nodes can become swollen due to an
infection, and some can even swell slightly (and be benign)
if they have a small layer of fat in them (as mine did)

So at least I feel a little better (psychologically) than I did last
night/this morning. It's actually nice to get a 2nd opinion.
I think the stress wasn't helping though, so I bought a B-Complex
vitamin (with A &C) which may help boost my immune system
again and stop me from being tired.

Dr #1 said it's still okay to have the occasional light beer - it
won't kill me :-)



Depends on how occasional. ;-)
Thanks for the update.

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001
.

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