Re: Question about Lymphoadenopathy-Need some reassurance from Veteran CMLers

[Guest guest]

Hi, Fran.

Thank you so much for responding to me. I have been making myself sick

worrying over this and researching it online. Apparently you can have swollen

lymph nodes in your lungs due to anything from bacterial or fungal infections to

lung cancer. Sometimes I think having the internet to research things just

makes things worse. I did have a chest xray upon diagnosis two years ago but I

don't remember being told anything about having lymphadenopathy. Plus, my last

PCR was undetectable and I have been having consistent PCRUs since last

November. I am terrified because I don't think I could deal with anymore bad

news. Just when I felt like I could breathe a little and the Gleevec was

working, I am back to worrying sick again. One of the things that I did notice

from my blood work from the hospital was that my platelets were normal and I had

zero blast cells. Can the CML just jump out of PCRU so quickly and swell your

lymph nodes? I mean my PCR was zero less than two months ago. Please anyone

chime in with some experiences or answers.

Thank you,

(NYC)

> >

> > Dear Friends,

> > I have not posted in a very long time but I try to read the message

board as often as possible. I hope you all find yourself in the best possible

health. I just came home this afternoon as I was hospitalized overnight for an

asthma exacerbation. While I was in the hospital, they conducted some tests to

rule out pleural effusion and blood clots in the lungs and also gave me two

chest xrays. All of the tests came back fine. However, the doctors told me

that I had evidence of Mediastinal Lymphoadenopathy in my lungs which,

apparently, means swollen lymph nodes. The regular doctors in the hospital did

not know much about CML, as can be expected, but they explained to me that it is

probably related to the CML and that it is not something for me to worry about

and just needs to be followed up with a CAT scan in four months to see if it

resolves itself or needs to be biopsied for infection. I'm sure that my CML

doctors will have more definitive answers for me as I have an appointment next

Friday. I have had consistent PCRUs since las November. My last PCR was less

than two months ago and it was PCRU. Another thing I noticed is that the

Steroids they gave me for my asthma raised my White Blood Cells considerably

overnight. They also gave me a shot of Heparin which they said is standard for

all patients to prevent blood clots while laying in the hospital. I read online

that the Steroids and the Heparin raise the Whites. As a matter of fact, my

doctor had told me to limit my consumption of Steroids to times when my asthma

is really bad because they raise the Whites. My Whites are always high and

range anywhere from 10 to 14 even if my PCR is undetectable. The day I went to

the ER, which was Thursday, my Whites were 14. The following day, Friday, after

taking the Prednisone Steroids and the Heparin, my Whites were 20. I was

diagnosed July, 2007 and have met all milestones and always had high whites

despite having 0 FISH all along and PCRU. My questions are, why would I have

Adenopathy if my CML has been under control and I have consistently tested PCRU?

Also, has anyone else here had Lymphoadenopathy/swollen lymph nodes? Is this a

sign that my medication is not going to work anymore (Gleevec 400mg) or is this

a common CML issue?

> >

> > Thank you all so much for your help in advance,

> > (NYC)

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Dearest ,

Step away from the searching and breathe... Call me if you need to talk but

stop the worst case research and exhale it will help relax you a bit.

Since getting CML (we were dx around the same time), i have had a couple of

infections and some swollen lymphnodes. It too freaked me out especially when

the swelling seemed to come and go rapidly.

In my humble and untrained opinion... Infections we get ( from active lives

with germy kids...) will likely last longer than when we qere pre cml, and

sometimes it may be harder to kickout an infection. At least thats what my PCP

says.

Find a doc to trust and monitor the swelling and know that i did have similar

issues. I had to have several rounds of antibiotics and then a steroid shot but

finally got rid of the lingering and crazy swollen glands.

Keep in touch and send more details when you can.

Peace baby... It's healing,

Rhonda

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

[ ] Re: Question about Lymphoadenopathy-Need some reassurance from

Veteran CMLers

Hi, Fran.

Thank you so much for responding to me. I have been making myself sick

worrying over this and researching it online. Apparently you can have swollen

lymph nodes in your lungs due to anything from bacterial or fungal infections to

lung cancer. Sometimes I think having the internet to research things just

makes things worse. I did have a chest xray upon diagnosis two years ago but I

don't remember being told anything about having lymphadenopathy. Plus, my last

PCR was undetectable and I have been having consistent PCRUs since last

November. I am terrified because I don't think I could deal with anymore bad

news. Just when I felt like I could breathe a little and the Gleevec was

working, I am back to worrying sick again. One of the things that I did notice

from my blood work from the hospital was that my platelets were normal and I had

zero blast cells. Can the CML just jump out of PCRU so quickly and swell your

lymph nodes? I mean my PCR was zero less than two months ago. Please anyone

chime in with some experiences or answers.

Thank you,

(NYC)

> >

> > Dear Friends,

> > I have not posted in a very long time but I try to read the message

board as often as possible. I hope you all find yourself in the best possible

health. I just came home this afternoon as I was hospitalized overnight for an

asthma exacerbation. While I was in the hospital, they conducted some tests to

rule out pleural effusion and blood clots in the lungs and also gave me two

chest xrays. All of the tests came back fine. However, the doctors told me

that I had evidence of Mediastinal Lymphoadenopathy in my lungs which,

apparently, means swollen lymph nodes. The regular doctors in the hospital did

not know much about CML, as can be expected, but they explained to me that it is

probably related to the CML and that it is not something for me to worry about

and just needs to be followed up with a CAT scan in four months to see if it

resolves itself or needs to be biopsied for infection. I'm sure that my CML

doctors will have more definitive answers for me as I have an appointment next

Friday. I have had consistent PCRUs since las November. My last PCR was less

than two months ago and it was PCRU. Another thing I noticed is that the

Steroids they gave me for my asthma raised my White Blood Cells considerably

overnight. They also gave me a shot of Heparin which they said is standard for

all patients to prevent blood clots while laying in the hospital. I read online

that the Steroids and the Heparin raise the Whites. As a matter of fact, my

doctor had told me to limit my consumption of Steroids to times when my asthma

is really bad because they raise the Whites. My Whites are always high and

range anywhere from 10 to 14 even if my PCR is undetectable. The day I went to

the ER, which was Thursday, my Whites were 14. The following day, Friday, after

taking the Prednisone Steroids and the Heparin, my Whites were 20. I was

diagnosed July, 2007 and have met all milestones and always had high whites

despite having 0 FISH all along and PCRU. My questions are, why would I have

Adenopathy if my CML has been under control and I have consistently tested PCRU?

Also, has anyone else here had Lymphoadenopathy/swollen lymph nodes? Is this a

sign that my medication is not going to work anymore (Gleevec 400mg) or is this

a common CML issue?

> >

> > Thank you all so much for your help in advance,

> > (NYC)

> >

>

[Guest guest]

,

I agree with Rhonda, although it seemed freaky at the time to be told I had

swollen lymph glands, they turned out to be nothing serious. Eventually mine

just went down on their own. My doctor monitored with CAT scans every 3 months

and all was well. Have a good visit with your doctor. Be well.

Fran

> > >

> > > Dear Friends,

> > > I have not posted in a very long time but I try to read the message

board as often as possible. I hope you all find yourself in the best possible

health. I just came home this afternoon as I was hospitalized overnight for an

asthma exacerbation. While I was in the hospital, they conducted some tests to

rule out pleural effusion and blood clots in the lungs and also gave me two

chest xrays. All of the tests came back fine. However, the doctors told me

that I had evidence of Mediastinal Lymphoadenopathy in my lungs which,

apparently, means swollen lymph nodes. The regular doctors in the hospital did

not know much about CML, as can be expected, but they explained to me that it is

probably related to the CML and that it is not something for me to worry about

and just needs to be followed up with a CAT scan in four months to see if it

resolves itself or needs to be biopsied for infection. I'm sure that my CML

doctors will have more definitive answers for me as I have an appointment next

Friday. I have had consistent PCRUs since las November. My last PCR was less

than two months ago and it was PCRU. Another thing I noticed is that the

Steroids they gave me for my asthma raised my White Blood Cells considerably

overnight. They also gave me a shot of Heparin which they said is standard for

all patients to prevent blood clots while laying in the hospital. I read online

that the Steroids and the Heparin raise the Whites. As a matter of fact, my

doctor had told me to limit my consumption of Steroids to times when my asthma

is really bad because they raise the Whites. My Whites are always high and

range anywhere from 10 to 14 even if my PCR is undetectable. The day I went to

the ER, which was Thursday, my Whites were 14. The following day, Friday, after

taking the Prednisone Steroids and the Heparin, my Whites were 20. I was

diagnosed July, 2007 and have met all milestones and always had high whites

despite having 0 FISH all along and PCRU. My questions are, why would I have

Adenopathy if my CML has been under control and I have consistently tested PCRU?

Also, has anyone else here had Lymphoadenopathy/swollen lymph nodes? Is this a

sign that my medication is not going to work anymore (Gleevec 400mg) or is this

a common CML issue?

> > >

> > > Thank you all so much for your help in advance,

> > > (NYC)

> > >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Fran and Friends,

I saw my Oncologist today and he feels that the swollen lymph nodes are a

direct result of the upper respiratory infection that I have been fighting. He

put me on additional antibiotics and is continuing me on the Prednisone in order

for me to taper it off. My WBC was 23000 today and he said that is due to the

infection that I am fighting and the steroids. My whites are normally high

always ranging between 10 and 14 so this makes sense. My last PCR on April 3

was undetectable and I have been PCRU since last November. He wants me to heal

from this infection and will check my numbers on June 12th after I have tapered

off the Prednisone. At that point, he says he will order a CAT scan of my lungs

to see what is going on. He feels that chest xrays are not very reliable and

that we will see a decrease in the lymph nodes after I get over this infection.

Also, I wanted to comment that, according to Carolyn Blasdel, Dr. Druker's

Nurse, it is okay to take Zithromax with Gleevec. I read some previous posts

that stated it was not okay to take this antibiotic but it seems that it is

Erythromycin and the other two " mycins " that are not okay to take with Imatinib.

I wanted to post my WBC because I am one of those people who has low PCR and

maintains an above normal white blood cell count. I have read of others who

steadily have high whites also. Maybe that will help someone like me not to

worry so much. You usually read about CMLers having low counts but some of us

always have higher whites and still test well on the molecular level. My

Specialist at Cornell told me he doesn't worry about what is happening with the

whites as long as everything is okay on the molecular level. Thank you all for

your feedback and I will let you all know what happens with my CAT scan in June.

God willing, it is nothing serious...

NYC

> > > >

> > > > Dear Friends,

> > > > I have not posted in a very long time but I try to read the message

board as often as possible. I hope you all find yourself in the best possible

health. I just came home this afternoon as I was hospitalized overnight for an

asthma exacerbation. While I was in the hospital, they conducted some tests to

rule out pleural effusion and blood clots in the lungs and also gave me two

chest xrays. All of the tests came back fine. However, the doctors told me

that I had evidence of Mediastinal Lymphoadenopathy in my lungs which,

apparently, means swollen lymph nodes. The regular doctors in the hospital did

not know much about CML, as can be expected, but they explained to me that it is

probably related to the CML and that it is not something for me to worry about

and just needs to be followed up with a CAT scan in four months to see if it

resolves itself or needs to be biopsied for infection. I'm sure that my CML

doctors will have more definitive answers for me as I have an appointment next

Friday. I have had consistent PCRUs since las November. My last PCR was less

than two months ago and it was PCRU. Another thing I noticed is that the

Steroids they gave me for my asthma raised my White Blood Cells considerably

overnight. They also gave me a shot of Heparin which they said is standard for

all patients to prevent blood clots while laying in the hospital. I read online

that the Steroids and the Heparin raise the Whites. As a matter of fact, my

doctor had told me to limit my consumption of Steroids to times when my asthma

is really bad because they raise the Whites. My Whites are always high and

range anywhere from 10 to 14 even if my PCR is undetectable. The day I went to

the ER, which was Thursday, my Whites were 14. The following day, Friday, after

taking the Prednisone Steroids and the Heparin, my Whites were 20. I was

diagnosed July, 2007 and have met all milestones and always had high whites

despite having 0 FISH all along and PCRU. My questions are, why would I have

Adenopathy if my CML has been under control and I have consistently tested PCRU?

Also, has anyone else here had Lymphoadenopathy/swollen lymph nodes? Is this a

sign that my medication is not going to work anymore (Gleevec 400mg) or is this

a common CML issue?

> > > >

> > > > Thank you all so much for your help in advance,

> > > > (NYC)

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >