Re: Bruce/lymph nodes

[Guest guest]

Well, here's the story on my lymph nodes. First, detected on CT in

June. The oncologist said probably not lymphoma and if it was might

not even treat that early. The largest was 2cm with a 1.8 and a 1.5.

Most of the others were about 1. He said he generally didn't get

concerned until they were 2 cm (and I had only one that size). So had

a repeat of CT in two months and no change. Due for CT's for both

pulmonologist and him in February. Basically as long as they don't

grow he'll continue to attribute it to other issues including the

IPF, which of course he knew nothing about at first. We had hoped as

long as in doing the lung biopsy to biopsy one of the nodes as well,

but the surgeon couldn't quite get to one.

My oncologist is what we'd all like in a pulmonologist. Sits, tells

you all, advises but says your choice. The only way to absolutely

eliminate lymphoma is to biopsy, but he wouldn't do so at this point,

and I've chosen not to since the nodes are regularly being rechecked.

The questions would get very complicated if, in fact, he even were to

determine I had lymphoma. With IPF would you even treat it? Would it

kill me before the IPF? It certainly would eliminate either way

transplant consideration. Would I want to spend the healthiest time I

have remaining on chemotherapy? That doesn't make a lot of sense in

my mind. I frankly think the swollen lymph nodes are just due to my

system responding to IPF and other things. So, at this point, I don't

even think of them. Just think to make sure when pulmonologist orders

lung CT he includes chest and soft neck tissue so just one trip for

CT's.

Now that would be a contest. Who can have the most CT's. lol. If you

get two body sections does that count as one or two. Counting it as

two, then I had 7 in June and August and due for three more in

February. Lifetime, I have no idea, but its a bunch.

By the way, don't you hate when you have to fill out the patient

health forms at new doctors? The spaces are much too small for most

of us and they don't allot us the two hours we need. List all

conditions? But the one that really gets me is the " list all x-rays,

CT's, MRI's and other tests? " Last time I asked for two blank pages

and on several questions just wrote " see attached. "

> I already had a CT from June, 2007, that clearly showed the

> > fibrosis, but they were looking at other things and at swollen

lymph

> > nodes.

>

[Guest guest]

Babs MD.

Well, now you have the MD. lol.

If I had concerns about the lymph nodes or they were approaching 2 cm

in size, I'd establish a relationship with an oncologist, just in case.

Mine is incredible. He takes time to explain and monitors. As you get

follow up CT's on your PF you can get them for oncologist too. Also, if

you have swollen lymph nodes in your chest, you may want to get a CT of

your abdomen and pelvis just to check.

For me, I have more CT's in February and don't expect to find any

change in my lymph nodes. But, we'll see.

>

> Bruce, thanks for the answer. When the next CT is done I'll be sure to

> ask the Doc what he thinks. My thought is that my lupus is causing the

> swollen nodes, but as the Doc's keep reminding me, I don't have MD

> behind my name....

> Sometimes I wonder how some of them managed to get that MD behind

> THEIR name!!!

> I genuinely like this new guy but he has yet to prove himself to me. I

> liked that he conferred with his associates on my case and didn't just

> jump to conclusions, so he got a gold star for that one. I then had to

> give him a minus check for taking a personal call in the middle of my

> appointment.

> And so it goes....

> Hugs!

> Babs in Driftwood

>