Hi Sparkles- just wanted to say I'm sorry about the lymph nodes news. This sounds similar to my experience last year. I had 3 lymph nodes which showed as cancerous when the sample was taken. I therefore had chemo. I had bone and CT sacn and those were no problem apart from drinking the large amount of strange white liquid.
My onc said it was important to get going with the chemo - ie that was the priority ahead of removing rest of lymph nodes, as the chemo was more critical in terms of cure.
So then I had to wait about 5 weeks for my infection to clear up, then started chemo, then after 2 cycles of chemo (I think it was 2) I had the rest of my nodes removed. I thought this would be diabolical, but managed to get through OK! And no further cancer was found.
The 2nd op for the lymph gland removal was not as bad (for me) as the first. After the first I had nasty stinging pain under my arm and along it, for 3-5 weeks, (possibly partly due to the infection) but after 2nd op I bounced back quickly without anything like the pain level. Took no pain-killers 2nd time.
Then resumed chemo and slogged on through to the end!
Just thought you might want to know how it was for me, as you might have a similar journey. Its tough but doable and here I am, back at work full time. There are good tips re chemo on the BCC site but don't let that site scare you too much. I terrified myslef somewhat = about how chemo would be, and it wasn't as awful as I'd feared. It does vary from one individual to another and if you do have it you'd be closely monitored and we'd be here for support. You'll prob have lots of questions in due course, but we can help!