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Possibly cancer?

17 replies

Nikki2ol6 · 27/07/2019 14:21

my partner is 39, he’s healthy and active and not over weight. About 3 weeks ago he got a cramp in his calf one night. The pain didn’t go away and after a few days he went to A&E where they took blood then sent him for an ultrasound, he was diagnosed with a DVT (clot in his leg) and put onto blood thinners. 2 days later he noticed a swelling just above his collarbone and was breathless so he went back to the hospital and they did an X-ray to check for a PE, the X-ray was clear and they said it’s very possible it’s a small clot in the lung and to keep up with the blood thinners, he did mention to them the swelling and pointed it out to them and they did not at all seam worried about that. A week later he had an appointment at the thrombosis clinic to discuss his blood clot and what treatment he will need, they asked him how he got a clot in the first place? He said it just happened in the middle of the night, they asked if he had been on a long haul flight? Or if he had been suffering from cancer!? He said no! But that question worried us, why would this even ask that? I didn’t understand what a DVT had to do with cancer. So two days ago he woke up and he had pain in his neck where his thyroid is, he rang the drs yesterday and they made him an emergency appointment. He went in and told them about this pain in his neck and the swelling above the collar bone and as they felt the swelling they said under that swelling is a hard lump! Then when they noticed he was suffering from a DVT, they asked about his other symptoms he said he’s having night sweats which has been going on for over a month and the breathlessness which we assume is caused by a small PE although it’s never been confirmed, also the blood thinning medication says one of the side effects can be breathlessness. He also keeps falling asleep. The dr was worried and has sent a referral for a CT Scan and told him to wait for the letter to come with his appointment. He came home and we were left a bit confused so decided to google his symptoms. The DVT, the lump above the collarbone, breathless, night sweats. All that keeps coming up is lymphoma! The lump is hard and maybe like 1.5cms long and maybe less then 1cm wise. It feels attached to something and can’t really be moved much but you can wobble it from side to side. It doesn’t hurt him at all. We are so worried about this. How long will it take for the scan? Is there anyway to get things moving quicker? Could it really be cancer?

OP posts:
yoohooitsme · 27/07/2019 14:51

If the doctor suspects cancer then they use a special referral process designed to make sure he will be seen by a consultant team within 2 weeks. Test results then if necessary treatment would all follow urgently.

Emptyspacex · 27/07/2019 16:43

I've heard it's more common to get dvt/pe when on treatment for cancer so maybe that's why they asked about that. Not too sure about the rest, hope your partner gets seen soon x

Sooverthemill · 28/07/2019 12:09

I had Lymphoma and if your GP suspects it you get zoomed through to diagnostic tests very fast. I went in Friday had tests at local hospital Monday, Thursday and Friday and was at big hospital 2 weeks later having diagnosis confirmed. Treatment began within a week. It sounds like an enlarged lymph node near his clavicle. His other symptoms do make it sound like lymphoma. You are bound to worry. But it may not be Lymphoma. It may be something else entirely. Ime the NHS do cancer extremely well. It is possible that he has two separate things going on. I had breathlessness, severe itchiness, huge lymph node, total utter exhaustion, put in weight through inactivity caused by fatigue and breathlessness and I also caught every single virus going. I didn't realise that these symptoms had been for about 18 months but when I sat down and talked to GP about why was I so bloody tired and this huge lump it all came together. Good luck. Lymphoma is very treatable. I'm still alive!

Sooverthemill · 28/07/2019 12:10

Oh and chemo does make you more susceptible to clots. That's why they ask

notapizzaeater · 28/07/2019 12:11

The nhs is very good if they even consider it might be cancer, you should be out the other side in 2 weeks so not long to worry. Hope it's all ok.

iVampire · 28/07/2019 12:24

Lymphoma is mainly diagnosed by biopsy of a suspect node and various blood tests, scans and bone marrow biopsy as well.

The collection of symptoms he has, does suggest that lymphoma should be considered (and hopefully ruled out ASAP).

Did he mention all the symptoms to the GP? Did he ask if it could be lymphoma?

Blood cancers are all-too-often diagnosed quite late, because the symptoms are fairly non-specific. As you are worried, and as your worries are plausible, it is worth pushing.

But not panic stations yet - firstly it might not be lymphoma at all. Secondly, even if it is, treatments for some blood cancers have been revolutionised with new treatments in the last couple of decades.

So don’t google, because a fair amount of the older and scarier info is still out there on line. If you really cannot help it, stick to reputable sites such as Lymphoma Action or Bloodwise

Sooverthemill · 28/07/2019 12:38

Oh and I had a phone call about my first scan I didn't have to wait for Royal Mail letter

Nikki2ol6 · 28/07/2019 14:28

Thank you everyone. With it being a weekend and everywhere closed and no post today makes it seam like it’s taking forever. He did mention the night sweats and breathlessness and the tiredness but these can be side effects from his blood thinning medication so it’s so hard to tell if it’s from these, or the blood clot. Or something else. Hopefully he gets a letter or phone call tomorrow however he’s going to ring up the hemayology clinic as they are based in the same hospital and see if they can do anything about it

OP posts:
Sooverthemill · 29/07/2019 11:49

How are you doing today? Any luck with advice?

Nikki2ol6 · 30/07/2019 17:49

He rang his consultant up who is dealing with the blood clot side of things who is based at the same hospital the scan will be at and she said she can see on her computer it says urgent and is in red! So she said to wait until Friday for a letter and ring her back if nothing as she can chase it. They also want him in next week at his thrombosis clinic to feel all of his lymph nodes and his stomach. He’s had some bloods took today to check his thyroid and a full blood count so as of yet we are still no further forward and still very worried

OP posts:
Sooverthemill · 30/07/2019 20:23

I'm sorry you have to wait, the waiting is the very worst part. Even when the system is being as fast as it can go. It sounds like they are on the case so try try try to do something nice for yourselves while waiting

SnowsInWater · 31/07/2019 01:34

I hope everything comes back clear but can I just add my voice to the "do not google" team. According to Dr Google the survival rate for my rather rare type of breast cancer is shit, not what my treatment team is telling me! Treatments for most cancers improve all the time but the Internet doesn't always keep up. Good luck x

Nikki2ol6 · 01/08/2019 10:25

Today his results came back from his blood tests and it was a full blood count and that was all normal. His scan is next Wednesday. He’s still feeling poorly but we are keeping ours fingers crossed 🤞🏼

OP posts:
Sooverthemill · 01/08/2019 11:12

Fingers crossed

ToLiveInPeace · 01/08/2019 13:33

That sounds reassuring. Fingers crossed too.

Hotpinkangel19 · 02/08/2019 13:44

Hopefully it's good news.

Usernumbers1234 · 02/08/2019 13:49

OP that’s very promising, blood tests would likely be another important marker if it was lymphoma.

Went through a similar panic myself not long ago and it was all ok. That lumpy lymph node will likely just be reacting to the other medical issues, dvt etc

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