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Lymph node question

Forums Cutaneous Melanoma Community Lymph node question

  • Post
    kathycmc
    Participant

      My daughter was diagnosed stage 3b 5 years ago.  The melanoma was nodular in type and on her right neck (developed in an existing mole).  She had a WLE and SLNB which all showed negative for melanoma in tissue and lymph node.  A month later a lymph node near the area became enlarged and FNA was positive for melanoma.  She had a lymph node disection (26 nodes) and partial removal of the parotid gland on the right side.  Everything was negative except for the one lymph node we already knew about.  She then completed 3 courses of biochemotherapy (so glad they have less brutal adjuvant treatments now).  All of her scans have been completely clear with no areas of concern.  Prior to her 5 year scan she noticed an enlarged lymph node under her chin.  They did the scan and determined the node is 1 mm larger than it was in the most recent scan (6 months ago).  The weird thing is the lymph node changes size throughout the day and from day to day.  I have felt it myself and it was larger in the morning and not palpable in the afternoon.  She is scheduled to have it removed and biopsied but I wondered if this is something anyone else has experienced.  

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    • Replies
        Brittany1999
        Participant

          Hopefully this is just a case of little drainage during the night and then better drainage when vertical during the day. Doctor may prescribe an antibiotic first in order to see if the lymph node is fine and just fighting something benign.

          Suebette4467
          Participant

            Not to be nosey,but how old is your daughter? Her story is my story expect i am only 3 months in just started chemotherapy opdivo. I am a 3 C. But I couldn't find anyone who was going through exactly what I have been through. Thank you  and God bless and good luck.

              kathycmc
              Participant

                She was diagnosed when she was 24 and she is now 30.    

                MarkR
                Participant

                  I have had similar with lymph nodes and they were described as reactive and they went back to normal after a while.  It’s very difficult but try not to touch them as it just aggravates and they get bigger, you get my paranoid and touch them more and it keeps going round

                  kathycmc
                  Participant

                    Thanks so much for responding.  She did elect to have the lymph node removed as she wants to start a family if she is 5 years NED.  Today the results came back negative.  No melanoma, or anything really, so I guess she just had a reactive lymph node as you said.  Officially 5 years NED – best day ever!

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