Swollen lymph nodes (Stage 1b, Negative SLNB, WLE)
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Swollen lymph nodes (Stage 1b, Negative SLNB, WLE)

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Swollen lymph nodes (Stage 1b, Negative SLNB, WLE)

  • This topic has 4 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 7 years ago by MMH.
  • Post
    • November 27, 2018 at 6:03 am
    Zap_
    Participant

    Hi everybody,

    Would like to get your opinion on what the next step would be in my case (T1b).

    I have a swollen lymph node on the left side of my groin (oppposite side of the NEGATIVE SLNB) and another one on the right side (same side of the SLNB). I discovered the first one on the left since was painfull while running, surgeon did ultrasound and indeed it was swollen and recommended to follow with ultrasound; this was more than one month after my SLNB (early june 2018)

    About two months later after the first one, I felt pain on the right side as well after some weeks of hard training (while the one on the left became more painfull), ultrasound showed a swollen node on the right side, while the one on the left was still there (left side 7mm, right side smaller). Surgeon suggested to follow up in 3 months. I have one more month to wait for my follow up, but I can feel that both sides are still painfull, completely stopped exercising and the pain is even worst. The one on the right side I cant feel it due to the scar tissue of the SLNB, the one on the left side seems to be bigger (difficult to say).

    Have been trying to keep it cool and want to think that I have been quite successful till now, but the pain keeps reminding me that something is wrong and mentally begins to be difficult to cope with it.

    I have had swollen lymph nodes before due to excesive exercising and injury (e.g. one swollen lymph showed in my PET-CT behind my knee but then disappeared), but that was far from the original melanoma and went away in 1-2months.

    If somebody could advise, I would appreciate. I have done lots of research regarding staging and procedures before my WLE and SLNB, but did not any research beyond stage 1 (I am T1b). 

    Would appreciate any suggestions, 

    Thanks in Advance,

     

    Details of Melanoma:

    Malignant melanoma (spizoid), Biopsy 9th of April 2018.
    – Max. Horizontal size of tumor 0.2cm
    – Breslow Tumor depth 0.1cm
    – Clark’s Level IV
    – Mitotic Activity 3.8 per square mm (9/10 HPFs)

    – 40 YO male living in Asia.

    – PET-CT Scan midd April 2018, clear.

    – SLNB early June 2018 Right Groin, negatibe.

     

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  • Replies
      • November 27, 2018 at 1:05 pm
      SABKLYN
      Participant

      Hi

      Given your recent history with melanoma it would be prudent to get checked out thoroughly.  it could be totally unrelated but with MEL better to be cautious.

      good luck!

      • November 27, 2018 at 3:56 pm
      WithinMySkin
      Participant

      Lymph nodes can swell for lots of reasons, but they don't send to stay swollen (likely why your doc wanted to give it a little bit of time and follow up). Since they're still swollen and painful 2 months after the initial visit, I'd call and get the follow-up visit scheduled. They may want to do a needle biopsy or a scan to see what's going on. It's better to be proactive than sit around and worry!

      Lauren

        • November 27, 2018 at 10:15 pm
        Zap_
        Participant

        Thanks Both,

        It is very useful to listen to your opinions, my biggest fear is that doctors here (living in Asia) are not  too used to deal with melanoma. They are good doctors, but do not see thin melanoma that often.

        This morning just noticed I have one more swollen node in my neck (again felt pain). Weird.

        Anybody knows if melanoma can spreed to non regional locations so fast – primary location on the back part of my right waist with SLN located in my right groin – ? I had a clear PET-CT scan on April and negative SLNB in June.

        Anyhow, is time to get it checked somehow and probably do more research on Stages III and IV (have been avoiding that and focusing on going on with my life)

        Again, appreciate a lot all your help. The informationon contained this forum has been crucial for me so far. 

         

         

      • November 29, 2018 at 4:26 pm
      MMH
      Participant

      Hello to you, and sorry to hear this. We had spoken in the past (fellow spitzoid).  I have my first follow-up tomorrow since my WLE and I am experiencing similar pain in my underarm nearest the WLE. It feels swollen and enlarged to me but I have been to my primary and to my OBGYN and had them feel for swelling and nothing is visible to them. I am 45 years old so they keep telling me it is "peri-menopause" pain but it is FAR worse and more consistent in my right underarm (nearest the WLE).  Anyway, I hope yours turns out to be exercise-induced and has nothing to do with melanoma. You are completely reasonable to push for scans and whatever else you need to get to the bottom of the swelling and pain. They cannot feel what we feel so trust yourself and push for what you need.  Please keep us posted.  

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