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How long ago did you have the
How long ago did you have the MRI done?
I had first appt. with ENT on
I had first appt. with ENT on Dec 3rd when I first noticed the lump. My MRI was on Dec. 22nd and my next appt. is Jan. 6th. So total time is over one month from first visit to finding out results. Is this normal or am I over-reacting? Thanks for responding.
Just my opinion, but I don't
Just my opinion, but I don't think you can really deduce anything from the dates. It wouldn't surprise me if your doctor's office has received the MRI report -- which by the way can't diagnose lymphoma, only give the doctor either a reason to order a CT or a biopsy -- and it's been put into your chart and no one's really looked at it, and won't look at it, until moments before your he or she walks into the exam room to see you for your appointment.
To that end, you can call the doctor's office and ask if they have received the MRI results from the radiologist and if so, can they be faxed to you or emailed to you or can you go and pick up a copy. If they don't have them yet, call the office where the MRI was done and ask them.
Thank you for your
Thank you for your response...it is one of the most helpful I've found while searching the internet for answers. I guess I thought that the MRI could indicate lymphoma and if so the doctor would call right away to begin treatment. Therefore I figured "no news is good news" but I do believe you are right and the report is just sitting in a file somewhere.
I left a message with the MRI facility to call so I am hoping for some more information. I think the waiting without knowing is the hardest part, while everyone around me keeps saying "don't worry - it's nothing". Ha!
You're welcome. I think that
You're welcome. I think that most of us suffer from the illusion that health professionals are totally on top of these things. No disrespect to you or to them, I do it too-- we all assume that if there's, say, cancer in a test, that the pathologist or the radiologist will be like "Oh my god! This is cancer!" and rush the results to your primary doc, but with their workload, with the fact that in most cases a couple weeks or so doesn't really mean much-- now throw in the holidays--- and suddenly we're all at the mercy of trickle-down theory, so to speak. A matter of paperwork.
The difference is if you decide to become the squeaky wheel who demands on the oil. And there's nothing wrong with that at all. In fact in many ways it's the only way to get the attention of busy health pros these days. I hope you know by now and have good news.
Ross
Hello Ross, Thanks for
Hello Ross,
Thanks for responding. I took your advice and called the MRI facility. I had no idea I could just drive up there and pick up my own report - I thought it had to be sent to the doctor. Unfortunately the report was not good, in fact worse than I expected but two days after getting the report we talked to the doctor and he is arranging a fine needle aspiration technique at a major hospital here in the Atlanta area. You are right about being a squeaky wheel. I was supposed to hear something by today but since I haven't heard anything and the doctor's offices are all closed (brutal weather closes everything in the south)my daughter has been "bugging" me to call the hospital to get some answers. I didn't know where to begin, but found a patient information number and called and thought I would start there. I ended up talking with a woman who has been in contact with me all day, dispite the backload of work, and I sent her a copy of my MRI report. I am hoping to at least get a diagnosis this week, then find out the staging, then the healing begins. I am really thankful for this website and your help with me.
That sucks, I'm sorry to hear
That sucks, I'm sorry to hear about it. Funny thing about those reports, we easily forget that they belong to us; it's fundamentally a service for which we paid a fee and we're entitled to them. It's actually the best way to start thinking about your health care at this point- as a consumer seeking providers of expensive and important services, and as a consumer you should demand the best. It'll make it much easier to 'fire' a lazy oncologist (if you do eventually need one) or call out the nurse who didn't wash her hands before handling your central line. Yes these people work in an altruistic field, but it doesn't make them altruists, in many cases it makes them entrepreneurs and careerists.
On that note, when you go in to the Atlanta hospital, whichever it is--- strike that, rather, just ask your doc why he or she wants to do fine needle aspiration, and not a more invasive biopsy. It's not a hardfast rule but FNAs are not considered reliable tests in making an accurate lymphoma diagnosis. Don't take my word, take that of the NCCN:
What seems to happen is that FNAs are done to 'see' if lymphoma is truly there because it's less invasive, but if it is, you will have to have another procedure done, a biopsy that removes a swollen node. My point is, try to find out why there's reason to bother with the FNA. If you have cancer you've got some heavy sh*t ahead of you, so one less unnecessary procedure, the better.
And in lymphoma, accurate diagnosis is EVERYTHING. 65 subtypes of NHL and HL, a misdiagnosis could mean needless chemo and radiation, or it could mean a conservative 'watch and wait' approach when chemo would have been the way to go.
Good luck, and take heart- as you probably know, more progress has been made in the so called 'blood cancers' (lymphoma and leukemia) than maybe all the 'solid tumor cancers' combined. In other words there's real reason for you and your family to be optimistic and hopeful about your prognosis, and I don't mean Cancer Treatment Centers of America hope, I mean real hope.
Ross
You are very wise and well
You are very wise and well spoken. Thank you for your replies. My ENT said FNA would be better because a biopsy would be too disruptive to "squamus cells"? He said that they should be able to detect what kind of lymphoma with the FNA and if not then they could do the biopsy. But you are right, why go through 2 procedures if I don't have to. I will ask the doctor (whenever I see one) what procedure he would prefer. At this point I just want to know what it is, how bad it is, and get started on treatment so I can move forward in my life. I take it that you are not to sold on the whole CTCA approach? Thanks for your help.
6 years ago I found a lump in
6 years ago I found a lump in my neck. Immediately had it removed and biopsied and reviewed by 2 experts - Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma. I started treatment as soon as the results were back - 3 sessions of CHOP and 22 sessions of radiation. I worked every day until the very last. Caught it early and have been in remission for 6 years. Don't wait; take charge of your health - and don't be scared - just know you will come through OK.
Thank you for your response.
Thank you for your response. I am encouraged that you were able to come through your cancer ordeal and are cancer free 6 years later. I think you have a long life ahead of you. I am still waiting for an appointment to get the diagnosis - going round and round in circles between the doctor office and hospital. In the meantime lost 7 pounds - dont know if its the disease of just nerves. Maybe I just need to walk into the local emergency room and demand someone do the biopsy.