Cancer?

[nicole110]

Hi- I'm a 25 year old female. Very active, very healthy...not overweight (115 lbs). I don't smoke, drink, or take drugs. I have no family history of cancer. Both parents are alive and well. No medical problems except I am homozygous for factor V leiden (dx Feb 2012 by blood tests after 2nd blood clot as a result of birth control which I am no longer taking).

It all started in June when I noticed hard tiny (about the size of a pea) lymph nodes in my groin area. I went to my doctor because I was a little freaked out. He said I had some enlarged lymph nodes in my throat as well (I did not think anything of it because they have always been kind of big). I had mono twice in high school so I assumed they would always be that way. Anways, he had me get a chest x-ray, blood tests, and a complete ultrasound. Everything came back normal (thank God). At my follow up appointment he told me that the lymph nodes were "shotty" and to just to keep an eye on them. He said that nothing made him think I had cancer. About 4 days ago I started getting a horrible itch on my calves and armpits. I have NEVER had itchy arm pits before. My legs could MAYBE be itching from dry skin, but I have been putting lotion on and they still itch every day. Can someone help/give adivce/opinion? I have no family history of cancer. I guess I'm still worried something migh tbe going on. I also wake up drenched in sweat but it's hot here in Ohio right now so that maybe why? Any help would be greatly appreciated :) Thank you!!!

[mkh9]

Hi nicole110,
Yes definitely you can get an allergy as you get older. Some have allergies when they are kids and they go away other start getting them in their 30's and 40's (like I did). I had no allergies as a kid. Now i have lots of allergies. I am not sure why exactly but I became allergic to a lot of topical antibiotics, and detergents, deoderants. I used the same underarm deoderant for years then got a rash from it. Some of these things maybe that they changed an ingrediant but I know I can't use certain product and I used sunscreens all my life to prevent skin cancer and now I can't find one I am not hypersensitive to .If you had the lymph nodes swollen since you were a kid it probably isn't anything to worry about and it isn't new. But were the groin ones new? So I would ask to be sure. I'm glad you CBC was normal. That rules out a lot of things. I have been thin too but didn't have swollen lymph nodes except when I was sick. It could be normal for you. I just haven't heard of that. I have what they thought was a swollen lymph node in my neck and it wouldn't go away. They did a CT scan of it and it turned out to be a muscle knot.
take care,
mkh9

[nicole110]

Hi! Thank you so much for responding! I have actually already seen a hematologist (I saw him for the factor v leiden blood disease). When I had a doppler scan done on my leg to check the blood clot, they found the lymph nodes in my groin too. The hematologist didn't even look at them, he said they were probably from shaving. Although, I don't think they are because they are under my skin and not superficial. I am on the thin side though, so maybe that's why? To answer your question, yes I had a cbc done-all normal. I have a follow up appointment next week :) My question is, can you develop an allergic reaction as you age? I have always worn the same deoderant and never had a problem. As for the lymph nodes in my throat, they have never really gone down since high school. When I get sick, they get a little bigger. I'll definitely ask the doctor next week, and possibly get a second opinion like you suggested. Thanks again for your help!! :)

[mkh9]

Hi, well your tests came back negative and that is great. But, it isn't usual for lymph nodes to remain swollen and hard for a long time. They can be swollen if you had an infection recently and stay swollen for a couple of months. After that they should go back to normal even after having had mono. You may want to have a scan (CT or MRI) of the lymph nodes but they will tell you that. It may be nothing since your blood tests were normal. Did you have a complete blood count done too? The itching may be an allergy to a food or contact with it externally. I am allergic, among other things to antipersperants (aluminum chorohydrate) and all of them have this ingrediant. I have to use Crystal deoderant which is only potassium choride. Sometimes an itch on one side can be a neurological thing.I would see another doctor. I'm not sure which doctor to refer you to perhaps a hematologist?  But I would double check it with a second opinion.
take care,
mkh9

[nicole110]

I will go get it checked ASAP, thanks for your help :) I appreciate it and with you the best!

[JTB1983]

Im no expert, but that doesnt sound like cancer to me. Maybe some kind of lymph infection? Best to get to a doctor and have them examine the lumps for cancer. If it is cancer, the earlier you treat it the better, so dont delay. I really doubt it is though, dont stress too much but get it seen to asap :)