Can a person have Lymphoma and it not show up for over a year or better?

My husband had some test run last summer and we were told that he didn't have lymphoma. He has never gotten better so we have gone back to another Dr. and he is sending us to a cancer Dr. because he says that my husband could have lymphoma and the tests not pic it up last year. Has anyone heard of it and if so, does it make it harder to cure if it takes that long to find?

Can a person have Lymphoma and it not show up for over a year or better?
Has your husband had a PET scan? I didn't see it on your list. PET scans usually detect cancerous cells better than CT scans and blood work. A radioactive glucose is injected and he will need to relax and remain still for 45 to 90 minutes, so that the glucose can be absorbed by the cancerous cells. He will then be put into a machine and images will be taken. (The PET scan can be pretty claustraphobic, many places offer a mild sedation for this procedure so he'll feel like he's sleeping through most of it)





I had Hodgkin's lymphoma and my PET scan lit up like a light, but the CT scans just showed some swollen nodes (which we could feel, not like we needed a visual) Sometimes you have to fight for stuff to get done or doctors will tip toe around with lesser possibilities.
Reply:The question is what type of lymphoma? Most tests will pick some sort of neoplasm up, so I do find it strange that your husbands was missed. If your from the UK (like me) this really doesn't surprise me, as some doctors feel that the patient cannot handle knowing they have cancer, and take it amongst themselves not to tell patients - I should know I work in the hospital, and they've done this to my uncle.





You need your doctor to get hold of these test results, and see what they are saying.
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Reply:Please see the webpages for more details on Lymphoma.
Reply:I had Hodgkins lymphoma at 53 years old. The lymphoma was buried in my right hip and mid chest and did not show up for several years. Eventually my Hemglobin dropped to 10 and my sedimentation rate went to 125 with weight loss and fatigue. A biopsy was done of the lymph nodes in the hip which showed Hodgkins Disease. I finished 6 months of chemo in March 2004 and have been cancer free ever since. A biopsy would certainly confirm lymphoma in your case.
Reply:For you to understand how lymphoma occurs, you need to learn about The lymphatic system which is made up of ducts or tubules that carry lymph to all parts of the body. Lymph is a milky fluid that contains lymphocytes. These, along with monocytes and granulocytes make up the leukocytes, or white blood cells, the infection-fighting and reparative bodies in the blood. Small pea-shaped organs found along the network of lymph vessels are called lymph nodes; their main function is to make and store lymphocytes. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the pelvic region, underarm, neck, chest, and abdomen. The spleen (an organ in the upper abdomen), the tonsils, and the thymus (a small organ beneath the breastbone) are also part of the lymphatic system. Lymphocytes are held within the lymphoid tissue until they join the flow of lymph through the node. There are two main types of lymphocytes: the T cell and the B cell. Lymphomas develop from these two types. B-cell lymphomas are more common among adults, while among children, the incidences of T- and B-cell lymphomas are almost equal. Now that you have a general overview, you may be able to understand how it is diagnosed Like all cancers, lymphomas are best treated when found early. However, they are often difficult to diagnose. There are no screening tests available, and, since the symptoms are nonspecific, lymphomas are rarely recognized in their early stages. Detection often occurs by chance during a routine physical examination. When the doctor suspects lymphoma, a thorough physical examination is performed and a complete medical history taken.


Now what are the causes and symptoms?, you may ask. People exposed to certain pesticides and ionizing radiation have a higher-than-average chance of developing this disease. For example, an increased incidence of lymphomas has been seen in survivors of the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima, and in people who have undergone aggressive radiation therapy. People who suffer from immune-deficient disorders, as well as those who have been treated with immune-suppressive drugs for heart or kidney transplants, and for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases, are at


an increased risk for this disease. Some studies have shown a loose association between retroviruses, such as HTLV-I, and some rare forms of lymphoma. The Epstein- Barr virus has been linked to Burkitt’s lymphoma in African countries. However, a direct cause-and-effect relationship has not been established.


The symptoms of lymphomas are often vague and nonspecific. Patients may experience loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and indigestion. The patient may complain of a feeling of fullness, which is a result of enlarged lymph nodes in the abdomen. Pressure or pain in the lower back is another symptom. In the advanced stages, the patient may have bone pain, headaches, constant coughing, and abnormal pressure and congestion in the face, neck, and upper chest. Some may have fevers and night sweats. In most cases, patients go to the doctor because of the presence of swollen glands in the neck, armpits, or groin area. Since all the symptoms are common to many other illnesses, it is essential to seek medical attention if any of the conditions persist for two weeks or more. Only a qualified physician can correctly diagnose if the symptoms are due to lymphoma or some other ailment.
Reply:Lymph nodes often swell in one location when a problem such as an injury, infection, or tumor develops in or near the lymph node. Which lymph nodes are swollen can help identify the problem.





The glands on either side of the neck, under the jaw, or behind the ears commonly swell when you have a cold or sore throat. Glands can also swell following an injury, such as a cut or bite, near the gland or when a tumor or infection occurs in the mouth, head, or neck.


Glands in the armpit (axillary lymph nodes) may swell from an injury or infection to the arm or hand. A rare cause of axillary swelling may be breast cancer or lymphoma.


The lymph nodes in the groin (femoral or inguinal lymph nodes) may swell from an injury or infection in the foot, leg, groin, or genitals. In rare cases, testicular cancer, lymphoma, or melanoma may cause a lump in this area.


Glands above the collarbone (supraclavicular lymph nodes) may swell from an infection or tumor in the areas of the lungs, breasts, neck, or abdomen.


Lymphomas are more common in men than in women. In most cases the cause is not known. Symptoms of lymphoma include swelling in one or more groups of lymph nodes, weakness, fever, weight loss, and an enlarged liver and spleen.





Depending on the type of lymphoma and whether it is confined to a single group of lymph nodes or affects many lymph nodes, treatment may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or, in serious cases, a stem cell transplant. Because the disease impairs the immune system, a person who has lymphoma has an increased risk of dying from infection.there other things that can cause swollen lymph nodes.. the first doctor should have done a lot of other tests,,,HIV infection comes in three stages: acute infection, chronic infection, and AIDS.





Acute HIV infection is the earliest and shortest stage of HIV infection. Not everyone gets symptoms, but most people come down with a flu-like illness three to six weeks after infection. The symptoms are the same as flu or mononucleosis: fever and fatigue lasting for a week or two. There may or may not be other symptoms:





A blotchy red rash, usually on the upper torso, that does not itch


Headache


Aching muscles


Sore throat


Swollen lymph glands


Diarrhea


Nausea


Vomiting


IMPORTANT: If you have been at risk of getting HIV and then come down with these flu-like symptoms, tell a doctor right away. Sensitive new tests can tell whether you have acute HIV infection. Treatment during the acute stage of HIV infection works much, much better than later treatment. Be sure to tell your doctor about your HIV risk. If you don't, you may not get the right tests. Standard HIV tests -- either home tests or lab tests -- won't detect acute HIV infection.





The body puts up a terrific struggle against HIV. At the end of this struggle, the body reaches a kind of standoff with the virus. This is chronic HIV infection, which begins three to six months after a person gets HIV. There aren't any symptoms. For most people, this stage of HIV infection lasts about 10 years.





Even though there are no symptoms, the immune system slowly runs down. A normal person has a CD4 T-cell count of 450 to 1,200 cells per microliter. When people with HIV have their T-cell counts drop to 200 or lower, they have reached the stage of AIDS.





AIDS itself has no symptoms. Because the immune system is devastated, disease symptoms are specific to the kind of infections a person may have. When a person's T cells get very low, doctors prescribe drugs to prevent infections.





Sometimes people don't seek medical help until they have AIDS. They may have some of the following symptoms:





Being tired all the time


Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or groin


Fever lasting more than 10 days


Night sweats


Unexplained weight loss


Purplish spots on the skin that don't go away


Shortness of breath


Severe, long-lasting diarrhea


Yeast infections in the mouth, throat, or vagina


Easy bruising or unexplained bleeding


AIDS is short for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. AIDS is a disease that slowly destroys the body's immune system. Without these important defenses, a person with AIDS can't fight off germs and cancers.





HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. It kills an important kind of blood cell -- the CD4 T lymphocyte, or T cell. These T cells are the quarterbacks of the immune system. As they die off, the body becomes more and more vulnerable to other diseases. Germs take this opportunity to invade the body. The diseases they cause are called opportunistic infections (OIs for short). When people with HIV get these infections -- or when their CD4 T-cell levels get too low -- they have AIDS.





Usually it takes many years for HIV to weaken the body's immune system to the point of AIDS. Anti-HIV drugs help prevent this. Even when a person already has AIDS, the drugs can help a person get better.





Anti-HIV drugs let many people with HIV infection live healthy lives. Combinations of these powerful medicines work very well, but they often have serious side effects, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. And people with HIV have to keep taking these drugs every day for the rest of their lives. Ask anyone who's taking these "drug cocktails" -- it's best to avoid getting HIV in the first place.





AIDS is a worldwide epidemic. Most cases are in Africa, but the disease is spreading most rapidly in Eastern Europe and Asia. Even if a cure were found tomorrow, AIDS will be the most deadly disease ever to plague mankind.