Enlarged lymph node seen after surgery on CT scan. Not sure what this means. Anyone have any experience with this?

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
SC77
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Aug 09, 2017 6:52 pm

Enlarged lymph node seen after surgery on CT scan. Not sure what this means. Anyone have any experience with this?

Postby SC77 » Fri Feb 02, 2018 1:16 pm

I had my LAR surgery Nov. 9th, leaving me with a loop illiostomy. 11/13 lymph nodes were positive. Afterward I ended up with an infection and positive blood culture requiring hospitalization. I had a contrast CT scan and besides the infection, it showed an enlarged right pelvic lymph node measuring 1.1 cm that was reported to be metastatic and they recommended follow up.

I asked about this and was brushed off, told they would do another scan later.

I'm on round 3 of Folfox. Does anyone know if the lymph node would be surgically removed or will chemo take care of it? Feeling worried with cancer still hanging around.
40/ F
Diag. Stage IIIc rectal 7/27/11
11/13 nodes positive
Lynch Negative, MSI stable
Started Xeloda and radiation 8/22/17
Finished 30 treatments on 10/10/17
Surgery LAR 11/9/17
Loop illostomy
FOLFOX started 12/28
Infection, positive blood cultures, hospital stay 12/31 to 1/4/18
2nd chemo delayed one week due to low WBC
Round 2 FOLFOX
Round 3 on 2/1

Tdubz
Posts: 152
Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 11:01 am

Re: Enlarged lymph node seen after surgery on CT scan. Not sure what this means. Anyone have any experience with this?

Postby Tdubz » Fri Feb 02, 2018 3:09 pm

Hmmm, good question. I originally was going to say it could have been enlarged due to the infection you had but then you mentioned metastatic so I don’t have any idea. After my surgery, I had 2 enlarged lymph nodes and my onc said they were just doing what they do as a part of my immune system. We looked at them at my next scan and they were back to normal after I had healed a bit more. I’d follow up with your onc again and see if he can explain it again.

stu
Posts: 1613
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 5:46 pm

Re: Enlarged lymph node seen after surgery on CT scan. Not sure what this means. Anyone have any experience with this?

Postby stu » Fri Feb 02, 2018 5:18 pm

Hi ,
I would be asking for a PET scan to see if there is any uptake before classifying it as anything . It could well be reactionary . Just to encourage you after chemo my mum has no cancer found in her lymph nodes . She had stage 4 bowel with liver mets and her nodes were reactionary on the scan prior to chemo . Chemo took care of it for her .
Wishing you every success .
Stu
supporter to my mum who lives a great life despite a difficult diagnosis
stage4 2009 significant spread to liver
2010 colon /liver resection
chemo following recurrence
73% of liver removed
enjoying life treatment free
2016 lung resection
Oct 2017 nice clear scan . Two lung nodules disappeared
Oct 2018. Another clear scan .

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Enlarged lymph node seen after surgery on CT scan. Not sure what this means. Anyone have any experience with this?

Postby Lee » Fri Feb 02, 2018 5:23 pm

Ditto to what Tdubz said. I was about 3 yrs out when I had some swollen nodes. Onc said not to worry, like Tdubz I was told my body was fighting off some infection. Next scan they were back to normal.

Do follow up with your Onc, butt by the fact you were being treated for an infection, I would not be surprised you body (nodes) were fighting it off.

Good luck,

Lee

As Stu stated getting a PET scan might be a good idea.
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

SC77
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Aug 09, 2017 6:52 pm

Re: Enlarged lymph node seen after surgery on CT scan. Not sure what this means. Anyone have any experience with this?

Postby SC77 » Fri Feb 02, 2018 6:18 pm

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. I have my chemo pump on today, disconnecting tomorrow. This cycle is making me pretty ill and fatigued which is probably adding to my anxiety.
40/ F
Diag. Stage IIIc rectal 7/27/11
11/13 nodes positive
Lynch Negative, MSI stable
Started Xeloda and radiation 8/22/17
Finished 30 treatments on 10/10/17
Surgery LAR 11/9/17
Loop illostomy
FOLFOX started 12/28
Infection, positive blood cultures, hospital stay 12/31 to 1/4/18
2nd chemo delayed one week due to low WBC
Round 2 FOLFOX
Round 3 on 2/1

menreeq
Posts: 70
Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2017 10:26 am

Re: Enlarged lymph node seen after surgery on CT scan. Not sure what this means. Anyone have any experience with this?

Postby menreeq » Sat Feb 03, 2018 1:05 am

Caveat about PET is that infection can also have increased uptake. So, while sometimes the SUV value on PET can favor neoplasm over infection (or vice versa), sometimes PET can't differentiate between the two.
Stage IIA rectosigmoid CC (T3N0M0)
Dx 6/5/17 @age 41ls
Workup: c-scope, EUS, rectal MRI, CT C/A/P
AdenoCA 5.5cm, WHO Grade 2, 0/22 LN, no distant mets
CEA 1.9 (6/5/17), 0.8 (2/28/18), 1.0 (9/17/18), 1.1 (4/16/19), 1.0 (9/24/19), 1.7 (7/8/20)
No lymphovasc/perineural invasion, clear margins
MSI intact, OncotypeDx RS 7
Lap sig colectomy 6/23/17, no ileo/colostomy
Genetics neg for mutations, 4 VUS
Xeloda monotherapy 8/13/17-1/22/18
PET/CT 3/21/18 NED
CT C/A/P 9/17/18 NED, 3/8/19 NED, 9/19/19 NED, 5/13/20 NED


Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 119 guests