Colon cancer in a lymph node

[Andrea1976]

My surgical oncologist says 1 distant colon lymph node is larger. He is not sure if it cancer. And is ordering MRI and Pet scan. What does it mean? Obviously it would be stage 4. My liver is ok. Can lymph nodes be enlarged for other reasons? What is the treatment? Thanks

[del]

I'm so sorry to hear of your recurrence, Andrea. I was diagnosed around the same time as you in 2016 and I remember your story very well and reading all of your messages.

Yes, there are other things that can cause lymph nodes to enlarge, like a mild infection or illness. I had a few enlarged nodes on my original staging MRI scan which thankfully turned out not to be cancerous. How distant is it? You say it is a colon lymph node. My understanding is that it would still be considered a local recurrence if a colon lymph node is cancerous.

Wishing you all the best and hoping for some positive scan results.

[Achilles Torn]

Lymph nodes can be enlarged for many reasons and sometimes can return to normal size on their own. In my case a PET scan revealed significant lymph spread but chemo shrank them all back to normal on subsequent CT/PET scans.

They can’t really tell without a biopsy but i recommend a PET scan.

Lots of stories on this board of enlarged lymph nodes disappearing to never return. This could well be the same for you.

[kandj]

DH has had lymph nodes enlarged for cancerous reasons (a few in his lungs for a lung recurrence, some near the original location when he was diagnosed) and for non cancerous reasons (he had one in his groin enlarged for unknown reasons. It was not cancer though, it went away on its own. My DS (15) has had some along the back of his neck become enlarged when he was dealing with acne. A PET will let you know what's going on. I was always told that size (less than 1cm is good) is a good indicator too. I will say that the one in DH's groin was over over 1cm and was nothing. And firmness (although they have to go in and feel them if they are not palpable and that isn't exactly ideal for things like the ones in your abdomen and lungs).