I have one or two lymph nodes in my inguinal area (along the crease that leads down to your crotch for non medical folks) that have become quite enlarged. They feel rubbery and do decrease in size a little bit. These have been there for a number of months. No open sores or saddle sores. Anyone else get this? Of course my first thought is OH CRAP, CANCER!!! Just trying to talk myself out of paranoia.
how big are they and have you been losing a lot of weight??? Everybody has lymph nodes down there.
Go see a doctor. My mother died of non-hodgkins. Could be nothing but why chance it.
I second the doctor recommendation. If they have been there for months
an no indication of infection athelete foot etc. to cause your lymph system
to try and manage an infection then it warents evaluation.
Mike
I have one or two lymph nodes in my inguinal area (along the crease that leads down to your crotch for non medical folks) that have become quite enlarged. They feel rubbery and do decrease in size a little bit. These have been there for a number of months. No open sores or saddle sores. Anyone else get this? Of course my first thought is OH CRAP, CANCER!!! Just trying to talk myself out of paranoia.
If they decrease in size, odds are that it’s not cancer. Having them for a number of months is kind of scary though.
I had a similar issue a little over a year ago which actually kept me from doing the Lonestar race in 2009. At first I thought I had a hernia. Went to a specialist who said it wasn’t a hernia but it was my lymph node. I had no visible sores or anything that said it was infection related but the doctor gave me some antibiotics and said, “If the swelling starts to go down, you have an infection. If not, it’s a good possibility it’s cancer.” That caused a couple of sleepless nights. Thankfully, the swelling went down after two or three days. It turned out that I had a urinary tract infection. Not sure how a guy gets a UTI but I did.
Moral of the story: GO TO THE DOCTOR!
+1 on seeing the doctor. My mother had Hodgkin’s twice ('64 and '66) when you didn’t beat it, but she did - both times. When my wife was sick 5 years ago, her oncologist called Hodgkin’s a “curable disease.”
Please go see the doctor.
Good news/bad news-the good news is that I’ve also had this. The bad news is that it was non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
If it’s been a number of months then you should be fine, you’d probably be symptomatic if it was something to really be concerned with. But if it’s bothering you, you should go see a doctor.
Go to a doctor, you will sleep better after getting the negative diagnosis. If it’s not negative, you will kick yourself for waiting.
As other have said go to a dr ASAP. I had\have a swollen node in my neck that cause me great anguish two years ago. Had to go through a bunch of blood tests and finally a sugeon as my dr wanted it cut out which really freaked me out. I did not have any symtons of cancer, i did have weight loss but i always loose weight in the spring, anyway the cancer surgeon was quite sure it was’nt cancer as he said the node was smooth and moved around. My options were I could still get it cut out or leave it and monitor it. I chose to monitor and it’s still in my neck but hasn’t really changed in two years… Get it looked at least for your own mind sake.
Good news/bad news-the good news is that I’ve also had this. The bad news is that it was non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
If it’s been a number of months then you should be fine, you’d probably be symptomatic if it was something to really be concerned with. But if it’s bothering you, you should go see a doctor.
Sorry for bumping an old thread but I wanted to see if you (or someone else) could elaborate on the above. I have a similar issue to the OP, just saw the doc and he basically ruled out a hernia (which was my hope) as it’s clearly swollen lymph nodes (he mentioned he could feel 4-5 that are inflamed). I felt one slightly swollen node quite a while back–four to six months–but thought nothing of it and to the best of my knowledge it never got worse and perhaps went back to normal (though I can’t recall checking at all). After a run two nights ago my right groin area was very tender and there was considerable pain, and I could feel multiple swollen lymph nodes. I just had blood work and a chest x-ray done and am seeing the surgical specialist on Friday.
My question: what is meant by ‘symptomatic’ in this case? I feel fine otherwise, though my right leg has been giving me issues for months now–extremely vascular while exercising, loss of sensation during long runs (which led to knee pain and my eventually dropping out of the Boston marathon), the swollen lymph nodes–but outside of that I’m good. So I guess I’m wondering what symptoms would be apparent if something other than infection were in play. I’m obviously a bit freaked out right now, I hear ‘Hodkins’ and ‘lymphoma’ and ‘cancer’ and it’s disconcerting.
Thanks in advance for any and all advice. Keeping the fingers crossed on the Friday appt…
Cancer symptoms (other than enlarged lymph nodes) for leukemia are very similar to flu-like symptoms. One of the reasons I stay as fit as I can is because it keeps me so in tuned with my body that if I were to feel what I would consider “cancer symptoms” I would know immediately and go see my oncologist. So if I have unexpected weight gain or loss, night sweats, chronic fatigue, fever, etc. then I would be alarmed. For me personally, an enlarged lymph node is superficial and I stopped worrying about that symptom after my 12th or 13th tumor (I’m a bit of a freak, according to my rad/onc). Your mileage may vary and you are smart to get it checked. I have no idea how an enlarged lymph node would interact with the groin area to cause what you are experiencing but I’m no expert. If the blood work and chest x-ray doesn’t show anything and you are still worried, there are other tests that can be administered that will clear you (p.e.t scan, CT scan). I have never experienced pain associated with a swollen lymph node.
I’m visiting my Dr. for this same reason right now. I got blood work done & I’m going back in a week. He said next step would be sending me to the surgeon for a biopsy. Better safe than sorry. Good Luck!
How did it go?
This is an interesting thread. I’ve got one that swells up from time to time down in that same area - if I press down on it, sometimes I think it decreases in size. I think it comes up when I’m a little under the weather. Dr. didn’t seem concerned, but maybe I need a second opinion.
I’ll be following this thread.
How did it go?
The doctor *believes *it’s not cancerous, based on the size, how hard they are, the fact that they’re painful and the history of them. I’m scheduling a biopsy for a month from now with another visit to the specialist just before it; if the swelling has gone down or if there’s no discomfort he said we could jsut cancel the surgery. However, I think for peace of mind I’m going to get it done regardless, I’d hate to find out in a year that the nodes *were *cancerous and I could have prevented spreading had I just been more cautious.
The unfortunate thing is while the doctor said it’s almost definitely not cancer he doesn’t have an alternative explanation, he said the swelling could be caused by one of a million things…it might just have to be something I live with.
I know this post is a couple years old, just wondering how you made out with your lymphnode? I have just been diagnosed with small lymphocytic lymphoma and have been referred to a cancer clinic for treatment if any. Apparently it is slow growing and treatment may not be necessary yet? Anyone have experience with ironman training and taxing your immune system with this condition?
I know this post is a couple years old, just wondering how you made out with your lymphnode? I have just been diagnosed with small lymphocytic lymphoma and have been referred to a cancer clinic for treatment if any. Apparently it is slow growing and treatment may not be necessary yet? Anyone have experience with ironman training and taxing your immune system with this condition?
Sorry to hear it. It turns out my lymph nodes were fine, they just get inflamed at times and being rather skinny they’re more noticeable than normal.
I hope you find the answers your looking for, and good luck with any treatment you may need.
That’s what I was hoping too because I lost about 15 lbs from a different cancer 2 years ago. Not so lucky though.
Damn Slats! Good luck w/ everything!