As I was waiting for my turn at the derma clinic this afternoon, two women carrying a child came in, asking if Dr. Hayden came to work. Dr. Hayden is my derma's husband, a cosmetic surgeon. My friend and I became curious as we observed how the child bore numerous little lumps around his neck. Deep inside, I knew it wasn't just an ordinary case of rash...
To my surprise, my friend approached the mother. She too has a son who was recently diagnosed with lymphoma, in layman's term ~ cancer of the lymph nodes. Lucky for her, her son was diagnosed and treated early before it reached the first stage. He is now currently under chemotherapy and is fast recuperating. She relates how hopeless she felt when her son was first diagnosed with cancer, she had some regret as well. For starters, her son's first doctor dismissed the node as just a sign of Vitamin deficiency, unaware that it was already the onset of a deadly illness. This probably pushed her to refer her son's doctor to this woman. She wanted to be of help, and if God permits, we hope there's still hope for the child.
Most of us get lymph nodes especially when we get colds or cough... We acquire it mostly when we catch a flu.. Nodes of different sizes just start popping beneath the ear, on the neck and in the groin area. We tend to ignore it thinking it is just probably an after effect of a cold, as what have been taught to us by our parents. Wrong notion by the way. This is where the problem starts ~ ignorance. This type of cancer could spread in just a matter of weeks if not treated asap. Doctors even say "worrying" hastens up the spread of cancer cells, increasing the size of the nodes until it reaches the brain... Before we know it, it's all too late.. and the patient ends up just like another sad cancer case...
If you or anybody in your family notices a lump or any node growing, don't take it for granted. It would be better to have yourself checked by a certified doctor. This is a serious matter we should not neglect. As they say, prevention is much better than a pound of cure. We should also avoid negative thoughts and what if questions, fears about the unknown, things that prevent us from seeking medical help as we are threatened by the possible outcomes... As soon as it is diagnosed and treated, the better the chances of surviving lymphoma. . this goes for other illnesses...
I hope somehow, I shed some light to those who might be reading this. Proper information is vital to prevent the rate of lymphoma patients from soaring up... After all, would you let one lymph node destroy your precious life?
Yeah, I thought so too....
To my surprise, my friend approached the mother. She too has a son who was recently diagnosed with lymphoma, in layman's term ~ cancer of the lymph nodes. Lucky for her, her son was diagnosed and treated early before it reached the first stage. He is now currently under chemotherapy and is fast recuperating. She relates how hopeless she felt when her son was first diagnosed with cancer, she had some regret as well. For starters, her son's first doctor dismissed the node as just a sign of Vitamin deficiency, unaware that it was already the onset of a deadly illness. This probably pushed her to refer her son's doctor to this woman. She wanted to be of help, and if God permits, we hope there's still hope for the child.
Most of us get lymph nodes especially when we get colds or cough... We acquire it mostly when we catch a flu.. Nodes of different sizes just start popping beneath the ear, on the neck and in the groin area. We tend to ignore it thinking it is just probably an after effect of a cold, as what have been taught to us by our parents. Wrong notion by the way. This is where the problem starts ~ ignorance. This type of cancer could spread in just a matter of weeks if not treated asap. Doctors even say "worrying" hastens up the spread of cancer cells, increasing the size of the nodes until it reaches the brain... Before we know it, it's all too late.. and the patient ends up just like another sad cancer case...
If you or anybody in your family notices a lump or any node growing, don't take it for granted. It would be better to have yourself checked by a certified doctor. This is a serious matter we should not neglect. As they say, prevention is much better than a pound of cure. We should also avoid negative thoughts and what if questions, fears about the unknown, things that prevent us from seeking medical help as we are threatened by the possible outcomes... As soon as it is diagnosed and treated, the better the chances of surviving lymphoma. . this goes for other illnesses...
I hope somehow, I shed some light to those who might be reading this. Proper information is vital to prevent the rate of lymphoma patients from soaring up... After all, would you let one lymph node destroy your precious life?
Yeah, I thought so too....
Comments
You don't GET lymph nodes when you are sick. You ALWAYS have lymph nodes. They may swell due to illness, allergy, and yes sometimes cancer.
It's good that you try to educate people but not by spreading fear.
Lymphoma is not a common cause of enlarged nodes. If there is no reason for your nodes to be enlarged such as illness and they don't go down on their own do see a doctor but in all likelihood it's not lymphoma.
BTW I was diagnosed with lymphoma almost 2 years ago. I had no signs and no enlarged nodes.