Saw Dr Patel on 6/2/14

Saw Dr Patel on 6/2/14.  See him again in 6 months on 12/1/14.

We went over my ultrasound.  There is a slightly enlarged lymph node on the lower right side of my neck.  It had been present for 3 years but hasn't changed in size.  Based on my past history, it is likely that it has been there all along.  Dr P's instinct is that it is probably malignant but it is so small in size that there is really nothing much to do about it right now.  If it is was cancerous and taken out, it wouldn't change my prognosis at all.  He wants to continue to monitor it and will take an in office ultrasound next time when I see him in December 2014.

He examined my neck but didn't feel anything abnormal.  He didn't feel anything on the lower right side of my neck where the slightly enlarged lymph node is.

Might be tough to biopsy since near my carotid artery and jugular.  If we were to do anything, we would have surgery to take it out rather than biopsy.

Enlarged lymph node tells us that there is something in it causing it to be enlarged - can be malignant or benign.  His gut is malignant but I could be fine with it for years. Before ultrasounds, people have cancerous cells in their lymph nodes for years with no ill effects. Taking it out won't change my prognosis.

If Dr. Patel does do surgery to take out lymph node, no RAI would be needed, just remove node and tissue and that is it.

BP was 130/80 after running to the office from the bus.