Lots of Questions

Lots of Questions

I've followed the threads in here about Lipoma, and still have too
many questions... here's the scoop..

When I was about 12-13 (25 now) I started developing small lumps on my
upper thighs, probably 4-5 total at first. I had them checked out by
by careless family practitioner and with barely even looking, much
less exploring them, he said they were Lipoma, not to worry.

Over the years, more began to form slowly in various locations, often
unnoticed until about BB or pea size. Around 18yrs I probably had 6-8
on each thigh, various sizes from BB to nickel-size, had developed
another on my lower back just up from the sacrum, and one that was
slightly painful on my left forearm. I went to a dermatologist this
time and his diagnosis was the same, subcutaneous, seems to be
'movable' which guess means harmless in their language, it was called
lipoma and I was sent home 'not to worry.'

At around 22, the number had about doubled in four years, and being a
busy student, I never made it a priority to get regular check-ups, and
neglected having them checked until I was quite worried. I surveyed
my entire body visually and to the touch, and marked each growth and
went to the health center to get checked again. Same diagnosis, and
they referred me to a dermatologist who was reputable as having
experience with lipoma and also cancerous growths. He had no news and
told me to rest easy.

Ok, sorry to belabor around the point, but I feel that anyone with
anything valuable to say would take the time to read on, and would
appreciate the details so as to have a helpful response. So, now I'm
nearly 26 and have what appears to be a severe and seemingly
aggressive case of "lipoma" throughout the body. I am now quite
afraid that I've allowed something terrible to sleep in my body for
much too long, and I don't know where to start. I've been given
crappy medical advice so many times, i'm hesitant to just jump into a
doctor's lap for a vote of confidence in ignoring the problem.

I haven't done a complete survey in a while, but here's my best guess
of my current overall condition...

Thighs - at least 7 'old' growths, 6-12 yrs old, which average the
diameter of a quarter, and the thickness of about 3/8". They are not
painful except for when squeezed hard or jarred abruptly. In
addition, there are about 10 'young' growths, from a pea to a nickel
size, which are a bit more sensitive, seem to be rooted deeper in
tissue, and are probably 3-5 years old. What's raised the alarm again
is a 'new' growth spurt over the last year or so, where several BB
size growths are occuring in new locations, and in near proximity to
the 'old' and 'young' growths.

Thighs - 7 'old', 10 'young', 8 'new'

Groin/Gluts - 2 'old', 3 'young'

lower back - 1 'old', 2 'young', 3 'new'

sides/ribs - 3 'young', 2 'new'

forearms - 1 'old', 2 'young', 5 'new'

Total - 11 'old', 17 'young', 18 'new'

I'm terrified and I don't know where to start. I recently lost a
close friend to non-hodge lymphoma, and it seemed to get terribly
worse after exploratory surgery by a pathologist/oncologist, irritated
the cancer, mutated after radiation to another form, and severe chemo
treatments followed him to the end. I intend to pursue exploratory
counsel/treatment asap, and I'm desperate for advice and/or
connections, references etc.. so that I can protect myself.

The new growths do not come silently. There is a slight irritation,
very unique to their formation, just at the surface of the skin, kind
of like sensitive tissue around an aggressively handled pimple or a
bee sting. It is very mild, but uncomfortable. After about a week of
that, I can begin to feel a trace lump, which seems to grow about the
pace of fingernails.

Lately, they seem to be forming in clusters. I have experienced
frequent numbness on the surface of my right thigh from sitting in
certain positions.

In addition, I found a lump in the middle of my back, just near the
spine, which seems to be different altogether, it's the one that
worries me most. In the midst of all the others, I fear something
terrible could go unnoticed. The lump on my back feel like it might
be a spinal tumor (which would explain some back pain in the area), as
it doesn't seem to move under the skin, and stays rigid to my ribcase
when my back is curled.

I know I'm throwing alot out there - I hope someone is listening and
may have some useful information.

At all costs I hope to avoid surgery, and would like to explore
extreme dietary changes and herbal/homeopathic remedies.

I'm hoping for reference to good doctors (oncologists, pathologists,
dermatologists, cancer specialists) in southern California.
Practitioners I can trust.

Lastly, I'm curious if anybody else has such a severe case. I read in
books that multiple lipomas are 'common' and 'hereditary' and are 'not
a cause for worry', but it seems that all the cases I have read about
have been isolated to a single, or small number of growths.

Any help would be appreciated, feel free to respond in confidence to
i.thou.poet@gmail,com ...

Encouraging words are appreciated :)

Thanks,

T

Re: Lots of Questions

i.thou.poet@gmail,com wrote:

>
> Over the years, more began to form slowly in various locations, often
> unnoticed until about BB or pea size. Around 18yrs I probably had 6-8
> on each thigh, various sizes from BB to nickel-size, had developed
> another on my lower back just up from the sacrum, and one that was
> slightly painful on my left forearm. I went to a dermatologist this
> time and his diagnosis was the same, subcutaneous, seems to be
> 'movable' which guess means harmless in their language, it was called
> lipoma and I was sent home 'not to worry.'
>
> At around 22, the number had about doubled in four years, and being a
> busy student, I never made it a priority to get regular check-ups, and
> neglected having them checked until I was quite worried. I surveyed
> my entire body visually and to the touch, and marked each growth and
> went to the health center to get checked again. Same diagnosis, and
> they referred me to a dermatologist who was reputable as having
> experience with lipoma and also cancerous growths. He had no news and
> told me to rest easy.
>
> Ok, sorry to belabor around the point, but I feel that anyone with
> anything valuable to say would take the time to read on, and would
> appreciate the details so as to have a helpful response. So, now I'm
> nearly 26 and have what appears to be a severe and seemingly
> aggressive case of "lipoma" throughout the body. I am now quite
> afraid that I've allowed something terrible to sleep in my body for
> much too long, and I don't know where to start. I've been given
> crappy medical advice so many times, i'm hesitant to just jump into a
> doctor's lap for a vote of confidence in ignoring the problem.
>
> I haven't done a complete survey in a while, but here's my best guess
> of my current overall condition...
>
> Thighs - at least 7 'old' growths, 6-12 yrs old, which average the
> diameter of a quarter, and the thickness of about 3/8". They are not
> painful except for when squeezed hard or jarred abruptly. In
> addition, there are about 10 'young' growths, from a pea to a nickel
> size, which are a bit more sensitive, seem to be rooted deeper in
> tissue, and are probably 3-5 years old. What's raised the alarm again
> is a 'new' growth spurt over the last year or so, where several BB
> size growths are occuring in new locations, and in near proximity to
> the 'old' and 'young' growths.
>
> Thighs - 7 'old', 10 'young', 8 'new'
>
> Groin/Gluts - 2 'old', 3 'young'
>
> lower back - 1 'old', 2 'young', 3 'new'
>
> sides/ribs - 3 'young', 2 'new'
>
> forearms - 1 'old', 2 'young', 5 'new'
>
> Total - 11 'old', 17 'young', 18 'new'
>
> I'm terrified and I don't know where to start. I recently lost a
> close friend to non-hodge lymphoma, and it seemed to get terribly
> worse after exploratory surgery by a pathologist/oncologist, irritated
> the cancer, mutated after radiation to another form, and severe chemo
> treatments followed him to the end. I intend to pursue exploratory
> counsel/treatment asap, and I'm desperate for advice and/or
> connections, references etc.. so that I can protect myself.

I would suggest that you get a hobby and quit feeling and counting
lipomas.
J

Re: Lots of Questions

From Wiki:

There are new methods being developed that are supposed to remove the
lipomas without scarring. One of them is removal by the use of injection of
compounds that trigger lipolysis, such as steroids or
phosphatidylcholine.[8][17] Another method being developed is the use of
ultrasound waves to destroy the lipoma.[citation needed] This can be
compared with the removal of kidney stones where ultrasound is used to
pulverize the stones.

From PubMed:

http :// www .ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16310057?ordinalpos=10&itool=EntrezSystem
2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

http :// www .ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18053049?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2
.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_R
A&linkpos=1&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed