Potential new issue

My PCa remains stable but a new issue has developed. It's been a chaotic year. I and 137 of my fellow co-workers all lost our jobs at the end of March due to Covid. We decided that I was going to retire so we put our house up for sale and made plans to move back to my family home in Northern Wisconsin. During the process I came to the conclusion that I just wasn't mentally ready to retire. Started looking for work near my planned home in WI and was fortunate enough to find something similar to what I was doing albeit at considerably less money. So...sold the house, located an apartment since we had decided to build what would ultimately be our retirement home when I'm ready, moved, started new job and found new medical team here
Seems all pretty good so far but here is where it goes sideways. At my first appointment with my new MO, he decides he wants to get new scans. Makes perfect sense since it hasn't been done in 18 months or so. The appointment is scheduled for yesterday. I go on early for the usual labs. Then get the injection for the bone scan, drink what seemed like three gallons of fluid for the CT and wait the required amount of time for each of the scans to be done. Get all that done and head back to the office.
I'm not 10 minutes down the road when my my MO's nurse calls and tells me that he wants to see me as soon as possible. It;s never good news when your MO wants to see you right away and I wanted my wife involved do I go get here and head back. Of course everything imaginable is going through my head. It must be serious because we already had an appointment scheduled in two days anyway. I figure it can't be my PSA as that was undetectable just 6 weeks ago and it just wouldn't change that quickly. With PSA down it's not likely to be mets so what the heck?
Doc tells me my PSA is still undetectable, the bone scan is fine but the CT scan has shown a pretty large mass on the left side of my abdomen where there should be no such thing. He said it was likely a very enlarged lymph node that was pressing on my bladder. He also said it was possibly Lymphoma but couldn't be certain. I have a referral to to a Urologist next Tuesday who will schedule a biopsy. Nobody has said anything to me yet but it seems pretty certain no matter what it it, it will need to be removed.
Anybody here experience something similar?
Sorry for the length of this but it was kind of cathartic to write it.

Best wishes Randy. Let’s hope it is benign and can be easily dealt with. I was just reading about lymphoma and it looks like statistically most people do well with a 5 year rate in the 90’s. Glad you have sorted out many of the concerns you had and have taken quick and positive actions.

Hang in there Randy.

Randy, take one issue at a time. Let the docs work for you and stay strong!

Djin

Randy, I'm really hoping for the word "benign". Best wishes to you.

Jim

Wow, that's not anything you wanted to hear. But also hoping it's easily treatable. Hang in there!

UPDATE
I was seen by a surgical oncologist on Friday and have learned a little more than I knew before. The mass is quite large. It measures about 5 cm by 6 cm. The Dr. still can't tell me what it is stating that it could be anything from just some mass of cells to a lymph node run amok to possibly even something related to my PCa diagnosis. Whatever it is, I don't recall seeing anything on my scans from about 20 months ago so it's grown pretty fast. We are working on getting copies of those scans now.
I asked about simply removing it and worrying about what it was later. The answer was that they would use removal surgery only as a last resort. Part of the issue is that it is in a pretty bad place. It is essentially sitting on top of my bladder and applying pressure there. It is also pressing against my ureter vein that descends from the kidneys to the bladder, In fact, in one small area, the scan show that it has actually encircled the ureter completely.
I am scheduled for a robotic arthroscopic surgical biopsy on Thursday. I guess it's kind of a big thing as it will take at least an hour and a half or longer to do it. The results of the biopsy will take about a week before I get the results.
Next steps after that will depend on the outcome. If it's benign I suspect it will have to come out. The Dr. says it's a challenging surgery but that he has done them before including two in the last month. If it's Lymphoma, nest steps will likely be some kind of chemotherapy.
I will pass along updates as I have them. Thanks to all of you for your support.

I'll be putting this thread on my watch list for updates. Sending you positive thoughts in the meantime!

Randy, just wanted to say hi from your neighbor to the north here in Minnesota and wish you the very best outcome in dealing with this new mass!

Larry

Here to support you, and stand alongside you.

You have a proactive, step-by-step plan in place ... biopsy, assessment, consultation ...

Your medical team is going to be right on top of things --- rest assured.

Camaraderie, fellowship, encouragement ---
CYCLONE ~ # Iowa State University

One of the most difficult parts about all of this is the hurry up and wait aspect of it.

As Tom Petty might say, the waiting is the hardest part!

Hang in there!

Do not accept surgery is not an option. Once the biopsy is done, get a second opinion from Dr Kaouk at Cleveland Clinic. He is one of the best, if not the best, Uro surgeons in the US and the surgery he is doing robotically is far beyond your local surgeons ability. If he tells you surgery is not an option of the best option, no need going to a 3rd surgeon.

Post Edited (Duck2) : 9/19/2020 10:54:49 PM (GMT-6)

Sorry to hear that Randy. I forgot where you are being treated and what insurance issues may be involved but a 2nd look is always a great idea. Presumably the metastatic lymph node is originally from the prostate. In any event I wish you the best in finding treatment.