If "spots" in lymph system are not malignancies, what else could they be?

background,,I had colon cancer surgery in 2004 followed by 6 months chemo because one microscopic cancer cell was discovered in the surrounding lymph system which was completely removed along with my right ascending colon where a tumor was located, I had two subsequent CT scans which were declared clear...in Sept. 2006 I had a routine CT scan that showed 3 "spots" in my lymph system in my lower abdomen...they were unable to biopsy them so put me back on chemo for a 6 month regimen.. I had a Petscan that was inconclusive for malignacy, and 2 CT scans that showed no difference in size or location for these "spots"..after 4 months i was taken off of chemo and 4 months later had another CT scan to see what, if anything had changed...No change...Doctor cautiously has conceded that these "spots" are probably not malignacys...Has anybody here ever experienced anything similar to this?...would love to know..thanks in advance,,and sorry for being so wordy..thx.

i will be doing CT scans every 6 months for a while, plus having blood work every 4 months..

Obviously if they are not growing than that is a good thing. It could be a variety of things from prominent lymph nodes, to benign lymphocele, to benign lymphoma, but just be thankful they are not growing, and I am sure your doctor is no idiot and he will follow up on these lymph nodes every year!! Benign masses are very common and most are fat tumors, the only reason tumors become dangerous is when they become malignant and the cells become mutated and start rapidly growing and dividing as in cancer!

Since they're not changing and growing, the Dr. isn't seeing them as malignant (growing). They're just tumors that are dead and harmless. The Dr. will keep a close eye on them to ensure they don't change.

Ask your doctor is they might be an inflammatory disease such as sarcoidosis. There are several inflammatory diseases that leave behind granulomas. Granulomaous disease are rare, but woth asking your doctor is it is a possiblility.

sometimes benign growths can be "cured" by the body by encasing them in calcium and other minerals or they just stop growing on their own...those can be called "granulomas" or "fibromas" or "gangliomas", etc. Depending on the type of original tissue involved (ordinary cell, fibrous tendons,etc, or nerves or something else). "oma" means benign. I have a spot on my left lung that has never gotten any bigger over the years and they have not biopsied it, but it has calcified into a granuloma. Just pray for everything to be alright.