Age: 70.0
Sex: M
Vaccine: COVID19
Symptoms: Axillary lymphadenectomy, Axillary mass, Biopsy lymph gland abnormal, Blood test abnormal, Chest X-ray abnormal
Clinical narrative: On the morning of 2/19/2021, I received the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Later that afternoon, I went to lie down for a bit. When I tried to get up to go to the bathroom, I couldn't move either of my legs to get off the bed, but when I finally was able to swing my legs off the bed, I was able to walk to the bathroom. I didn't notice anything else different about my legs until the moment I tried to get out of bed. I also had some pain in the right shoulder at the injection site. On the morning of 2/20/2021, I noticed that my right armpit was swollen. My wife had done some research on the internet and had learned that swollen lymph nodes were a possible side effect of the vaccine, so I thought nothing more about it, and I went on with life. I tried doing a lymph node massage on the affected area, but I didn't really notice any change. On 3/12/2021, I received my second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (EN6203). I went to sleep that night. When I woke up the morning of 3/13/2021, both of my armpits were swollen! I then basically went on with life. I put an ice pack on the left armpit, and this was a huge mistake. Instead of reducing the swelling, it increased it! There was a big lump that was about half the size of a tennis ball. We called our PCP, and he suggested that my situation wasn't normal. Maybe about two weeks after getting the second shot, I saw the PCP. He ran a urine test and a blood test. I also underwent a chest X-ray. Some black spots were found in the lungs, and the PCP indicated that they were the residual effects of pneumonia that I had previously recovered from and that it was no cause of concern. I received my first Pfizer booster (FE3592) on 10/3/2021. I developed an unusual cough after getting the third dose. It didn't sound like a normal cough. Rather, it sounded more like the bark of a seal. I went to an ENT, and he used a scope to examine my nose and throat. He could find no structural abnormalities. He asked me if I took nasal spray. I told him that I did. He asked me how long I had been using it. I told him that I had been using it every night for at least four years. He then ordered me to throw it away and told me that it's not supposed to be used for more than three days. He then prescribed me FLONASE, which I used for about four weeks. I then noticed that I had blood in my mucus when I blew my nose. My wife advised me to put VASELINE in my nose, because she said that it would probably help keep the nose open and provide moisture. She told me that she sometimes gets nosebleeds if her nose is really dry and that the VASELINE helps prevent such nosebleeds, so I took her advice. It's not exactly comfortable, but it does help prevent nosebleeds and keep my nostrils open. The PCP was unable to determine what could be causing my cough, so he sent me to a cardiologist for further examination. I underwent a nuclear stress test, a dye contrast ultrasound, and another chest X-ray, and no abnormalities were detected. I received my second Pfizer COVID-19 booster (GH9694) on 9/27/2022. The PCP told me that an abnormality had been detected in a blood test, so he referred me to an oncologist. The oncologist saw my right armpit, which still had the lump, and she was shocked. She had me undergo a blood test. She then wanted to do a six-needle biopsy of the right armpit. I then underwent a PET scan with contrast dye after the six-needle biopsy. I was then diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. About three weeks after the first biopsy, I underwent a biopsy of the left armpit, which was performed by a general surgeon. During the biopsy, the lump with the affected lymph nodes was removed, and an examination of the tissue further confirmed a diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The oncologist then arranged for me to get medication to treat the condition. I was prescribed BRUKINSA. I take four 80 mg tablets daily. It has a lot of possible side effects, but the only thing I've noticed since beginning the medication is that I have developed a few sporadic tiny, red spots scattered over different parts of my body. The oncologist told me this is normal and nothing to be alarmed about. I started taking the BRUKINSA about three weeks ago, and I am currently awaiting my next blood test, which is scheduled for later this month.