hi everyone.Im just back from the vet with flyss,my 15year old collie,she has 3monthly m.o.t.s,as she is on trocoxil for arthritis.This time the vet said her lymph nodes were up,which could mean an infection or lymphatic cancer.She is on a weeks supply of antibiotics in case it is an infection(please!),but in case it is cancer,can anyone tell me what to expect ,please?

Did your vet say which lymph nodes were up?

I know the ones in the neck go up and down on a regular basis naturally, more so I think than any of the others.  Our Vet tends to get more worried about the ones that are in the loin, or in hind legs or groin. 

she said the ones in the neck were the easiest to feel,although apparently,lymph nodes are everywhere!its those she said were up,and she showed me where to feel,so i can keep an eye on them myself.She mentioned biopsies if she doesnt respond to the antibiotics,but I  really dont want her to be put through anaesthetics etc,at her age,and wonder if it would be kinder to try and keep her comfortable till the end instead,if thats possible.

but I  really dont want her to be put through anaesthetics etc,at her age,and wonder if it would be kinder to try and keep her comfortable till the end instead
Couldn't agree with you more Pam. :(  We've always said "Pain free and comfortable". 
I would do exactly the same as you - antibiotics and then lots of her favourite things. :)

I've watched many friends, with the best possible intentions, send their dog off to the Vet to be pulled about to find out what's wrong and in the majority of cases, there is actually little that can be done........
Just 2 weeks ago a neighbour's old Goldie was frail.  He was taken to the surgery on Monday, taken to the hospital for test all day Tuesday, back again all day Thursday and was pts on Friday evening. I'm sure that the poor old dog would have rather been at home with those he knew and loved for his last week instead of being pulled about by strangers. :(

Totally agree with westcoast.  I had a bullmastiff who went thru chemo, she responded well and i got another 7months out of her until her nymph nodes in her neck became enlarged and it had spread......looking back now i wish i had left be.  She didnt mind the vets so i carried on with treatment as advisd to get a few more months with her.  Until i picked her up 1 day from the vets and got her to my car took 1 look at her and called my husband to say it was time she'd had enough.....I so wish i'd left be and enjoyed the time with her :(  I am such a wimp i've made myself cry again and this was 4years ago.   Fingers crossed it is just an infection xxxxx

thankyou,i hope so,but from what i felt yesterday,the nodes have doubled in size.If they dont go down,il speak to the vet on the phone,to see what she might need-she seems her usual self,so far.Thanks for the support,everyone.And if you are a wimp,theres two of us,then!

Sorry for not putting my input in any sooner. I have had a dog with Lymphoma. She was 10 years and 11 months when diagnosed but very fit. I made the decision to do chemo and have never regretted it. She went into remission after the first treatment and was doing very well but unfortunately came out of remission after about the 8th treatment and we lost her 6 weeks later.
Chemo is hard on the dog and you, but I did get quality time with her and so don't regret going down that route. However, at 15 years of age my decision would definitely be different. As I said, Chemo is hard whatever they say. You are constantly trying to keep their appetite up and they do have bilious days. Had I known more I would have had her treatment done at my local Vet and not at the University hospital as I feel I lost valuable time with her when my Vet only used to take her in for a couple of hours for her treatment and the hospital used to have her all day. Lymphoma (if it is that) sometimes responds quite well to steroids so it is well worth trying that route. We have a member on here who did that and her dog lived for a couple of years on that treatment. Whatever happens I know you will make the right decision and I wish you well. Praying that it is only an infection.

Thankyou for that.Ive kind of made the decision to let nature take its course,if my courage holds,that is.She is very old and stiff,on trocoxil so hopefully covered for pain relief,I just feel Id be being cruel,putting her through tests and treatment with such an old lady,thoughI might consider steroids if she continues to maintain  well being.I noticed today that the nodes are enlarging,and one feels knobbly,so I doubt  she will,for long, though.Thankyou for your support.

100% support from me colliepam. :)  Nothing wrong with trying steroids, who knows?  Painfree, comfortable and anything she (and you!) enjoy sounds good to me. :) :)

Thankfully Lymphoma is a painfree cancer.

Had a word with the vet,shes quite happy  with the decision ive made,unfortunately Flyss cant have steroids as it wouldnt agree with the trocoxil(she put it better!)So,fingers crossed!Thanks everyone.