Worrying about lump on neck

[Hocuspocusandfairies]

I've had a lump behind my ear for at a number of months. It may have been there before that but that is when I noticed it. It hasn't grown but it hasn't gone. I can't feel an actual lump of that makes sense just a swelling. I went to the doctor who is hopefully sending me for a scan Covid permitting(she said they may not be able to do scans on neck due to Covid restrictions) I'm worrying myself silly that it's cancer as typically I googled and it came up with all horror stories. The doctor doesn't know what it is but did say that it's not an enlarged gland.

can we get a pic please

((((Hugs)))

Thank you. I'll try and attach a picture. Please bare with me.

Is it kinda between the skull and your jaw, at the base of the ear? It could just be a gland. Mine have swollen before and can be felt as a little lump. I've not always had a cold or infection but figure it's the immune system doing its job.

I'm just trying to figure out how to attach pictures from my gallery. It's not by my jaw and the doctor did say it's not a gland because that's what I was thinking it was. I can't feel any lump inside the swelling but I don't what I have this side on the other side and the doctor said she could see what I meant.

Here are 3 pictures, hope they attach

Sorry, I know it's hard to see on a photo

It’s most likely nothing but strange lumps should really be checked by a doctor. Give your gp a call.

Sorry, ignore it post. Don’t know what I was thinking.

It’s best to wait for the scan results.

I went yesterday, GP is hopefully sending me for a neck scan but I'm so worried whilst I wait

Purple daisys,sorry cross post

My daughter had this same exact thing and all they could see was a swollen lymph gland and told her she must be fighting something off. It was there months.

Sorry, it obviously might not be the exact same thing, what I meant was it looked very very similar

No, I’m sorry. It didn’t register you’ve been to the GP. I blame lack of sleep.

If she was very worried about cancer she would have referred you under two week wait criteria, so she must think it’s not too serious. If you don’t hear anything, I’d make another appointment to chase up what’s the next step. Tell her you’re very worried about cancer and wondering about a two week wait referral to the local head and neck team.

Pickle, thank you. I thought it was a gland but GP said it wasn't. Hopefully it is.

Purple daisies, my GP did say because of Covid they were not doing head and neck scans but things are changing all the time. She said if I haven't heard in about 6 weeks then to get back in touch

Please please please make sure you follow this through to the end and make sure you get a scan. I had a lump in my neck for 18 months that I thought was just a swollen lymph gland because of tooth problems. It wasn't. I'm 18 months post treatment and had another all clear on Thursday but it was at stage 4 when I eventually went for investigation. It's probably nothing and I'm genuinely not trying to frighten you but I'm proof it happens. Good luck xx

Ginis, thank you for your honest reply. Sorry you had to go through that but what a relief to be given the all clear. I will follow it up and I won't let it go. You don't have to say but can I ask you where your cancer was?

How does the lump feel ? Is it hard? Soft ? Can you move it freely ? Or is it fixed ? Have you got any other lumps in your neck or collar bone area? Under the arm pits ? Or groyn ? Any night sweats? If doctor said it's not a lymphnode I'd be hopeful it was a harmless cyst.

Pessimistic, the lump isn't solid and I can't feel any obvious hardness in the swollen are. I do have a lump at the side of my left breast near my arm put that I had scanned 3 years ago and nothing nasty was seen. Obviously me being me is now putting them both together and panicking. I know your user name only has one s but autocorrect keeps changing it back.

If it's soft I'd be a lot less worried than if it was firm and 'rubbery' or fixed and hard/irregular. It may well be a fatty lump- lipoma- which is harmless. The lymph nodes behind the ear (iirc) are related to your scalp and inner ear - have you had any skin infections or ear symptoms at all? Sometimes a reactive lymph node can feel quite soft. Those lymph nodes are not related to your breast directly.

If your GP was worried about it then I'd imagine they'd have referred you directly to Ear Nose & Throat rather than looking for a scan- to me that would suggest she doesn't think it feels sinister but can't give you a definite diagnosis, but I'm obviously not your GP!

If its getting bigger/harder or you notice any other lumps then definitely go back for another look. The other option would be to pay for a private ENT opinion if that is an affordable option for you and would set your mind at rest sooner. Best wishes.

@Hocuspocusandfairies it turned out to be an HPV tumour in my tongue - too much oral sex according to the consultant 😂😂. 4 chemo, 25 radiotherapy and 18 months on I'm nearly back to normal. Still a few issues around some food. I really hadn't worried about it at all as I'm one who always has swollen lymph glands if I'm not well. It wasn't until a friend suggested it wasn't going away and maybe it was time to get it checked that I went to my GP - fully expecting him to say it was nothing. Omg the wheels really did go into motion !! I've been very lucky. Hopefully yours is a cyst or something but promise me you'll insist on getting it properly checked x

Came on to say pretty much what GinisLife said. Don't be afraid to make a fuss or get a second opinion.
Keep us updated won't you x

@GinisLife

I had a neurofibroma on my neck. It wasn't cancerous but it was growing on my spinal nerve (not great) Operation was someone difficult as one false move and I could have been paralysed.

Glad you're getting it looked at.

Looks like a lymph node ( surgeon who
Operates on necks) . Probably fine but a scan is sensible

Ginis, well my husband don't get any of that from mejoking aside I'm glad you've come out the other side and thank you for sharing your story. I also promise to keep on about it until I know what it is.