Would you be concerned about lump on neck?

[Anonymousess]

I have had a lump on my neck for around 2 years now. Bare with me…

I have always been slim, but put on a lot of weight 2 years ago which spurred on acne on my face/neck/chest/back. I think the lump on my neck is a small abscess or something acne related. When I first had it, I went to my GP. She felt around but wasn’t concerned. I remember later on, it started oozing pus.

I thought that was the end of it but I can still feel it from time to time in the past 2 years. I have lost the weight now, and my acne has subsided, but I can still feel the lump. It’s quite firm, feels like a grain of rice in size, isn’t oozing, isn’t sore. It isn’t painful and you can’t see it, I can just feel it. Is it worth raising with GP again?

Personally if it was me, and it hadn't changed at all in over 2 years I wouldn't go back to the GP.

Generally speaking any new or evolving neck lump (well anywhere in the body really) should certainly be examined by a GP (presuming you're unsure of the cause).

That said if it's something you're going to dwell on/anxious about then requesting a routine appointment for review in my opinion wouldn't be unreasonable.

I had something like this on top of my head. It didn't turn out to be anything. It was there for a couple of years. I also had a lump on my back for many years. It's now gone, and there's an indentation where it used to be.

I'm not giving medical advice, but cysts are extremely common. Go to the doctor if you're concerned.

I had something similar on my back for years. I stupidly didn’t get it looked at but when I did it was just a cyst type lump and removed in day surgery.

Thanks everyone. I think in an ideal world I’d just like my GP to lance it and get rid of it once and for all! It’s quite deep so it’s not something I can do myself

There is no harm in getting it looked at. As someone who has had the lymph nodes in my neck removed due to cancer, it doesn’t sound worrying. My cancer was very obvious, painful, grew quickly from nothing to size of a grape in a couple months. I think your gut would tell you if it was something. Mine definitely did. But I also think there is no reason not to get it checked. If it’s nothing, GP might be able to advise on getting it removed privately if you want to.

I think I'd be the same. In my limited experience of it I don't think they do lance/drain this kind of thing they'd just come back larger.

Please get it checked. If you've had to ask, it's on your mind. Best get it dealt with and out of your thoughts altogether.

Please go and check it. The lump I found and had checked out by the GP in August is now many lumps and I have stage 4 Lymphoma. It's likely to be nothing serious but don't leave it any longer.

Please get it checked. Husband had a lump on his neck. It turned out to be thyroid cancer.

We've had a terrible year with surgery and radiotherapy and we’re still not out of the woods yet. So for your own sake please please go. Good luck.

Thanks everyone. It has evolved today and hurts/is larger/red so I used the 111 online service and they’ve booked a gp out of hours appointment. Unfortunately it’s with an outsourced provider (not NHS) but I’m hoping they are just as helpful

It's probably a lipome the way you describe it but better safe than sorry. It will need to be removed due to infection risk anyway since it has leaked. Good luck.

Thank you, have just been seen. Oddly the doctor had no idea what it is. He vaguely guessed it could be a “knot of fat”, generally wasn’t concerned as he felt it’s probably not sinister. Advised to keep monitoring it and use hot compresses and if it continues to change, come back.

So not any closer to a resolution, but I suppose if it is a fatty deposit, it’s too deep into my skin for it to be acne related so maybe the idea of lancing it wouldn’t work!

I have lost weight recently and he thought that might be relevant.