To be worried about a painless lump behind DD’s ear.

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Sorry posting for Aibu but wanted some reassurance. Dd who is 16 has found a painless lump behind her ear. It’s firm and about same size as a marble. No recent infections. Have GP appointment booked for 2 weeks time. Anyone reassure as everything I reads suggests painless is worrying.

It could be something like a dermoid cyst or other kind of teratoma which are painless and benign. My DS had one from birth but I think they commonly appear during reproductive years. Totally painless and really simple to deal with - fingers crossed it's something like this for your daughter.

I’ve got one, exactly as you describe, in the same place. I’m 40 and it’s never caused me any problems. First noticed it when I was about 11 or 12 I think. I’ve never even mentioned it to a Dr but I think it’s good that you’re having her checked out just in case.

Thanks @DoloresOnTheDottedLine - is yours painful to touch?

Have you read the NHS page on 'lumps'?

It says: Lumps can appear anywhere on your body. Most lumps are harmless but it's important to see a GP if you're worried or the lump is still there after 2 weeks.

And: Most lumps are normal
It's common for people to get lumps and growths on their skin. They can be caused by many things.

They can:
be soft or hard to touch
move around
be very small or up to the size of a golf ball
be a lump under the skin or a growth that hangs off your skin

Don't read any nonsense online. Get it checked. Remind yourself of the NHS information above while you wait, and show the NHS page to your daughter.

My dd had it a few times aged 12. She had antibiotics and it hasn't come back again. They did definitely want to see her.

Thanks @Letsgobaby26 …. Were they sore to touch?

I believe there is a lymph node behind the ears, and they can sometimes swell when there is an infection brewing. Mine swelled up on both sides before I got the raging tonsillitis that heralded my glandular fever at 17, so it may just be that’s she’s coming down with something as there are still plenty of colds and other bugs about.

If she doesn’t obviously develop a bug or something and they don’t go down, I would ask the GP. But if she’s not feeling tired and run down, struggling with fatigue or aches and pains, the chances are this is just her immune system acting as intended and battling infection before it gets a chance to bed in.

The second time it did start to hurt. It was just so big!

It’s not painful at all - it just feels like normal skin but is very discernibly a lump - I can almost roll it around a bit or sort of roll the skin over it.