Please help, six month old baby, with 2cm non discrete swelling, head/neck area dr wrote on file lymphoma ? Cyst?

[Diamondlizard]

Told me she doesn't think it's anything to worry about and to go back in a month
I just looked at what she typed on the screen
2cm non discreet swelling, transiluinates lymphom? Cyst?
See again in one month

Now I can't stop crying worrying feeling sick
As I didn't even know what lymphoma Ment, but of course I've now read it's cancer
Surely waiting a month to be referred is crazy

It started in February with a small pea sized lump, was told it was gristle, that's not there anymore.
Then in arch it had sort of changed into a softer but bit larger lump was told it was a cyst

Now it's got bigger 2cm

I just don't know what to think or do please help

Of course it may be nothing, but you need to find out for yourself don't you? I suggest you contact The Brain Tumour Charity and ask for advice:

I've copied and pasted the details from their website. See below. And don't hesitate. Ring them now. They are wonderful.

0808 800 0004

Our Support & Info Line is open from Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, and is free from landlines and most mobiles. We are proud to be members of the Helplines Asssociation and our professional and compassionate service.

[email protected]

You can also reach our Support and Information team through its dedicated email address.

I think they only way they will know is to run test, scans bloods biopsies etc

I'm actually thinking of just going to a and e with him
In the hope someone will see him

I completely understand how worried you are. The best thing to do would be to go back to the GP & ask for more information. She's actually seem/examined your child so will know better than someone over the phone.
Ring the receptionist, explain how worried you are & ask for another appointment today or a phone call.
It's likely it was just a note to consider if problems were still present, particularly if you were seen by another GP at the practice. Could she of written lymph node?
If she suspected something serious she would of referred you but you need your mind putting at rest.

If I go to a and e will they see him

Yes, they'll see him but they don't necessarily have access to specialists/testing faster. If he doesn't need admitting (doesn't sound from your post he does) then you may well just get sent back to your GP.
I really would ring your GP first. They may be able to put your mind at ease quickly & easily.

Actually OP - I think you are right. A and E. But ring the Brain Tumour Charity first please - they will be able to help you suss out the route to diagnosis.

I can imagine how worried you are, but please don't go to A&E with this. Please go back to your GP and tell them that you want your child referred urgently for this to be investigated further. If they are not willing to do this go to another GP in the practice and make the same request. You be able to ring the GP today and tell them this over the phone rather than having to wait for an appointment.
Hopefully it will all prove to be fine in the end. Fingers crossed for you all.

why are people arising the op contacts the brain tumour charity about a possible lump in the neck?

I think she wrote hygroma.... that's a benign cystic swelling in the neck in babies (and handwritten would look oddly like lymphoma)....... but actually op have you rung the GP to find out exactly what was written and what she was thinking rather than getting so upset and thinking about contacting cancer charities?

Believe me if your GP thought your baby had cancer she's be onto it.

Sometimes our brains go into overdrive and we miss the obvious course of action. Hope you are soon feeling happier about things OP

I agree thea18. It's a bit of a leap. The GP is the best person to speak to. A&E isn't really appropriate, but I can understand the OPs concern & wanting to do 'something'.
OP - I've worked in a regional max fax unit that dealt with head & neck cancer. I'm not going to go into what it may/may not be as it is inappropriate to attempt to diagnose over the internet. Your GP is the correct service to acess. Any GP worth having will find the time to talk to a frightened mother. Call them.

You poor love, you sound so panicky

Please ring the GP surgery and ask exactly what the GP wrote/is thinking about what it could be

Where exactly is the lump ? Innocent swellings in the neck muscle are often referred to as a "sternomastioid tumour" but they are not cancerous, nor are hygromas

if the GP thought it could be a lymphoma, your baby would be seeing a paediatric haematologist before your feet could touch the ground, seriously

or make another appt with the GP ASAP to discuss it further, they wouldn't want you to be fretting and worrying at home

I think you have the wrong end of the stick. If GP thought it was lymphoma she wouldn't have said she doesn't think it's anything to worry about. It probably said lymph node. Ask to speak to the GP to check. No need to go to a and e.

No to a&e it's not appropriate.but do immediately go back to gp another appt
And ignore suggestion of brain tumour,that's such speculation and is wildly unhelpful.
I completely understand your beside yourself,do see gp.write down questions if you feel anxious

If it were Potential cancer your gp would refer to paediatrics immediately

good luck I hope you get answers

Ring the gp back and ask what was wrote down.
First things first.
Then come back to us.

Our DS had the same thing, growing lump in his neck. He was referred to specialist and seen about a dozen times whilst they monitored the change in the lump over the course of more than a year. They ran tests and decided it was nothing to worry about. The lump is still there. It could well be nothing but you should ask to be referred.

have you rung the gp, OP ?

Im going to see another gp tomorrow. I want refering I will insist and tell them I will be making a complaint to the gmc if they do not refer me.
then I will be going to a and e tomorrow and I will camp out there
and I will cause the most hassle they have ever seen

He might not need referring! You just need to clarify what the GP has written!

Well it's been going on since February it's now 2cm in size started out as half the size of a pea.
It needs referring
And an actual proper answer
Not just oh I doubt it anything serious I need to know it's not anything serious

....and the reason you didn't mention that at your last doc's appt was?

If the gp believed it was anything other than a lymph node or similar, they would have referred. They were obviously plausible enough at your appointment to have allayed your fears, you are only in a panic because you have misread the notes and think it implies your DC has cancer.

If the doc thought your DC was at ANY risk of having cancer, they would have referred so fast you wouldn't have had time to read the notes.

Please go back to the gp, tell them you don't understand what they have written, and ask them to explain it. I know it's hard not to panic, but you have misread this. And the gp will calm you down and explain why they have not referred, and give you the correct diagnosis to google.

You do not know if it needs referring. You don't understand, and you are worried. A referral might put your mind at ease, but it may also put pressure on a system dealing with seriously ill babies who DO have cancer.

Yours does not, however scared you are..

DiamondLizard is the best judge of what she should do. None of us can take her place in that.

Poor you op, but I am sure after this new appointment you will feel better. Like a few have said, if your gp suspected lymphoma, you would have been in the hospital by now.... There is no way they would wait a month. Imagine the headlines if they did that sort of thing.

Dont go to A & E, it won't make you feel better to be there with a small baby. This is surely a case of anxious mum reading notes in blind panic...totally understandable, deep breaths and let us know what happens.

Lowclouds, yes absolutely... Instinct is so important in this parenting lark. But I reckon once these notes have been explained, op will feel so much better. Hope so.

Not sure threatening the GMC is the best way to get the GP to take you seriously. Try starting with a calm conversation, you might well get a better response that way. You would from me anyway.
The system is over loaded but, after a long fast track cancer clinic where we saw nonsense (actual nonsense - a broken tooth as possible cancer, referred by a GP) my consultant told me he'd rather see 100 people who don't have cancer & send them on their way than miss the 1 that did.
Talk to your GP. If you truly honestly will not be able to relax until you've had investigations be honest about that. It's not an unreasonable position & referrals for reassurance are incredibly common.

Are you sure it didn't say lipoma?? As in a fatty lump?

Sorry,am sure you are. But I doubt the doctor is really worried. She would not take a wait and see approach.

I don't understand the mention of a brain tumor charity either??

Op,it is almost certainly nothing to worry about. Why not bring baby to a and e and get your mind out at rest. You'll worry herself sick.

Kids have all kinds of lumps and bumps,almost always harmless,especially in the absence of other symptoms .

I mentioned the brain tumour charity for one reason only. The OP is worried. Therefore she needs information so she can exclude some of her biggest concerns. Information from a reputable, objective and experienced source goes a long way to reducing fear. And for what it is worth, GPs, although marvellous, are not infallible. If her GP has failed to ensure the OP has understood and accepted the outcome of the consultation, then the GP has further work to do, one way or another. If the OP has no faith in her GP, then a 2nd consultation with the same GP is pointless. We are here to support, not to be judgemental.