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

In my last pregnancy, the baby had a cystic hygroma before birth - showed up on the 12w scan as a >9mm fluid filled bulge on top of a >4mm nuchal fold (hadn't been there on an earlier scan). Obviously antenatally there's not much you can do positively other than 'wait and see', anything else is a negative option, so we chose 'wait and see' and the hygroma reabsorbed.

Cystic hygromas can be diagnosed antenatally or postnatally and are often pea-sized lumps on the neck. It's a subtype of lymphangioma.

Often nothing needs to be done.

There is plenty of info out there but really, step away from Google. I didn't (though to be fair we were being asked to consider termination, as the prenatal diagnosis is often associated with a couple of genetic disorders incompatible with life - so very clearly not the case with your DC), and given that it resolved spontaneously I rather wish I hadn't wasted the time and mental energy researching.

Anyway, that would be my guess at the GP's query, and the reason for 'wait and see'.

Typed in a hurry as the aforesaid DC cried out, but he's gone back to sleep - just wanted to add that he is now 2, no health concerns at all, no consequences/effects.

I hope your baby's lump is as equally benign, and very likely it is.

The protocol for suspected cancer in adults is specialist within two weeks. I can't imagine it being different in children. Please try not to worry. My dd has a lump on her eyebrow. She has had it since she was 6m old. She is 24 years old this year.

I had a similar lump appear on my collar bone. Freaked out. Dr told me to go back in a few weeks by that time it had gone.

You need to see someone though yo put your mind at rest. My doctor is very frank. If there is the SLIGHTEST suspicion you are in the clinic prettu quick.

If they thought cancer they would not take any chances. So no refferal is hood news. They will im sure refer if you insist but that may make you worry more.

I think you need to say straight out to the gp that you are worried that this lump is cancerous. And that you are very worried by the possibility. Then ask them to explain why they think it is not cancerous given that the lump has grown to be 4x bigger (insert correct amount here!) than it was when you first spotted it approx 8 weeks ago, meaning it has doubled in size each month (again put actual sizes in, I've just guessed from your posts) and you are worried that it will double again in size in the next month.

Then ask them to tell you, if it is a cancerous lump, what the difference would be to your ds's outcome if you were to wait another month before even starting to think about treatment.

Hopefully this will concentrate her mind - if there's a tiny chance it could be cancerous, you've raised it and she has said to wait then she is potentially leaving herelf open to you making a big juicy claim on her insurance... Not ideal but unfortunately quite an effective way of dealing with doctors when you are worried about something serious.

thanks for the help baby been referred now

Thanks for keeping us updated Diamondlizard. Good luck.

Good luck op and well done, fingers crossed for you and your lo.

What do they think it is? Where have they been referred to?

DS had what the doctors thought was a lipoma (fatty lump) in his back which started from a similar age - it was removed when he was 3 (earliest they wanted to operate) and turned out, in fact, to be a lump of blood vessels (can't remember the term for it ) - entirely benign and only removed for cosmetic reasons. The location of it made it exceedingly unlikely to be anything other than benign, but I was taken seriously from the moment I took him to GP, and referred very quickly even though no one thought it was cancerous, and saw the same specialist even though it wasn't removed for 2 years. So I am glad you have got the referral, OP - you clearly need to be reassured/informed properly.

Dr would be drawn on what she thought it was
Just said well we will leave that for the pead to decide, but has not referred urgently, it's a month wait
So I'm guessing from that she thinks it's not cancer or anything serious

She say it's definatly not a brain tumor, because if it was it would be on the inside not the outside

If your Gp thought your baby had cancer, or even that your baby might have cancer, you would have an urgent referral. Lots of things cause lumps.

Hope you and little one are ok op. This sounds quite like what my ds has - hard lump appeared and grew very quickly. We were referred and after an MRI scan, turns out it's a harmless dermoid cyst. He's having it removed when he's 2.

He also had a branchial cleft cyst which appeared on his neck when he was 2 weeks old - that was operated on at the time. I seem to have a lumpy baby!

Let us know how you get on.