found two separate lumps on DS and getting worried...

[missscarlett]

In October, my seven year old found a pea sized mobile lump inside his right cheek. We had it looked at by the doctor who said it was nothing to worry about and to return if it got bigger or hadn't gone by Christmas.

It stayed the same size but is still there. I took him back to the doctor who again said it was nothing to worry about, but if we were worried he would refer us to the hospital.

Our referral appointment has been cancelled three times - the latest one is not until mid March. In the mean time, we found several very similar lumps on the back of his neck. I took him back to the GP straight away and he said it was just his glands and his throat looked a bit red (although he had no symptoms of being ill)and the lumps would go down. It's been two weeks since then and nothing has changed.

I'm gradually getting more and more concerned. My mum died of cancer which her GP and local hospital failed to diagnose until she was very ill and this is always at the back of my mind. Any advice would be appreciated.

Your GP is probably right and it is most likely his glands. However to put your mind at risk I would go back to your GP and ask for an urgent referral, a 2 month wait is too long when you are worried. If that is not possible are you able to book a consultation with a BUPA doctor?

It is likely to be glands but I would ask for an urgent referral. BTW I had a gland come up behind my ear when I had chicken pox and it never went down 28 years later!

I agree with the others. If and when you do ask for an urgent referral, tell the about your mother. They will understand.

This is maybe analogous:my mother used to demand that my brother and I get a throat culture every time we had a sore throat. This is because her father had rheumatic fever (which comes about after an untreated strept infection) and, as a result, suffered heart disease and all sorts of horrible repercussions. My mother would explain to the doctor that she knew first-hand the damage that rheumatic fever can cause, and she didn't want to take any chances. Her assertiveness got results.

Thanks - I will definitely speak to the GP again and ask for the referral to be hurried along. I'm afraid BUPA is probably out of the question for us for financial reasons - though I guess it depends on how good the NHS is. Medea - this is the thing - knowing first hand what can happen if you put all your trust into doctors and they turn out to be wrong.