Lump on the side of my neck - anyone expereinced anyhting like this....come and reassure me that it will go away without any medical prods and pokes.

[PositiveAttitude]

Ok, so I have a lump just infront of/just under my left ear. Went to a brilliant walk in centre (NHS) on Monday and the DR spoke with ENT consultant straightaway. He said I would need to see the ENT guy within the next few days - phoned today and I see him Thursday morning, first thing.

Seems to be something to do with my parotid gland.

Walk in centre Dr gave me antibiotics, "just in case" but said he didnt think it was infected.

Question is: Does anyone have experience of anything like this? Lump itself is not painful. I have felt Slightly unwell and under the weather for about 4 weeks. about 10 days ago I thought i had slept awkwardly and ached all down my neck. This ache has remained and is sometimes worse than others. I have googled about blocked salivary glands and I am not convinced this is what mine is as it does not get bigger when I eat. Lump was first noticed 6 days ago and it has grown since then.

Anyone???

Thnaks

Thanks Mumof3teens, I am thinking the same. If it was bad they would have phoned.

I phoned the hospital this morning to see if the blood results were in. I am not feeling well, and I was hoping that the bloods showed up something that I could just start treatment for.

Consultant phoned me back this afternoon. All bloods have come back ok, so they ahve ruled out diabetes, infections and all the simple things. He was very nice and talked me through it all. He said that after these results it appears that we are looking at a "growth", but we wont know if its malignant or not until the MRI and biopsy gets done. He has reassured me that he will phone me as soon as he gets the results, after the scan next Friday, and he will act quickly getting me in for treatment as soon as possible.

Sort of feel more settled that the bloods were ok. Surely, if it was REALLY bad news the bloods would have shown that up, wouldnt they??? It is becoming uncomfortable around the lump and going down my neck and shoulder, but the actual lump remains painless.

One week down, one week til the scan......

Hi Positive. Well at least you're starting to get to know your consultant. I hope s/he is someone you can relate to and feel you can rely on. Mine are great I must say.

My friend also found the whole stress issue became a bit of an issue on its own. However I spoke to her today and she is feeling a lot better now. This is sveral months on, of course. She's had one holiday and having another soon so that helps. She is being monitored at 4 monthly intervals, under the 'watch and wait' policy - as I said for some people no treatment is ever needed for non hodgkins lymphoma but I have read that for most some treatment is required at some point.

I have my last IV chemo tomorrow and then one more week of tablets that make me feel a bit yuk. I can't rteally beleive I'm coming to the end after 7 months of chemo! And various ops before that. As to the outcome, well you don't ever get a clear outcome. Its a question of time will tell. I think this could become a stressor for me but at the moment I am just focussing on finishing chemo, as you do have to steel yourself for it. My surgeon went as far as to say 'we can talk about a cure' but my oncologist just says we have to wait and see. I understand the odds are in my favour, from what I've read. Let is hope so. Thank-you for asking, and good luck with this waiting.

PA - the waiting is torture isn't it. I had sarcoidosis a couple of years ago - started with lumps in arms and legs and feeling very unwell, by the time I got my results (with google's help) I had myself sitting in a bed for the rest of my days with no arms and legs. I blame Holby City and House for making us believe we are doctors!

Remember - only the people with bad news bother writing about it on the internet. Therefore google can't bring up the stories of "I had two weeks of pills and the lump went away".

Hope you find out what the new addition is really really soon - we need your mind back on the job to nag us on 30 Sept!

Pa - I'm sorry you are going through this worry. Must be awful counting down the days to wait for scans and results.

Loler is quite right - you'll only find the bad news stories on the net.

I'll be thinking of you

Hiya

Sorry it wasn't an infection - but I was reading up about this, earlier today (I know, I'm a freak!) and found a really good page about it.

I think it was on Patient UK under parotid gland or similar.

Basically, it is really common to have a benign tumour there. Yes, it could possibly be malignant but it's unlikely.

There are far more benign ones diagnosed than malignant. Various types as well.

It was really interesting and I went away from it thinking, 'Ah, that's really good news for PA!' But I didn't come and post it because at the end of the day it's a google thing and you might not want to take it into account! I was really relieved though.

Will try and find the link. It also said there are many signs of probable malignancy - including facial paralysis, lopsidedness etc. which presumably you would have noticed.

Really hopeful for you.

here

Hope it is reassuring for you, too.

Thanks Flight Just off to collect DD now, but will look later. Will only look if its positive, though. Dont want any doom and gloom

Shall I filter for you? Basically, 80% of parotid gland tumours are benign.

Benign tumours:.

?Pleomorphic adenoma (most common)
?Warthin tumour
?Rarities including onococytomas and monomorphic adenomas

(so you can google those separately if you like, and see if they match up)

?Malignancy typically presents after age 60, whilst benign lesions usually occur after 40.
?Benign tumours are more common in women, but malignant tumours have an equal sex distribution.

It also says that factors suggestive of malignancy include tenderness (it doesn't hurt - good!)

I hope that helps a bit. xx

Hi PA!

So sorry to hear how worried and stressed you've been, and glad things are going quickly at least, even if it is worrying.

I agree that the temptation to google is overwhelming, I had some very heavy irregular bleeding a few months ago, and had myself convinced it was a tumour, compounded by how quickly the gynae got me an appointment when I called her.

All turned out absolutely fine, fingers crossed for you that it is something v. minor too.

Thinking of you - keep us all updated and feel free to stress away on the thread if you need a moan or are having a panic.

Oh good. well, i'm not over 60 , but I am over 40 and female.
Actual lump does not hurt. It seems to be pressing on things around it, causing discomfort. I am getting a sort of "numbness" around it and going up my face, but that could be because it is pressing on nerves, cant it.
definitely getting bigger.

Thanks I may be brave and look at those benign tumours.

Hi JJ , Thanks

Right, Flight, I will not google anymore, cos none of those benign ones seem to fit!! I am walking away from google!!

Sorry

okay, no more googling. I will stop it too! But the statistics are seriously on your side.

Try not to worry. x

I will stick with statistics then.

Thank you.

they normally test for raised cancer markers if they are worried, so good news about bloods. Hope your ok and holding up ok

thank you Lisa - how long do these raised cancer markers take to come back? Would they be there within a week?

Hi PA, I think they would have routinely done a CA125 when they did your other bloods. If it's come back normal that's great.

Brilliant

17 years ago when I was in hospital having dd, the dr. saw a swelling on one side of my neck. I had been aware of it, but ignored it at pregnancy problems were my priority at the time - stupid I know!

I was sent for an MRI scan, and was told that it was nothing to worry about. I could have it taken out, but it absolutely wasn't necessary, so I've left well alone. It comes and goes. I can feel it at the moment, but at other times can't feel anything at all.

So try not to worry - it may well be nothing significant at all.

Thank you for your reassurances, ajandjjmum.

I am now feeling quite chilled, Worrying is not going to make it go away and I have confidence that the consultant is going to sort it as soon as possible.

Thanks everyone.

Hi PA, have been thinking of you and just wondered how the scan went today? Hope all is well and that you're feeling more comfortable now.

Thank you Rindercella.

MRI was ok - not a pleasant experience but had to be done.
I was very annoyed to receive a letter to say that my appointment to get my results on Wednesday has been postponed until a week Tuesday. This obviously sent before the MRI, but I had cancelled a few days away after the consultant had insisted it could not wait, and now its been changed anyway!! Grrr!! I am sort of thinking that if I dont hear anything, then it may be better news, assuming they would get me in earlier if there was anything to worry about.
Symptons are not good, but I am trying to stay as positive as possible. I have told only my bosses in RL as I dont want a load of fuss made, especially until I know what I am dealing with.

I did see you on another thread, and I am sorry to read everything you are going through. Thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

PA, you won't know me but I've been keeping an eye on this thread wondering if there was any news. I'm so sorry that you are being messed around with your appointments; that must be so frustrating, both because of your cancelled trip away but also because you are kept in the dark for longer.

You are obviously dealing with it all really well, and I just wanted to send you my thoughts and prayers that you'll be able to stay strong over the next couple of weeks.

Hi PA. Sorry about the wait, as I know the waiting is really difficult to manage. Keep distracting yourself and keeping healthy.

I have finished my chemo now - yay! Just have to recover over the next few months while it clears out of my system, and while energy gradually returns. Went for a nice long walk today (well, about 1.25 hours which is long for me at the mo!) and now going to cinema.

Hang in there- you'll be OK.

Thank you Fatsatsuma Really appreciate the thoughts and prayers. Not saying anything to people in RL, apart from my idiot boss, for a number of reasons, so feeling very alone in it. Its great to know people who dont know me are caring.

Sandripples Soooooo pleased to hear that your chemo has come to an end. Hope you really start to feel full of life and vitality soon. Enjoy life!!

So today I received another letter from the clinic saying that my appointment was now 26th OCTOBER!!! This had obviously been sent before my MRI and I am totally confused. The consultant was adamant that it was not to wait after the 22nd September, so really not sure what is going on!! Symptons are getting me down and are getting worse. I just hope that they will phone me with results rather than wait til October, or whenever they put it off to next.