Serious vs "normal" lump: how do you tell the difference?

[needtonamechangeforthis]

My DS (15) has just discovered a small lump behind his ear, and another at the back of him neck, just below the hairline. Will try to get in to GP tomorrow, but does anyone know what a worrying lump would feel like (vs something less worrying, such as a cyst or something).

I get blocked sweat ducts at my hairline quite frequently. hth! They can get quite big over time, then go away. i was freaked out at first, but apparently they are very common.

oh, btw, mine feel quite hard and immobile.

Small lumps like that are usually just glands, really common. A "worrying" lump is often single, quite big (bigger than a grape)and painless - and even then the majority would turn out nothing to worry about. If you poke around the jaw line & hairline of most kids or teenagers there's a good chance you'll find some small lymph glands.

HTH

That's what I'm hoping, and am sure it's nothing. Will go to GP anyway to be sure. These are about the size of a pea, are mobile, don't hurt and are not hard.

Hi, i've noticed these on all my kids (i have 5) over the years. Most recently my younger 2 have had these on a number of occasions, usually when they've had a cold or some kind of virus and the doctor said that its nothing to worry about. Also my 21 year old son had a lump behind his ear when he was in his teens and it never seemed to go away, the doctor said just to keep an eye on it. He had it for a number of years and it just seemed to go away on its own.

I'm sure its nothing to worry about but its just aswell to have it checked out.

Tracey.

Thanks all of you. He has just had a sore throat and had a temperature one night, which would go with what you said Kaylasmum. If it was my own neck/ear, I'd leave it a while to see how it went, but when it's your child you tend to panic a bit and think all sorts. Will try to get GP appt tomorrow just to be sure, about to go on hols so would rather know before we went. Thanks again.

Like the last poster said, your lymph nodes in your neck and behind your ears definitley enlarge with any sign of infection. I've expereinced this myself so I wouldn't worry too much.

just an update cos starting to get twitchy....
went to the GPs a couple of weeks ago who said that although lumps can be normal and nothing to worry about, my DS's lumps should have been going away by now. Blood test results and follow up on Wednesday. Am sure all will be ok, but can't stop wondering "What if...."

just realised I never updated. Blood tests clear BUT GP not happy lumps are still there after 8 weeks. Waiting for Paed referral.