Lump found on neck

[Boozysoozy1]

First time posting but I’m very scared and could use advice/other people’s stories with happy endings.

I found a lump - hard, not painful to the touch - on the left hand side of my neck. It’s about the size of an acorn. I’ve seen a doctor and she has sent me for an urgent ultrasound. I need to book in the morning.

Anyone else had this and it not be what I’m fearing most? I’m young, healthy and it’s probably just a cyst or something isn’t it?

Yup - could be a cyst, could be some sort of temporary post-infection change, or just a node that's always randomly been that big and you've just not noticed before.

Thanks, that’s really reassuring and what I’m trying to tell myself right now. I couldn’t help looking online which has only made me more worried

OK - I’m guessing you have found information on lymphoma

I have a different blood cancer - and I cannot say too strongly Do Not Google. It’s true for all cancers but hugely so for blood cancers - treatments for many have been revolutionised in recent years But there is loads of the old, outdated and unnecessarily scary info hanging around online

There are benign causes for your symptoms, so don’t be at panic stations now. Even if you do get one of the more challenging diagnoses, it’s really likely the info you’ve come across so far is wrong, inapplicable or both.

Yes, I gave in to Google and looked at a lot of the benign reasons eg swollen lymph nodes but I didn’t have any of the other symptoms you’d expect eg sore throat (which the doctor asked about over and over)

I’m sorry about your diagnosis ivampire, are you doing ok?

My diagnosis was a while ago, and I’m absolutely fine

(They don’t aim to cure the cancer, but use targeted drugs to suppress it to almost undetectable levels in the body - but there is still info online about the older treatments which are more extensive and have less good outcomes)

It’s blood cancer awareness month - so there are more articles floating around than usual. And it is a good thing that people it occurs to people as a possibility - especially as the symptoms of blood cancers are so non-specific

As you don’t have any other symptoms, then I’d be quite optimistic that it’s something else. But even if not, then very early stage can be very treatable

Hope the ultrasound goes well - any idea when you’ll get results?

Well I called the ultrasound department and they said they will get in touch with an appointment (no longer over the phone booking) but it will be at least a month. In order to be seen urgently I need to be put n the 2 week pathway.

My doctor said to call the GP surgery if the appointment would be more than 2 weeks. I did but can’t be put on the pathway as that’s for cancer which I won’t know if I have until I have the ultrasound. GP said to ask to be put on cancellation list but when I called the hospital back, they said they don’t have one.

I remembered I have private healthcare through my husband’s work and they confirmed diagnostics are covered. Contacted the hospitals and before I can be booked, I need a referral. The referral made by my GP yesterday (NHS) cannot be used, another must be emailed to the imaging department at private hospital.

Called my GP but they will not email referrals, only provide me with a physical letter. I’m waiting to hear back from the hospital to see if they will accept this. If not, I guess I’ll hear about the scan in a month or so

Hi OP

I was put on the 2 week pathway last year for similar. Lymph nodes in my neck that weren't going away.. for months.

Long story short it wasn't lymphoma. I have TMD (unbeknownst at the time) and the inflammation from that had caused my nodes to react.

More often than not, anything that might be cancer - isn't.

Sending a virtual hand hold. I remember how frightening a time it was.

Thank you @NTHEN it’s really reassuring to know that these things have outcomes other than cancer, hope you’re ok now?
I keep wildly swinging between thinking “it’ll all be ok “ and “I’m not going to see my children grow up”. It’s exhausting, I just hope that I get a scan soon and then at least I’ll know what I’m up against

I'm absolutely fine, thank you for asking.

I can empathise with the swinging between staying positive and then catastrophising. I was a complete wreck at the time.

The waiting for the scan was the hardest bit. I convinced myself I could deal with whatever it was I just needed to know.

I have a thread on here somewhere under a different name, convinced it was lymphoma and asking for success stories. I'll see if I can find it for you.

I'm sure there are many, many outcomes like mine where things turn out to be harmless so please try not to worry (easier said than done I know)

Also I'll second iVampire in urging you not to Google. Google always gives you the worst case scenario and can't be a source of reassurance.

Keep posting here. You're going to be ok OP.

Oops name change fail! I am NTHEN

It could be a blocked salivary duct. I was referred for this and convinced it was something sinister but wasn't.

I had a call from the hospital this morning (NHS) and they are going to see me at 8.25 tomorrow morning. I’ve then got a blood test at 10.20. Don’t know whether to be pleased I’ll be seen so quickly after they said 1 month plus or terrified that it must be something awful that they’re getting me in so soon.
Blood tests the doctor has ordered are all looking for inflammation/infection as far as I can see. Guess I’ll know either way in a few days, the results of the scan should be with my doctor by Wednesday

My son had a benign growth on his parotid gland which presented as an enlarged lymph node just below his ear. He had to have it removed surgically but he's absolutely fine now.
Several different diagnoses were explored initially (some of them quite alarming) but that's because medics start by ruling things out in order to reach a diagnosis. Not knowing really is the worst part.
It's good that you are being seen so quickly and hopefully you will find out what it is very soon. Good luck for tomorrow.

Sounds like GP got in a muddle and then rectified it. The 2 week rule is for investigations which might be cancer (need to exclude it urgently).

It’s not for those who know they have cancer - timetabling of appointments and procedures takes in a life of its own when that happens

So yes, they have changed you to the 2-week pathway. That does not mean that they think you have lymphoma, it means that it’s a possibility that needs to be dealt with before considering other diagnoses.

Mildly impressed that the hospital is doing bookings on a Sunday - though as I’ve had phone calls with appointments come through in the evening, I do know that some teams work odd hours (and that call was for a follow up MRI scan to check something they found on CT was benign was indeed benign. It was, but it was terrifying when all the info I had to go on was that a second more detailed scan was needed - this was unconnected to the leukaemia btw, but at a similar time and I felt very much in the wars then!)

I was impressed to get a call on a Sunday too @iVampire! Had the scan this morning and everything is ok, just a swollen lymph node. Thank you everyone for sharing your stories, they really helped to calm me down at a scary time

So glad to read that!!