What is this blessed lump?

[UniversallyChallenged]

Have had a lump under my lower jaw, towards the back of my neck for over 6 weeks. Not getting any smaller. Have had 2 docs look at it, it's not attached to my tongue one said.
Have thyroid trouble, could it be linked?

Sometimes it is itchy, and i always know it is "there" iyswim.

Have had some blood tests as feeling incredibly tired too, testing for aenemia i think.

Anyone who has an experience of this - i am obviously scaring myself silly with the thought it's cancerous - would be appreciated. Does cancer start like this?

The lump is softish the doc says, and to me feels slightly bigger lately.

Thanks x

haven't a clue, but I'll bump it for you.

I presume that the docs have experience of cancer and if they were concerned would have referred you for biopsies and stuff straight away

Sounds like an infected lymph gland. If you are run down they are really common. You can try massaging around the area to see if it helps it drain? Or go to acupuncture.

It's quite unusual to get cancer there - I have an uncle with jaw cancer, the symptoms are quite different.

Of course you can get benign pituatary tumours (which are worth removing if they are affecting your endocrine system - thyroid/hormones/anaemia all go on the fritz when this happens).

You could ask your GP to refer you to an endocrinologist or a vascular consultant depending on what he thinks it is.

How deep does the lump go - ie is it attached to bone or is it free floating (can you move it under your skin). What sort of size is it? Does it look red or feel hot at all.

It does seem a little movable. i saw doc notes and she had put down that it's 1 cm.
It does feel hot yes, and sometomes "prickly".
Am just going to look at infected lymph gland, thanks wmmc.

Oh thanks for the bump Squonk - and i love your profile about squonks lol!

I get this from time to time when I'm run down but it doesn't usually last for more than a few days. A Dr friend told me that big lumps that pop up suddenly like that probably aren't cancer, so I'm going with that.

That sounds very much like an infected lymph node UC. Cancerous tumours rarely have sensation at all, it's a myth that you notice them because they hurt unless they are pressing on a nerve.

Have a feel of your armpits, there are probably a few of them if you look carefully, a compromised immune system rarely gives just one symptom.

Have you had a long running post viral thing by chance - very common to have lymph node probs after that.

BTW if it's a blessed lump, have you checked it's not the pope?

Lol wmmc - my dd said earlier when she felt it that people sometimes have their twins in their bodies maybe that's what it is odd child not sure what she's been learning in biology!!

thanks for the info, it does sound like blocked lymph node, have just looked on net- will ask doc about drainage when i see her for results.

Thats encouraging mybabys, re the lumps. Makes sense too. Though it's only cause i was rubbing my neck i noticed it at first, now of course it feels like another head coming out of my neck even tho it's tiny (back to the twin lol!)

Once you focus on a lump it does feel bigger and more noticable, it's like that old 'spot on the end of your conk' feeling. Once you've spotted it you are convinced everyone else can see it too and it's ginormous.

You can just go for a lymphatic drainage massage you know. In fact you can learn the technique...hang on let me go see.... back in a sec with a link....

Once you focus on a lump it does feel bigger and more noticable, it's like that old 'spot on the end of your conk' feeling. Once you've spotted it you are convinced everyone else can see it too and it's ginormous.

You can just go for a lymphatic drainage massage you know. In fact you can learn the technique...hang on let me go see.... back in a sec with a link....

Don't worry about the site it's on, it does have some good instructions www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Resourcessupport/Symptomssideeffects/Lymphoedema/Manuallymphaticdrainage

at the twin thing UC, now next time I get it I'm going to be waiting for it to grow a little face and start insulting people a la 'How to Get Ahead in Advertising'

mb

great link thanks wmmc x

Don't worry UC - I think the doctors are ULTRA cautious and would check out anything dodgy. Good signs are if it is moveable, a regular shape, and if it hurts! If it feels hot then it is almost certainly infected.

If you're still worried then go back to the GP and demand reassurance!

UC, proving that the mind and body are inextricably linked, I have woken up this morning with a similar carbuncle in my armpit...

...which I last had when I was pregnant. Criminy!

LOL, I thought this was the title of a high-brow Middle English carol about Mary's virgin pregnancy

Thanks all for your responses. Hope your lump goes down mybabys! Or is this a sign of another pregnancy?!

Altogther now "Oh hark this bless-ed lump of mine, how painfully it burns...."

next line please

It throbs whene're my neck extends, or twists, or bends, or turns

oooh that's good - it even rhymes

Well I was getting all excited about it and posted about it on the TTC thread but I'm thinking now it might just be an ingrown hair after shaving with a duff razor.