Persistent neck lump for six months, referred for ultrasound, feeling anxious

[AlwaysAnxious32]

I've had a lump in my neck slightly below my ear for about six months now. I just kept ignoring it and figuring it would go away. Went to the drs today and she said yes there is a lump, about the size of a grape, smooth and mobile...she's done some bloods and referred for ultrasound. I'm freaking out thinking it's something really bad. She said it's unlikely to be a swollen lymph nodes as it's persisted for such a long time, but th fact it hasn't grown is reassuring. I'm a health anxious person at the best of times but trying to chill out a bit (hence why I left it so long). I'm young-ish early thirties, I am massively overweight so no weight loss or anything, only other symptoms is just being unusually tired and getting nausea, body aches alot, I also get some trouble swallowing sometimes,it feels like my throat is just completely closed if that makes sense? I don't know if it's related or if I'm just linking it all up, ive generally feel a bit rubbish most of the time when I think about it. Had anyone had something similar and it turned out to not be anything really bad? I'm panicking thinking it's cancer or something.

Try not to worry OP. I had a lump in my neck that grew to the size of a tennis ball before it was removed. I recall it was a very worrying time waiting for it to be tested etc. it turned out to be completely benign. But maybe take the opportunity to try to improve your health/ weight if possible.

Hi

How are you now? xx

Hi,

I'm still awaiting an appointment for an ultrasound. All my bloods were normal, FBC, white cell count, only low vitaminnD, probable unrelated. The lump is till there and I feel like it's growing x

I don’t want to alarm you OP but when I was 44 I had such a lump. GP thought maybe a bronchial cyst. Went back again. GP not concerned. Scan requested.

Went back a third time (grape becoming more of a walnut) with a nurse friend who worked in cancer. She told GP that the situation met the criteria for a fast track referral which he did. Got me referred to a doctor she knew in ENT.

Turned out it was Non Hodgkin lymphoma. Stage 1A. Scan date came through during all the other tests. My bloods were clear too. It was only when they did a biopsy I got a diagnosis.

That was many years ago now and chemo and radio sorted me out.

i hope this is not the case for you but please don’t get fobbed off.

And you had no other symptoms? I reassured myself that A. I am young, B. All bloods clear, white cells count normal etc and my GP said as it's soft and mobile it can't be cancer 😭

Op I think it’s very unlikely to be cancer hit I totally understand your worry. My ds has a gland about the same size and it’s been there for almost a year. I paid for a private ultrasound and it was worth its weight in gold for reassurance. His was fine. ultrasounddiagnostic.co.uk/

I have had a grape sized lump in my neck behind my ear for about 3 years. I was told it was nothing to worry about as my bloods are fine, its not grown in size, and it feels soft and moves around when touched.
Its just there. Doesn't seem to be causing any harm!

I wish I could afford one 😭

I had something that sounded the same when I waa about 30, was about edame bean sized but never got bigger. Mine turned out to be a benign tumour in the parotid gland after quire a few tests. I had surgery to remove as although not usually cancerous they continue growing (but very very slowly) so best removed. The surgery is pretty full on but im totally fine now and no ongoing issues. For me the waiting during all the tests was the worst bit so i really feel for you.

This is where the lump is, it's felt all the time but much more prominent when I turn my head the opposite way. It feels more of an oval shape than a perfect round shape.

Oh had head and neck cancer, it was in his tonsil but we found out due to a neck lump. However it was hard and solid, non movable at all. He was 42 when diagnosed though so age is not a factor I’d say. If yours is soft and movable then I’d say that’s a good sign but best to check it out. Head and neck cancer has high recovery rates though, good luck

Oh and it was quite big, like a small stone and grew very rapidly

I had a hard sebaceous cyst that presented like that, I had it removed and the pathology was fine. Good luck.

I thought this but it's definitely right under the skin, and now it's hard, it almost feels like muscle or bone texture if that makes sense

You’re describing the same lump I’ve had in the same place with it also being more noticeable when I turn my head. I’ve had it for 6 years, been to my GP twice who wasn’t concerned, but never actually got any answers except it being an overly reactive lymph node. I do carry a lot of muscle tension on that side though and I used to grind my teeth a lot. It gets smaller and then bigger sometimes ranging from a pea to a grape, but it can feel large for an especially long time

This is interesting. I think maybe I carry tension in that side too as I get a lot of shoulders, clavicle pain on the left side also. Mine does appear to be growing though, but this is reassuring. Thank you.

I wish you all the best with your recovery.

I'm wishing you a positive experience and outcome. Come back and update me if you can as sometimes I do worry that they might have got it wrong, but hey I’m still here 6 years later!

I’ve got a lump in the side of my neck - apparently just an enlarged lymph node. I was really worried that it was cancer but I had an ultrasound and the rather rude consultant nigh on laughed me out the room asking why I was there. Still worry it’s something else but without arguing what can I do. So, I totally understand your concern, it’s a huge worry. I’ve had this around 18 months now. Hopefully it’s just the same as mine, fingers crossed for you.

Thanks for your replies. Even today, I've noticed, it's definitely getting bigger. And i feel like it's moved. It's quite high up in my neck, almost almost at my hairline now. Maybe because it's getting bigger. It is really worrying me now. Despite having no other obvious signs of illness.

I have a lump in my neck, similar to what you describe. I been having it for 20 years, it has been scanned twice and it is fine. Sometimes it gets bigger (to the point that it is noticeable when you look at me closely) and then it shrinks again. It is a lymph node. It is a good sign, that you can move it a bit.