18
Large and I mean large lump appears on my neck.
My GP who was brilliant, took one look at it and said if that doesn't go down it will have to come out.
It didn't go down and it did come out, a 3 day stay in hospital became a 14 day stay in hospital.
Went back to see Consultant, well young lady, we were very worried about you, but you are fine, and it is benign.
Year later it grows back, went to see the Consultant and basically got patronised within an inch of my 19 year old life. I can take it out if you want, but you will have a neck like a railway track
Lived with it for 12 years, then one day it really flared up and to cut a long story short...
GP
Consultant
OP
Follow up with Consultant, expecting all clear.
C.........I dn't like the look of what I have just removed, I have made you an appointment with X, but he is the local cancer man !!!! Lets not get too excited yet, but I the Consultant am very very worried.
Went through all manner of tests, including having sample bone marrow taken, without a GA.
Worse bit ?? They asked for lab the slides taken when I was 18, tested them again and guess what it was there then which is why it grew back. It wasn't malignant but it wasn't benign and if I had any major chemical changes in my body it would have turned and I would have been dead in 6 weeks.
I ended up with all of my lymph nodes being removed, limited movement in my arm and a months worth of radiotherapy, OH and a very impressive scar
I am telling you all this only to ask you to go to your GP and push it through all the available channels.
I ended up being diagnosed with an extremely rare disease.
This not related to your problem, but please do not ignore it go to your GP PDQ both of you.
Play the lump card if you have to.
My situation was totally unusual, put it this way only two cancer specialists in the whole of the UK had even heard of it, so don't try and marry the two together.
But do please go and see your GP.
Hop all of this made sense, it brought back a lot of bad memories