DD5 referred to paediatrician on the urgent cancer pathway for lymph node- petrified

[Justamuma]

my DD aged 5 has had a swollen lymph node in the side of her neck for a couple of months. I took her to the GP 4 weeks ago who ordered some bloods which came back normal. He said the lymph node was just over 2cm in size and wanted to see her again in 4 weeks to reassess. We went back on Wednesday and he said it's still over 2cm so referred us to the paediatrician. He said 'I'm not too concerned' as I left.

however, I've now had the letter from the hospital through today and attached to the appointment letter (which is for next froday) is a piece of paper about cancer referalls and 2 week waits. The paediatrician we are seeing is also a specialist in oncology so I've just been floored with panic. I feel sick to my stomach 🙁

she has no other symptoms and playing and eating normally but now I can't get out of my head she has cancer.

please can anyone give me any stories of similar that didn't have an awful outcome?

If it was your child I very much think you would worry about it too.

Well yes obviously all mums would worry about this! Its normal to be worried. Everyone would.

But in the vast vast majority of cases the worry turns out to be unfounded.

Look on the bright side in the very unlikely scenario that it is cancer it is getting checked very early. But it almost certainly isn't.

My point is telling people 'I wouldn't worry' isn't true or helpful!

Those leaflets drive me crazy, I had a lump on my neck and they sent me a similar pamphlet, I was really worried, got checked out the next week and all was fine, just a marker of some infection my body must have been fighting off. I also got one once that said something along the lines of ‘so you’ve got breast cancer, what now’ and it was a pamphlet about what the next stages were, I freaked out and called the drs to ask if this is how they were telling me I had cancer and they said oh no we just include that to anyone being referred to the breast clinic. I couldn’t believe it, and it sounds like that’s what’s happened here a bit, the leaflets are not very sensitive in my opinion.
it’s important to remember she’s on a pathway to check if she has cancer, not on a pathway to treat cancer, and It’s great you’re seeing a brilliant doctor who can give you good advice and information too.

My child had cancer of the lymph nodes. The blood work showed clearly that there was a problem, so it is a good sign that her blood is good.

Whatever happens it is better to be in the system.

My DD had one of these on the side of her jaw. Had an ultrasound and its just a normal lymph node. Its still there 12 years later!

We had a very similar situation when my LO was 3.. large lymph node on neck. We went to GP and we were told to go to hospital within the day for urgent bloods. They told me that they were concerned about cancer.. I was in absolute bits as you can imagine
Turned out to be a reaction to a virus similar to glandular fever! And the lump went down after a few weeks.
I won't tell you not to panic or think the worst because I know exactly what was going through my mind, instead I'll send a massive hug and strength to you and many positive thoughts 😘

Thank you SO much to all you lovely ladies for sharing your stories with me. They really are helping me get through to Friday x

My son was referred for same. I was in mass panic mode.
We were seen 10 days from referral. The paediatrician said that he wasn’t worried and that I was to stop touching it as touching it can make it stay ‘up’. It did go away but I do find when he’s had illness it comes up again and does take a while to go back down.

Well said. @Justamuma - ex NHS lead medical secretary here. 2 week wait pathway can seem alarming but they are investigating asap just in case. In the vast majority of cases cancer is ruled out. (I had a swollen lymph node in my neck last year and all was fine. That’s on the back of a breast cancer diagnosis 20 years ago). Always best to get checked out rather than leave things - it gives people the best chance and treatments out there now (compared to 20 years ago) have moved on considerably).

My two ds had this. The doctors just said they would monitor them. It seems very common in children when they are constantly ill with viruses.

Thank you so much for sharing your positive stories!