Almost two weeks now with lump.....

gogetter · Regular Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 20

Hi everyone, I'm a 25 year old guy who has had a painless, moveable 2cm - 3cm lump on the lower right side of my neck, discovered 12 days ago. In that time, I've been partying like crazy on holiday with some friends. Am back now and have to face the dread of a process of diagnosis. I also noticed another smaller pea sized lump on the other side of my neck the other day. I've been feeling weird and also paranoid about the whole thing.

I feel like death at the moment, but I think that could be more down to the drinking I was doing, which was beyond excessive, and I always get woeful hangovers. I'm home again now, and will be stopping for a while. But I also physically feel very aware of my right side now, I wouldn't say I'm in pain but I feel a bit swollen, even if I dont look it.

Does any of this sound familiar?

ChemoMan

Hi

It doesn't sound like Lymphoma. Normal nodes are the size of jelly beans so what you describe is normal. Relax and try and moderate your drinking Wink

If that lump gets bigger over the next couple of weeks you might want to take it to your doctor, but dont let this worry you. We are always here if you need us in the future, but I hope that is not the case.

Good luck and take it easy
_________________
Age 53
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... NEVER GIVE UP
RULE NUMBER 3..... Don't forget the first 2 rules

gogetter · Regular Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 20

Thanks for the response. Upon waking up today, I feel better but still have a tightness on my right side (back, shoulder etc). Its hard to explain, I dont feel ill, but don't feel like myself, just somewhat restricted.

My lump is bigger than a jellybean, more like a small marble I would say. Definitely does not protrude from my skin, it can't be seen. But it can be quite obviously felt.

I've prepared myself for the worst now, and will get it checked out tomorrow, though I'm aware it can take weeks to diagnose. The only thing I'm terrified about is losing my hair, because I'm really vain about it. Can dark, thick hair grow back to the same quality after chemo?

joepet · Senior User Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 373 Location: Japan

Dude, you are getting waaay too far ahead of yourself!

If by some miracle you end up diagnosed with lymphoma, I'll be happy to discuss your hair regrowth likelihood. Until that time, I see no need to indulge your worrying further.
_________________
Age 37 (36 at diagnosis)
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 1AE (localized in colon)
Began six cycles of R chop 21 3rd Dec 2008
Finished R chop 21 Apr 2009
Complete remission as of May 2009

gogetter · Regular Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 20

Maybe you're right joe, but I don't feel like it would be miraculous at all at this point. Would you mind telling me what your symptoms were that made you decide to get checked out at first? I feel that the big shoulder muscles are swollen on one side too, all in all I'm on the verge of pain, but not quite.

joepet · Senior User Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 373 Location: Japan

Well, I was extranodal, meaning that the lymphoma originated outside of my lymph nodes. So my symptom was rectal bleeding. Thought it was internal hemoroids, but a colonoscopy determined the tumor. Everyone assumed it was colon cancer, but the biopsy turned out positive for lymphoma instead. As about one in a million people will ever come down with colonic lymphoma, I imagine that information isn't much good for you...

Perhaps not miraculous, but there are quite a lot of reasons for enlarged lymph nodes. That doesn't mean that you don't have reason to be concerned, because you do. But because there are so many possibilities, and absent any of the classic "B symptoms" (continuous low-grade fever, drenching "night sweats", or unexplained weight loss) the possibility of lymphoma is quite low, I wouldn't go ahead and start self-diagnosing yourself with lymphoma anytime soon.

Best thing you can do is consult a doctor, relax, and let him take care of diagnosing you.
_________________
Age 37 (36 at diagnosis)
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 1AE (localized in colon)
Began six cycles of R chop 21 3rd Dec 2008
Finished R chop 21 Apr 2009
Complete remission as of May 2009

gogetter · Regular Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 20

Wow, that is really an astonishing case of lymphoma you had. I've had no B symptoms, but don't they occur a bit down the line, past a stage I? From what I hear, when it concerns the neck, generally a painless lump tends to be the only symptom of lymphoma.

joepet · Senior User Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 373 Location: Japan

That may be true, but as I wrote earlier, there are a lot of potential causes for a painless lump to appear on your neck.

The only way lymphoma can be diagnosed is through a biopsy. And usually, a doctor will try to rule out other, more obvious causes before resorting to a biopsy.

When it comes to lymphoma, generally speed is not of the essence, and a few weeks here and there really doesn't make a difference in treatment. So there's absolutely no need to cross that bridge until you actually come to it.

Not worrying about lymphoma does no damage to you. Worrying about lymphoma can cause insomnia, weight loss, and other health and mental problems that does do damage to you. So which do you think is the prudent course of action to take?
_________________
Age 37 (36 at diagnosis)
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 1AE (localized in colon)
Began six cycles of R chop 21 3rd Dec 2008
Finished R chop 21 Apr 2009
Complete remission as of May 2009

gogetter · Regular Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 20

Ok, thanks man. I was concerned that every day was crucial when it comes to this sort of thing. I will try to relax about it. I'll report back here tomorrow when I get checked out preliminarily, though I'm sure I'll just be referred. That is one of the worst parts, all the referrals and downtime while all the while you just want expediency.

Thanks for the advice, I guess I'll see what happens now.

ChemoMan

Hi gogetter

The first thing the doctors usually do is called watch and wait. They will wait a few weeks to see if the node goes down. This is because most nodes come up due to infection. We have had 80 people post here since december 2007 worried about enlarged nodes and only one of them had lymphoma !

Dont worry lymphoma is treatable so even if it is the worst news you can think of you have every chance of living a long life.

One word of advice at this stage, stay away from websites trying to diagnose yourself, you will end up driving yourself crazy. The time for research is only after you have a definite diagnosis.

Good luck and we are here always.
_________________
Age 53
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... NEVER GIVE UP
RULE NUMBER 3..... Don't forget the first 2 rules

Don

What sounds familiar, gogetter, is the level of drinking that I did at 25 during my first few years in the Marine Corps, stationed oversees; and all before I got married.

Thank God those days are behind me.

Good Luck.
_________________
Don B
Dec 07 Dx Follicular NHL, Grade I (Indolent)
Stage IIIA - No Symptoms
Watch and Wait - 6 Month Checks
Jan 09 Scan shows Progression - no symptoms
May 18, 09 - Started R-CVP
After Third Round, CT scan showed some tumor shrinkage
July 31,09 - Completed 6 Rounds R-CVP

gogetter · Regular Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 20

Can't thank you guys enough for your considerate responses. I went to the doc today, he didn't seem concerned about it, but took a blood test, and ordered me to the hospital for a chest x-ray. He said the chest would be a good indicator if there were any issues.

Thing is, I only feel weird on one side of my neck and parts of my back (sometimes). I don't think the chest will tell much. I get results in three days.

Don

It probably wouldn't hurt to curb some of the partying a bit. I say that from personal experience.
_________________
Don B
Dec 07 Dx Follicular NHL, Grade I (Indolent)
Stage IIIA - No Symptoms
Watch and Wait - 6 Month Checks
Jan 09 Scan shows Progression - no symptoms
May 18, 09 - Started R-CVP
After Third Round, CT scan showed some tumor shrinkage
July 31,09 - Completed 6 Rounds R-CVP

gogetter · Regular Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 20

For the last couple of days I have also had a persistent dull ache on the right side of my neck, right below the ear, but above the lump. The pain is getting quite bad directly under the ear, it feels like a muscle ache, I don't know. The doc couldn't really explain it....

I also have had some pain today under my ribcage to the right side of my body, feels like an organ. Anyone can suggest a reason or correlation here?

Don

gogetter,

Have you been poking at the lump? If you have been, then they will become sore.

I had a real sore shoulder last week for several days, but when I thought about it, I realized that I had been trying to get a old log splitter started. Have you been doing any work that would cause this?

Keep following up with the doctor, but try not to worry about it.
_________________
Don B
Dec 07 Dx Follicular NHL, Grade I (Indolent)
Stage IIIA - No Symptoms
Watch and Wait - 6 Month Checks
Jan 09 Scan shows Progression - no symptoms
May 18, 09 - Started R-CVP
After Third Round, CT scan showed some tumor shrinkage
July 31,09 - Completed 6 Rounds R-CVP

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