Small lump in neck; a little worried..

Nath · New User Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 2

Hi everyone I am a 24 year old male and I have had a small soft painless lump in my neck for a while now, it's about 2cm across in size and is of a oval type shape. It's about 7cm down the side of my neck under my right ear.

I first noticed it at the start of 2006 and went to a Dr to get it checked out he said it was just an inflamed lymph node and if I felt pain or noticed it got bigger to come back. So I pretty much forgot about it and got on with things.

Then recently I was randomly feeling my neck and felt the same lump again exactly the same as before. It feels quite soft and a bit fatty if I push down on the edges a little and it moves a bit on one side and feels a little squishy would be the best way to describe it. It's not deep it's directly under the skin.

Im just a bit worried because it's now been there for like 3 years. It hasn't got any bigger and is exactly the same as before.

My general health has been excellent. I am rarely sick and hardly get colds, flu's. I have had no other symptoms that I have read up on in regards to lymphomas such as night sweats, fatigue, weight loss etc.

The only other thing I have had is a bit of a rash on three fingers on my right hand that has been there a while it's more like they get really dry and a bit scaly and I only seem to scratch them at night during my sleep it's not itchy throughout the day at all I don't know if that is in any way linked but I read a symptom could be itchy skin.

My question really is if it was cancerous would I have encountered any symptoms by now and would the lump have grown bigger?

Im just a bit worried and reading up on line gets me a bit scared thinking it could be the worst. I am going to the Dr's on Monday and I'll tell them about it and see what they think.

Any help/advice would be great.

Don

Sorry that you are feeling angst about the lump in your neck. Keep in mind that none of us are doctors so we can only speak from experience. There are many causes of swollen nodes, and lymphoma is the least of them...chances are that it is not lymphoma or cancer, for that matter.

If I were you, I would stay away from trying to diagnose yourself via the internet. You will just drive yourself nuts and you will probably be wrong.

With that said, the only way to really diagnose lymphoma is via a biopsy. This is because in alot of cases, lymphoma does not present any symptoms; even blood tests are typically normal.

I have not experienced any itching and that is normally a symptom of Hodgkins Lymphoma...not Non-Hodgking Lymphoma (there is a difference but have not educated myself about it too much). From what I read, the itching is much more intense than what you describe. Chances are that there is no relation between the lump and the rash.

If you have had the lump for 3 years, and it has not grown, that is a good sign. Now, if you worry about it, and poke at it then it will become sore and inflamed...which will worry you more.

If it still bothers you...pester your doctor about it.

Good luck...Don B
_________________
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

ChemoMan

Hi Nath

Sorry to hear this is causing concern.

Don't panic you will be OK. More than likely your node is probably not even enlarged. for it to be abnormal it needs to be bigger than a jelly bean. If it is, then it is probably enlarged for reasons other than cancer. FYI we have had 80 people post with symptoms like yours since Dec 07 and only one of them had a positive for Lymphoma, so that tells you right away that lymphoma is rare and is rarely the cause of enlarged nodes.

You have done the right thing in seeing a doctor. Take you cues from them and relax a bit.

Good luck we are always here if you need us, and hopefully you won't Exclamation

_________________
Age 52
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..... Don't forget Rule number 1

Nath · New User Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 2

Thanks for the replies guys I guess it's just natural to think of all the posibilities but until I get it checked out theres no point in over reacting I guess.

Well it's not the size of a jelly bean porb half that size so it's not massive or noticeable only noticeable to the touch.

But yeah I'll see what the Dr thinks and see what happens.

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